22 replies to this topic

[Metanoia]

Hi everyone. Assuming all goes to plan I would like to look into getting coloured contact lenses to wear at Brisbane Supanova. Is there anywhere in Adelaide that sells them??

[MachV]

a lot of Optometrists (yes i had to look up the spelling) have them.

and if you find a really good one, you could use you health fund with them. Even tho they are for cosmetic reasons the optometrist can just put down contact lenses on the form. That is how i got my pair. otherwise they tend to get a bit pricey.

[morgan-aleghieri]

If your lucky like me and actually need the lenses to be able to see, then it won't cost as much... Lenses for cosmetic reasons is another story entirely though. I don't know if you can get any money back from a health fund if they are just cosmetic... :-\

[MachV]

If your lucky like me and actually need the lenses to be able to see, then it won't cost as much... Lenses for cosmetic reasons is another story entirely though. I don't know if you can get any money back from a health fund if they are just cosmetic... :-\

you can if you find a Op that doesn't mind doing somehting a little under the table

[morgan-aleghieri]

That's somewhat immoral... Illegal too, I'd wager.

[MachV]

actually i pretty sure that it is illegal, since it would be considered fraud.

I actually know of one guy in sydney who offered my friends to do it on one of his friends health funds cause he didn;t have is own. did that make sense? i dont think so.

Let me put it this way:

Optom offered friend A to put it on firend's B health fund (aslong as friend B was okay with it since he had to sign the paperwork) since friend A didn;t have insurance.

Without saying he turned down this offer cause it was way to dodgy

[Metanoia]

I don't need them to see, purely cosmetic. If I can't find any it isn't crucial, but I would like them as it completes the costume if you know what I mean. I know you can get "costume" type contacts. They're all through my japanese magazines... but surely there is somewhere in adelaide you can get them.

Also... I want an "out-there" unnatural colour. Red

[morgan-aleghieri]

I'd say go into your local OPSM and have a chat to them - they do contact lenses, but I'm not sure what they do with coloured lenses. If they do they'll have to order them in, which might take a week. And if you have them done properly, they'll be suited to your eye. One of the guys I went to tafe with had these very freaky white contacts, but after seeing an optometrist about them was advised not to wear them because they could damage his eyes if he continued to use them because they weren't made specifically for his eyes...

[Silver Moonblaze]

They will also give you tester ones to take home, so you can see how they look and pick a colour. I'm not sure what they have in the way of different types though - I've only ever bought standard eye colours (blues, greens, etc)

[Metanoia]

One of the guys I went to tafe with had these very freaky white contacts, but after seeing an optometrist about them was advised not to wear them because they could damage his eyes if he continued to use them because they weren't made specifically for his eyes...

I found a place at lunch that does them, but they are $75... dont' know if I can spring that before brisbane...

I will try OPSM and see what they say, but I wonder if they will do strange colours. I don't need them to see. Just for the appearance.

[Silver Moonblaze]

I got mine from National Pharmacies Optical for $40 a set, and that's with a script (but not including discounts) - I think OPSM are the same. Those two will probably be a better bet.

But then, it depends on the brand that suits your eyes.

[MachV]

I spoke to a friend who runs a shop called House of Fetish here is Syd. They do all sorts of "alternative" style fashion, mostly specialising in "goth" both period and industrial.

If you are looking for un-natural colours she recommended to try a shop called Blood's Dragons Creations and if they dont have them they could give you details of who would.
Shop details:
19 Peel Street
Adelaide
8211 6392

Might be a little pricey but if they are anything like house of fetish, it's worth the money.

Edited by MachV, 28 March 2007 - 02:02 PM.

[Metanoia]

Yeah I know it. They're ACG members
One thing I don't have a lot of at the moment is money with brisbane coming up and I still need shoes for the costume I need the contacts for... eek

[MachV]

Yeah I know it. They're ACG members
One thing I don't have a lot of at the moment is money with brisbane coming up and I still need shoes for the costume I need the contacts for... eek

I know what you mean, I trying to make it to most of the cons around the country this year.
except for the mini animanias (not worth traveling interstate for small one day events) erg 7 cons with some being multiple costumes, i think i going to recycle some of my costumes cause my two big ones are gonna take so much time!

