SchumiTEC

So I have a stigmatism and have a very low prescription, the thing is I hate wearing my glasses (it's been only 8 months). I don't have to wear glasses all the time, however chose to because it reduces my headaches.

I went to the optometrist today and tried on contact lenses for the first time.
Different.... Not one to be touching my eyes, let alone the doctor do them.

For those of you that wear contact lenses do you get use to putting them in and taking them out? And what brand do you use?



Shaun

Sam Erin

I've been wearing contacts for about 13 years (since I was 12 years old). I think the first day I put them in at home, it took about 30 minutes. Soon after, it only took about 1.5 seconds. Trust me, you'll be able to put them in while you're sleeping.

I've worn 5 or 6 different brands, they all work for me. Some people find that they only like one brand. If you can feel them in your eyes then they aren't right for you- just tell your doc that you want a different type. I think my most recent ones have been Avara and Acuvue? Just don't put them in wrong-side out, that hurts!! And don't put them in after dicing onions or hot peppers.

SchumiTEC

Do you use the daily ones, weekly ones or monthly ones?

Sam Erin

Monthly. But I wear the same pair for 2 or 3 months (taken out every night)- which you are NOT supposed to do!!! Lol. If you only plan on wearing them a few days out of the week, the daily ones would probably work best for you. I still wear my glasses every day, too, for a few hours before bedtime.

CactusGirl

I also have an astigmatism and have worn contacts since I was 14. I hate how glasses look on me, so generally use them only when at home (I also am super light sensitive, so contacts work better with sunglasses that are dark enough for me).

I wear monthly contacts. They are torics, which correct the astigmatism in both eyes. If I wear them for much longer than the month, the toric part weakens and I don't see as well. When I started learning to put contacts in, they told me to go slow and only wear it a short time, increasing it each day. For example, you start with 1/2 hour the first day, 2 hours the second, etc.

As for putting them in, believe me the first few times are freaky but you get used to it. It won't take long once you're used to them to put them in and out. Generally they have some sort of marking which will help let you know if it's right side up or not (at least mine do). I've been wearing them so long I can now put them in and take them out without a mirror or anything. Some people are more comfortable at first not looking directly at their finger coming at them, looking up then putting the contact on the eye and then looking back into the contact. Depends on what your doctor says as that can lead scratches if you're not careful.

Good luck! Contacts were/are my lifesaver.

Fitzmar Dobermans

I've worn contacts for 33 years - at this time, I wear monthly contacts that I do take out every night. My close up vision is shot now, so I wear reading glasses.

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Rosemary

I've worn contacts since 1983. I am also one who hates anything around my eyes, but I've learned to tolerate contacts. I can vouch for the wrong lens being uncomfortable. I can only wear one type of lens made by Bausch & Lomb. Nothing else we've tried fits properly, because I have an unusually shaped eyeball.

Funny thing is, I can't look in the mirror to put them in. As soon as I got used to putting them in or taking them out, I quit watching. And things in my eye (besides the lenses) still hurt like the dickens. You know, silly little things, like putting in a lens with a cat hair trapped between it and your eye. Still hate glasses, and have problems with depth perception and side vision when I wear them. Much prefer contacts.

maggiemay

Have you considered Lasix? Then you wouldn't have to wear contacts.

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Murreydobe

I'm another person who's weird about anything/anyone touching my eyes. I tried contacts twice, at two different times in my life. I NEVER got used to them, there was never a moment in time when I could completely forget there was a foreign body in my eye.

Never again...glasses it is for me.

Tater927

I have had contacts for 15+ years. At first I was terrible and fumbled around, but now I have no problem putting them in/taking them out. I've tried a few different brands/types over the years. I currently use the Acuvue Advance ones that you are supposed to change every two weeks, but like many others I end up wearing them a bit longer. I had to switch to them because they are one of the only ones I can get strong enough for my left eye without having to special order. I've had them for about a year and they've been great.

Stick with it for a while and you will probably get used to it. On a side note, any other contact wearers that have no problem with the contacts but can't for the life of them keep eyes open for putting drops in?

SchumiTEC

I have considered it, actually considering it more now that I actually tried contacts today lol.

Jenny

Worn contacts forever. Well a least 20 years. Have astigmatism in both eyes plus I am -5.50 in one eye and -4.75 in the other. I can only wear one type of toric lenses made by bausch & Lomb. I take them out nightly. They last a few months! I hate glasses on me an always look over them. You get used to them. I can get them in and out of my eyes without a mirror. Unfortunately I am not a candidate for LASIK.

