If you are thinking about contact lenses for the first time you will find this guide to our range of lenses very useful.

At Rawlings, our fully qualified Optometrists and Contact Lens Opticians will examine your eyes and will determine the health of your eyes relating to potential contact lens wear. They will then advise you on the most approprate lenses for your requirements. This may be daily disposable lenses for convenience and simplicity, toric lenses to correct astigmatism or more specialised lenses for enhanced sports vision. Whatever the type you choose, you can relax in the assurance of a level of service and professional care that is second to none.

Rawlings Opticians are independent opticians which means we are able to offer products from a huge range of manufacturers including the latest in contact lens materials and technology which may not yet be available to other opticians.

We have also been recognised by Johnson & Johnson as an Acuvue Centre of Excellence and a Visionary practice by Coopervision giving us access to the very latest products before they are available on general release

If you join the Rawlings Vision Plan you will receive lenses at the most competitive prices, usually lower than internet and high street suppliers, removing the hassle involved and with the same high standard of customer care you can rely on with Rawlings.

Successful wearers of contact lenses find it easy to explain why they can be so much better than spectacles. Many people feel they look better, especially if they require a very strong prescription. Spectacle frames can sometimes give blind spots and restrict the field of view.

Contact lenses are often better for certain sports as they float in the tear layer of the eye which usually provides better all round vision than spectacles and they also reduce the risk of you damaging your glasses.

Soft lenses are popular because they are comfortable almost straight away. They are flexible as they absorb tears which carry fresh oxygen to the surface of the eye. They are close fitting which makes them particularly suitable for sport. The latest soft lenses are available in silicon hydrogel materials making it now possible to wear lenses for up to 30 days and nights.

Disposable lenses are a more convenient and healthy option for your eyes. They are replaced regularly before the lens has time to become dirty. Two-weekly disposable lenses such as Acuvue Oasys are a popular choice, as they can contain the very latest technology for comfort and healthy wear as well as the benefits of materials such as Hydraclear Plus for comfort right to the end of the day and even allowing occasional overnight wear.

Daily Disposable lenses such as 1-Day Acuvue Moist are the ultimate in comfort and convenience and can be worn to suit your lifestyle as every day you have a brand new, fresh, sterile lens to wear. If you wish to wear your lenses infrequently or just for specific reasons such as sport or social occasions these are often the most convenient and comfortable option. They are now available for astigmatism with the launch of 1-Day Acuvue for Astigmatism

Rigid Gas Permeable are the new generation hard lenses, made from special plastics which allow air to pass through microscopic spaces. Initially they are not as comfortable as soft lenses but become just as comfortable after a week or two. They provide very clear vision and are relatively easy to care for.

Varifocal lenses are now available in daily disposable, disposable, soft and gas permeable materials and are suitable for more mature contact lens wearers without the need for additional reading glasses.