Have you tried importing Contact Lenses (for personal use)?

[JimmyJ]

I read - I think in this forum - that it is considered a "Medical Device" and one must get a Doctor's note and then file some Govt. forms, etc., and that it is very difficult and problematic.

 

True?

 

Hopefully False.

 

Anu personal experiences?

 

Thank you.

[London Lowf]

Okay, I'll be the first to ask - can't you buy them here?

 

I did.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I had a pair of new contact lenses remailed (not sent directly from the source) from the U.S. to Thailand a couple years back, and they arrived fine...

 

But that was using regular international airmail enroute to Thai Post for final delivery.  So I don't recall even having to do a customs declaration for the envelope, since the item inside (contact lens case) was so small.

 

I'm not sure I would have had the same result if my item had been going thru the more officious private couriers like DHL and FedEx.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just now, London Lowf said:

Okay, I'll be the first to ask - can't you buy them here?

 

I did.

I had a special variety that weren't really available here.

 

[JimmyJ]

12 minutes ago, London Lowf said:

Okay, I'll be the first to ask - can't you buy them here?

 

I did.

Price.

 

Did you buy thru Lazada?

 

[London Lowf]

7 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Price.

 

Did you buy thru Lazada?

 

From a recommendation on here in October 2021 I bought them directly from TA-TO - two boxes of dailies (a month supply) for B1,840.00.

[KhunLA]

They're readily available here.  

[FarAway]

I bought fake contact lenses on Lazada.

[ignore it]

YES

I bought two pair of glasses permeable hard contact lenses (not available in Thailand for an unknown reason) purported to be Boston II brand. Drop shipped to and forwarded from US mailbox service.  Shipped by DHL.  Absolutely no importation issues. FYI Chinese pirate product. Lenses not to prescription, color faint (blue and green indistinguishable) fit not accurate.  Return not cost effective. Avoid purchasing from 'Discount Contact Lenses' China company selling through US front.

Dirt cheap, but not worth it!

[MadMuhammad]

I get 12 months supply of 30 day toric lenses each year sent from Australia in the post, no issues in over 5 years of sending via AusPost/ThaiPost 

[skorts]

Be careful on quantities if you order from overseas and keep it to a maximum of 3 months supply. This is my experience of importing contact lenses from the U.K.  
 

Back in 2020 my wife and I ordered 12 months supply each from the U.K. and had copies of our prescriptions enclosed to show they were for us.
 

Shipped by FedEx but held at customs in Bangkok. They insisted we go to get a letter signed by a hospital doctor before they would release them. So we had to go to the hospital in the middle of the covid pandemic and get our eyes tested. Crazy!
 

Customs eventually released our lenses and we had to collect them from our local post office and pay import tax - I think it was 40%. 
 

We have subsequently used a supplier in Singapore and they said they keep orders down to 3 months to avoid any customs issues. That certainly worked for us on several deliveries. 
 

But now our lenses are available in Thailand we always use Moon Optic. 

I wear 1 Day Acuvue Oasys  for Astigmatism and order them from Moon Optic on Lazada. My wife orders Maxim soft 1 Day Multifocals (called Clarity in the U.K.). 

 

Very reliable and responsive supplier. You may need to order a month in advance if you need lenses for astigmatism as they might have to get them in stock given the huge number of variations in prescriptions for astigmatism. They now keep a running supply for me so when I order they arrive in a few days. 

[MadMuhammad]

2 minutes ago, skorts said:

 

Be careful on quantities if you order from overseas and keep it to a maximum of 3 months supply. This is my experience of importing contact lenses from the U.K.  
 

Back in 2020 my wife and I ordered 12 months supply each from the U.K. and had copies of our prescriptions enclosed to show they were for us.
 

Shipped by FedEx but held at customs in Bangkok. They insisted we go to get a letter signed by a hospital doctor before they would release them. So we had to go to the hospital in the middle of the covid pandemic and get our eyes tested. Crazy!
 

Customs eventually released our lenses and we had to collect them from our local post office and pay import tax - I think it was 40%. 
 

We have subsequently used a supplier in Singapore and they said they keep orders down to 3 months to avoid any customs issues. That certainly worked for us on several deliveries. 
 