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Jenny & Vader

maggiemay

Perhaps have an exam to see if you are a candidate for Lasik and go from there. If you are, it could solve the contact lens issue for you

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CactusGirl

Oh I absolutely have that problem. I can bash my finger into my eye to get the contacts in or out with no problem, but I cannot figure out how to put eye drops in without blinking or closing my eyes.

the_discowhore

My partner does that too lol

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Tater927

Yeah, I had eye surgery and had to have drops put in 3x/day for a several weeks and it remained a pain the whole time. I had to have my bf do it because at least that way I didn't actually know exactly when they would drop.

DoubleDogDare

I would definitely go for the Lasik, if you're a candidate and if you have the finances. Though, anymore, it's not hard to find places that will do it on reasonable payment plans.

I wore contacts for about ten years. I was miserable the whole time. I was a -3.75 in both eyes, had astigmatism, and a really bad problem with dry eyes. With contacts, it always felt like I had sand in my eyes. And I can remember more than once, having to literally peel my contacts off my eyeballs because my eyes were so dry.

I got Lasik about six years ago, and I would do it over again in a heartbeat, and pay twice as much! It's absolutely amazing! I'm still at 20/15. Only problems I had is that I went back to a 20/25 when I was pregnant each time (apparently pregnancy really screws with things, including your vision). My doc promised me it would correct itself after I delivered, but that if it got bad, I could get glasses or contacts for during the pregnancy. It never got bad enough for that, and sure enough, within a week of delivery, I was right back to 20/15.

I can't recommend Lasik enough. Changed my life.

TaniaShari

I've also worn contacts for at least 20 years and I too have astigmatism. I've found the most comfortable are Biofinity Toric ...-5.5 right and -3.5left so have to have them for everything. I'm not a candidate for laser eye sx due to astigmatism not being stable...I think it has to be stable for at least a year? If I could have laser, I would in a minute...hate contacts and glasses - pain the ass. Any particles get in your eyes with contacts it's like sandpaper rubbing your eye balls...
Putting them in and taking them out is nothing to me anymore, grosses my family out though I like switching up with my glasses just to give my eyes a rest from the contacts...but anything active (hiking, treadmill, etc...) and I have to wear my contacts... If you are candidate for laser,,,I'd go for it!

Barkz

I wear the daily ones. A lot less hassle and just toss them in the trash at the end of the day. That way if they rip or fall out it isn't that big of a deal.

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Sorry for any stupid, offensive, or just plain wrong comment in advance.

Rosemary

Wow, I wish my prescription was only a -5.0. My right eye is -10.0, and my left eye is now -11.0. I have started to wear reading glasses with my contacts, because my eye doctor told me I could either see to drive, or see to read, so which did I want? I picked driving, silly me. He also says that Lasik should be considered a medical neccessity in my case, and not the "optional" "cosmetic" procedure my insurance claims it is.

EmilyB

I still have nightmares about contacts...

That is only because it was over 20 years ago, and if you had astigmatism then, you had to wear what was called "gas permeables", a harder lens.

I was in a windstorm and got sand under them and after excrutiating pain in trying to remove, ended up severely damaging my eyes.

I ended up having a procedure similar to Lasix, but am left with eyes that continually lose the epithelium layer, and it hurts like hell.

I wear glasses and will never put another thing in my eye ever again.

GingerGunlock

Put me in the "wears disposable contacts for far longer than the package says, while still taking them out every night" camp.

I also have an astigmatism in both eyes; the left was known since I was 10 (when I got glasses). Got the contacts at 14. Last eye exam (2006) showed astigmatism in right eye now as well. I get the Biomedics/Ultraflex Toric, and I order 'em from saveonlens.com. The kicker is that my fiance really really likes my glasses, but I don't like having anything on my face anymore.

That, and glasses + Doberman is an eye injury waiting to happen. Aggressive cuddles, for the corneal gouging!

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sheezbusy

I had an astigmatism and used toric contact lenses. Eventually they bothered me too much and I just wore my glasses. About 4 years ago I had eye surgery. My cornea was too thin for Lasik so I had a procedure called PRK. Wish I did it years ago!

Lisa

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SchumiTEC

Did that as well yesterday! I am a candidate as my astigmatism is a very low prescription, the thickness of the tissue in my eye and young (31 doesn't sound young to me anymore lol)

It's about $5000 all in. I Will defiantly be considering it!

SchumiTEC

That is my biggest fear lol, even with the soft lenses. Yesterday it took forever to get the lenses out of both eyes, was like they were stuck in there. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, however, when it comes to my eyes I am not so tough lol.

Also I woke up with a horrible headache this morning, I will presume it's from the contacts.