People who have a clinical need for contact lenses (ie whose vision cannot be adequately corrected by glasses, which is true for many people with KC) can get their contact lenses at NHS prices through a hospital eye clinic. The current (2024) price is £60 per lens. This increases every year but covers any changes in prescription in a 12 month period and is the same whatever the type of lens provided. For young people under 19 and in full time education, contact lenses are free. People receiving certain benefits (eg Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance) can also get their lenses free. Most hospitals in large cities will have their own contact lens departments, with optometrists experienced in fitting KC eyes and offering a range of different contact lens designs. Hospitals without a contact lens department will usually have a contract with a local opticians practice that has an experienced KC optometrist and will send patients needing contact lenses there. The eye clinic should give the patient a hospital eye service prescription (HESp) which will entitle them to lenses at NHS prices, although the local optician may charge extra for ‘chair’ time. The small rigid gas permeable KC lenses are easily lost, so it’s a good idea to always have a spare lens to cover the waiting time for a replacement lens. Spare lenses are usually charged for at the NHS cost. And unless KC is very advanced, it’s also worth investing in back up glasses. These may give quite poor vision, but may be better than nothing for any periods when contact lenses cannot be worn for some time, for example in case of an infection or corneal abrasion.
Contact lenses for keratoconus can also be obtained privately from some High Street opticians. Our website includes a list of optometrists who are happy to fit KC lenses. It is not an exhaustive list, but it is important to check that any optometrist consulted has experience with KC. Badly fitting lenses can damage the cornea and make things worse.
Most people with KC get their lenses through a hospital eye clinic, where they can be guaranteed to see an optometrist with experience and an interest in KC and where costs will be lower. However, waiting times between appointments will be longer, and it will be harder to get an early appointment if there is a problem with lenses or with vision. So while some types of KC lenses will be expensive when supplied by a specialist optometrist on the High Street, there is the advantage of speed of service.