But now our lenses are available in Thailand we always use Moon Optic. 

I wear 1 Day Acuvue Oasys  for Astigmatism and order them from Moon Optic on Lazada. My wife orders Maxim soft 1 Day Multifocals (called Clarity in the U.K.). 

 

Very reliable and responsive supplier. You may need to order a month in advance if you need lenses for astigmatism as they might have to get them in stock given the huge number of variations in prescriptions for astigmatism. They now keep a running supply for me so when I order they arrive in a few days. 

UPS, FedEx and the like are always painful, and expensive, the few times I’ve used them for sending/freighting/importing pretty much anything

I’ve found using the local post/EMS then onto ThaiPost to be ideal for all my mail/items. Car parts, clothing, credit cards, contacts etc many many times FYI. 
 

[NORDO]

17 hours ago, ignore it said:

YES

I bought two pair of glasses permeable hard contact lenses (not available in Thailand for an unknown reason) purported to be Boston II brand. Drop shipped to and forwarded from US mailbox service.  Shipped by DHL.  Absolutely no importation issues. FYI Chinese pirate product. Lenses not to prescription, color faint (blue and green indistinguishable) fit not accurate.  Return not cost effective. Avoid purchasing from 'Discount Contact Lenses' China company selling through US front.

Dirt cheap, but not worth it!

I have bought my CRT hard gas permeable lens from Dr Vision, Bang Kapi.  Have done this for many years.  As well, have them sent post to Europe and USA.  He speaks great English and is great to deal with.

[liddelljohn]

why buy online and import ???, the high quality genuine ones are easily available in Thailand and are 30% cheaper than in Europe

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 2/14/2023 at 2:15 AM, liddelljohn said:

why buy online and import ???, the high quality genuine ones are easily available in Thailand and are 30% cheaper than in Europe

You saw in the news the other day how the Thai police had raided a bunch of places that were supplying counterfeit brand-name toothpaste to both shops and online sources like Lazada???

 

There seem to be few if any things here that some crooks won't sell counterfeit, low-quality knock-offs of....in order to make an illegitimate baht.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 2/14/2023 at 1:03 AM, NORDO said:

Dr Vision, Bang Kapi

Are you really saying there's a Thai eye doctor in Bang Kapi with the real name of Dr. Vision???  Doesn't sound much like a Thai name to me... ????

 

 

[BigStar]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Are you really saying there's a Thai eye doctor in Bang Kapi with the real name of Dr. Vision???  Doesn't sound much like a Thai name to me... ????

Could it sound like the name of a Thai business?

[JimmyJ]

On 2/12/2023 at 8:35 PM, London Lowf said:

From a recommendation on here in October 2021 I bought them directly from TA-TO - two boxes of dailies (a month supply) for B1,840.00.

Who/what is "TA - TO"?

 

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by JimmyJ

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, BigStar said:

Could it sound like the name of a Thai business?

Yes, except poster Nordo concluded his comment above with the final sentence...

 

Quote

 He speaks great English and is great to deal with.

 

We don't usually refer to businesses with the pronoun "he".

[BigStar]

33 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Yes, except poster Nordo concluded his comment above with the final sentence...

 

 

We don't usually refer to businesses with the pronoun "he".

Oh, but could he then be referring to a doc working in a business named Dr. Vision without naming him?

 

If Dr. Vision were the name of the doc, then the business wouldn't be named, so it'd be about like saying, see Dr. Somchai in Bang Kapi. Difficult to look up on the net.

 

Indeed, this appears to be the case. You look up Dr. Vision in Google. Then you find the list of docs with Thai names you'll find satisfying working at that business:

 

http://doctorvision.net/category/บุคลากรnew/

 

One of them is particularly well-qualified in contact lenses and seems to be a lead guy.

 

Duh. Is your discomfort about a possible non-Thai name all resolved now? Can you sleep?

 

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by BigStar

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It was my roundabout way of encouraging the prior poster to actually name the specific doctor he was recommending -- as opposed to just listing the name of a business.  He didn't, but you later more or less did... so all is good!  ????

