Thanks everybody for your replies.
I am seeing the optician this very afternoon (It has been a year so my prescription may indeed be out of date).
upupnaway: it has been suggested that i try the all day and night lenses (made with hydrogel apparently - lets more oxygen through(?)) so i might give them a go. Glad to hear you find them comfortable.
I have to say my eyes feel a lot better since I stopped wearing the lenses so i may have to bow to vanity and were glasses all the time!!
If I find out any more worth passing on I shall do so.