If you wear contact lenses, BEWARE!

I'm new to the site though have been in the UK for 4 years. I've been trying to think of things that I might be able to add to the already great lists of things already on this site. I'm pretty sure I haven't come across this, but if it's been mentiones, apologies!

If you wear contact lenses and are moving here, be warned that the lens solutions available here are much, much more expensive then overe there! 

In the States, I buy the all purpose (clean and store) solution from Target or Walmart and pay about $2-4 a bottle. Here, you get smaller bottles and pay around £7-9!!!

Whenever I go back to the States I stock up and Mom also sends some in the care packages.

Can someone explain to me why it's so expensive here???!!!

I have had the same experience -- total shock over how pricey contact lense solution is in the UK compared to the US!!

To tell the truth -- and I'm not going to argue with anyone about this because I've been down this road before in another thread -- the high price of UK contact solution was the ONLY sticker-shock I have had here, which is why it stood out to me so severely and I've been pissed off about it.

Again I'm not going to get into an argument but someone else on this thread said "EVERYTHING is more expensive" -- and I'm sorry, I'm really sorry but that has NOT been my personal observation. But YES the contact solution IS. And we do need a Target, stat!

We should take up a collection from UKY for the seed money to open a Target franchise here. 

Wow, I can't believe this thread has been revived! It was one of the first ones I ever made here and today I'm celebrating 8 years in the UK! AND 8 years of either hauling a suitcase full of lens solution, or paying thru the nose for the stuff in the UK.

I was forced to switch to Opti Free Express a while ago and that stuff costs a bomb here. And when the US postal charges went up and sea mail was stopped, I really felt how expensive it is.

I miss sea mail.
Whose stupid idea was that?! 

Don't worry Balmerhon, soon you'll be in the land of Target, Walmart, CVS, Wallgreens, etc etc and you'll have your choice of contact lens solution!
(And you'll be kind to your UK friends when you come back to visit here with gifts of contact lens solution  )

I miss sea mail.
Whose stupid idea was that?! 

Someone told me it was a terrorist prevention measure. Which makes NO sense at all. So if it's true, it doesn't say much about the people in charge of preventing terrorism.

Yes, Laura, I do have to admit that I am genuinely looking forward to shopping at Target!

Is it mean of me to say I'm going there now?? 

Is it mean of me to say I'm going there now?? 

Oh cruel, cruel! 

Think of me, as you pick up something fab, affordable and nicely designed, in the homewares section....*sigh, weep*!

Oh cruel, cruel! 

Think of me, as you pick up something fab, affordable and nicely designed, in the homewares section....*sigh, weep*!

I thought of all of you over there who can't go to Target! I filled my fridge and pantry for just $67 today! Woohoo! Very few places I will miss here, and Target is number 1.

I spent my first year in the UK bringing US contact solution back with me every time I went home and went to Target.  Now I have lenses by post with the solution included - I think this may be why it is so expensive, everyone just has it included with their lenses so nobody goes to Boots to buy it!

On another note, I can never find solution in less-than-100ml (and thus airplane-handy) in the UK, so now I buy that in the States and use it for weekend trips in Europe.