[Metanoia]

I know what you mean, I trying to make it to most of the cons around the country this year.

COME TO AVCON!!!!!

[MachV]

COME TO AVCON!!!!!

That is on the definate list. I've already arranged accom, gonna be coming down on friday morning and leaving on the monday morning. Getting down there in the morning, so I can run around rundle st mall on last minute CP emergencies. I just have to work out which costumes to bring down. damn plane! cause the one i wanna bring down is a big one!

I've been hearing good things about it the last few years and friends local to the area keep bugging me to go.

And I want to heckle Mitchel on his home ground! He was MC and animania the last few years and became friends thru heckling wars.

[Metanoia]

And I want to heckle Mitchel on his home ground! He was MC and animania the last few years and became friends thru heckling wars.

he's shaving his head if we get enough people to the con... even more reason to come and bring friends. Heckling mitchell is always fun.

[MachV]

he's shaving his head if we get enough people to the con... even more reason to come and bring friends. Heckling mitchell is always fun.

he shaving those long dark locks?! must bring video cam!!! when talking about hair, is it locks or lochs?

[Starn_Jeebus]

It's locks, Loch (no 's) is scottish for lake Lol.

[Metanoia]

Thought I'd share some info I got from someone who works at an optomotrist (thanks btw)

Red Contact lenses are not the standard colour. You are unlikely to get them for $40.

Through an optometrist, you can get one-use (1-day) coloured contact lenses for about that price, but standard colours for these are blue, green and possibly violet (not very dark). I think it is about 3 pairs for about $40. I would have to check. You can also get disposables (30 wears) for about $50-$60 a pair - but again, not in red. You will require solutions to clean these. This will cost approx. $10-$20 per month.

At the moment, due to a legal loophole, coloured contact lenses can be bought in 'accessory shops'. As I understand it, they are imported from overseas. As they are not ordered as a prescription through the 'standard' channels, it is difficult to confirm the sizings etc.
This is scheduled to go through SA parliment to change the loophole as is happenign interstate.

why?
As optometrists, we are required, by law, to fit a contact lens to the individual (there are different sizes), to ensure that the contact lens will effect the eye health minimally and that the individual can *actually wear* a contact lens successfully. Dry eyes and some health issues can cause problems.
Also optometrists are required to instruct the patient with proper cleaning and care regime and how to insert and remove the contact lens. We cannot supply any contact lens without a prescription (fitting) and the above being shown at least once and open ourselves to legal action if we do not.
There have been recent cases (interstate) where lack of this information and cleaning have caused serious eye health issues.

the problem?
As contact lenses are being sold in accessory shops, by untrained individuals, the rarely occurs. They are not bound by the optometrists act (!?!) so the legality of the consequences have been untested as yet.

I would strongly recommend that, if you do purchase contact lenses, from an accessory shop, that you do make an appt with an optometrist (this will cost about $30) to check the fit and get instructions *before you wear them* for any length of time. If the fit is incorrect, wearing them (yes even for one day for some people) could effect eye health to varying degrees. You will also require solutions to clean and disinfect the contact lenses.
Also if it is a fully opaque contact lens (with the full colour and a small hole to see through), they are illegal to drive in, due to the reduced visual fields.

This is my optometrists hat, to make sure you do not cause damage to your eyes, for the 'look' of a costume.

So the short is...
you are very unlikely to get red contact lenses for the cost you are hoping.
If you purchase the contacts, (seriously!), see an optometrist before you wear them and get the proper advice and make sure they fit your eyes properly.

If you need standard blue, green or violet contacts, I usually recommend 1-day disposables for costume. There is no cleaning and continual care, for the occasoinal times that they would be worn. An optometrist can supply these.