 

Interestingly, that doctor is listing himself as a specialist in orthokeratology -- which is a technique of using specially fitted hard (RGP) contact lenses often worn while sleeping to reshape the surface contour of people's eyes.... thus improving their vision and often letting them avoid wearing lenses or glasses during the days at all...

 

And that's a very hard specialty to find in Thailand.

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[London Lowf]

15 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Who/what is "TA - TO"?

 

 

It would have been quicker and simpler to Google "Ta-To" than to have typed your question.

 

(They are an online distributor)

[BigStar]

15 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

It was my roundabout way of encouraging the prior poster to actually name the specific doctor he was recommending -- as opposed to just listing the name of a business. 

Hee hee. Very cute & clever, who woulda thought. 'Course, it would have been more effective and useful, less time-wasting, and better for your credibility, just to go direct, google for yourself as I did, and confirm the doc w/ the poster.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

22 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Hee hee. Very cute & clever, who woulda thought. 'Course, it would have been more effective and useful, less time-wasting, and better for your credibility, just to go direct, google for yourself as I did, and confirm the doc w/ the poster.

You're the man!  ????

 

Appreciate your contribution.

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[JimmyJ]

Perhaps I should start a separate thread on "Lazada question" but will try here:

 

Ta-To has 1 box (6 lenses) of the Contact Lenses I want for 1,045 B, free shipping.

Checked Lazada, several people selling the same for about 690 - 713B.

 

I've read with interest previous Lazada threads, so I checked the Lazada store selling for 713B plus ~35B shipping.

"Look Ka Ta" - 3+ years on Lazada, seller rating 99% based on 6212 responses.

 

So I'm familiar with the "If it's too good to be true on Lazada" mantra, but a seller with a posted excellent rating, good amount of time on Lazada, many rated him.

 

Real or not?

 

PS - In the past when I've checked a store''s rating I've seen 3 different percentages - I think for Chat Response, Shipping, and something else.

Currently I haven't been able to find the 3 percentages, only an overall seller rating.

Where do I find the 3 percentage ratings?

Edited February 16, 2023 by JimmyJ

[JimmyJ]

On 2/13/2023 at 10:15 AM, skorts said:

But now our lenses are available in Thailand we always use Moon Optic. 

I wear 1 Day Acuvue Oasys  for Astigmatism and order them from Moon Optic on Lazada. My wife orders Maxim soft 1 Day Multifocals (called Clarity in the U.K.). 

 

Very reliable and responsive supplier. You may need to order a month in advance if you need lenses for astigmatism as they might have to get them in stock given the huge number of variations in prescriptions for astigmatism. They now keep a running supply for me so when I order they arrive in a few days. 

What is their url?

Edited February 17, 2023 by JimmyJ

[skorts]

5 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

What is their url?

Sorry no idea as I order from them via Lazada. 

[JimmyJ]

On 2/14/2023 at 1:03 AM, NORDO said:

I have bought my CRT hard gas permeable lens from Dr Vision, Bang Kapi.  Have done this for many years.  As well, have them sent post to Europe and USA.  He speaks great English and is great to deal with.

 

doctorvision.net?

 

What is the name of the man you refer to?

Edited February 17, 2023 by JimmyJ

[NORDO]

On 2/17/2023 at 8:57 AM, JimmyJ said:

 

doctorvision.net?

 

What is the name of the man you refer to?

I only know him as Dr Bird.  He teaches at RAMK Uni I believe.   His shop is Dr Vision across from Bang Kapi mall.  I have his line ID and that's how I contact him.  When I walk into his shop, the staff know who I am.  They are very punctual.

 

You can also Google his shop, Dr Vision.

 

RGP lens.   Regular and CRT (Ortho-K).   He has both.  

I have been doing the Ortho-K thing for more than 40 years.  Dr Bird has been doing my Ortho-K work for 11 years.

 

Im sure there are many Eye Doc's in Thailand that can supply you with RGP lens.   I just responded with the Doc I use.

 

[frantick]

I've had good service from the Sornthai shop on Lazada, but I use monthlys. They respond to chat quickly and have provided great service for 3 years for myself.