Frequently asked questions

There is no minimum or maximum age which limits wear. Children adapt very quickly even as young as 6. There are so many advantages for children wearing i-GO OVC lenses. The most exciting news is that new research (the 'SMART' study in the US) may indicate that wearing OVC lenses as a child can halt or even reverse early signs of myopia. The lenses act like a retainer holding the eye in the correct shape as they grow. Many children are self-conscious about wearing prescription glasses and this can affect their participation and confidence in sport and other activities. Parents also have total control of their child's vision as the lenses are inserted and removed at home. So you can be sure that your child has not removed or broken their glasses or lost a lens.

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i-GO OVC will correct your short sight (distance vision) if your prescription is under -5.0D. If you also have presbyopia (problems with close work like reading - an age-related condition affecting people from their 40s onwards) you would still need glasses to read. Another alternative is to use monovision where one i-GO lens is worn in your dominant eye to correct your long distance vision whilst your other eye is used for reading. This really works well!

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The monthly direct debit mandate is binding for a minimum of 12 months. If you decided to cancel your payment after that time you are required to return your lenses. This is because i-GO lenses are "treatment lenses" and are only provided under the care of an accredited i-GO optician. The lenses should never be worn without clinical supervision and regular eye checks. Should you wear your lenses unsupervised you would not be covered. The lenses should be replaced every six months to ensure optimum eye health and vision.

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There are indications that overnight vision correction lenses can arrest and even reverse the effect of "early onset short-sightedness". A 5 year clinical investigation is currently underway in the US called the SMART Study and the objective is to establish if this is the case. For more information see the section on children's vision on this website.

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The difference is that i-GO lenses are specifically designed to be worn while sleeping. They are made of special materials developed by Bausch and Lomb and are FDA approved as safe to sleep in. They are also only worn for only 6-8hrs compared with daytime lenses which could be in your eye for 12-16hrs. Wearing lenses at night means that during the day there is no barrier on the eye and oxygen can permeate freely. It also means that pollutants like pollen and grit do not get trapped under the lens which can lead to major irritations

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i-GO is a "treatment contact lens" - it actually reshapes your eye whereas normal lenses just sit on the eye surface and you look through them. The clinical protocol is to carry out an sight test and check your eye health every six months. The lenses become less effective over time as microscopic deposits build up in the internal "treatment zone" and they can warp and scratch with handling. At this appointment you will get a new set of lenses and additional cleaning solutions all of which is included in your monthly direct debit.

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The cost of i-GO OVC lenses are very similar to premium daily disposable contact lenses and cheaper than laser surgery. A consultation is required to establish if you are suitable. If appropriate then an initial fee to cover lens design, fitting and diagnostic appointments from around £200 is charged. Patients then sign a monthly direct debit mandate which costs from around £40 (dependent on the prescription). This package includes an initial set of lenses, with replacement lenses and lens cleaning solutions being provided every six or twelve months according to your practitioner. All aftercare is included as well as an annual sight test.

Find out if you are suitable