Does anyone use contact lenses?

[JuliusSeizure]

I went to try out contacts the other day as I want to ditch glasses and it is not easy to get LASIK where i am.

Putting them on and taking them off was a challenge. The thought of touching my eyes is also something that scares me. It felt great to be able to see properly without glasses but I still cannot put them on and take them off on my own and so will probably have to go back and practice for a while.

For those that use contacts, how long did it take you to get comfortable putting them on and taking them off?

 

[The_Ogre]

I used to wear them between the ages of 10 and 18. Mainly because of getting teased for my thick ass glasses at school. You get used to inserting them after a couple of weeks of practice, though my dad had to help me at first.

Then at 18 had LASIK. Now, ironically, I'm back to multifocals, much thinner though. This is due to my eyes ageing (I'm 41) and I sit in front of a PC all day. I would much rather wear glasses now, not going through another round of LASIK. Those lasers are incredibly uncomfortable to look into!

 

[koffiejunkie]

Getting use to putting them in and - more significantly - taking them out, too me a few weeks to get the hang of, and many months to become fluent in. That said, I count this as one of the best things I ever did for myself.

Keep at it, you won't be sorry. Maybe start with the dailies for a few months until you can reliably take them out without damaging them. Once it's not an issue, move to bi-weeklies - cheaper in the long run.

 

[Priapus]

I wear them daily. Though I have to use hard contact lenses. Not the soft ones.

It took weeks to finally get used to them. Touching my eye was also scary.

Now I put them in and take them out easy and don’t give it much thought.


Much better than wearing glasses - I tried that and just could not get used to them.

 

[Polymathic]

I wear them daily. Though I have to use hard contact lenses. Not the soft ones.

It took weeks to finally get used to them. Touching my eye was also scary.

Now I put them in and take them out easy and don’t give it much thought.


Much better than wearing glasses - I tried that and just could not get used to them.

I probably have to get contacts soon. When I went to get my eye test for my license the optician said that I just scraped through for the minimum requirement for driving without glasses.

I got glasses over a decade ago but never could get used to them.

 

[Pixsy]

I've been using soft contact lenses for many years now. The first few days of using them I did panic each time I put them in and needed to take them out. The whole "touching my eyeball" thing freaked me out too. It took me about 2 to 3 weeks to get used to the process and stop freaking out. Haven't looked back since. You need to be quite strict with yourself ensuring you keep the lenses clean to prevent eye infections. Also never sleep with them still on. I know people who've done that and it's a mission removing the lenses after.

 

[Priapus]

I probably have to get contacts soon. When I went to get my eye test for my license the optician said that I just scraped through for the minimum requirement for driving without glasses.

I got glasses over a decade ago but never could get used to them.

I had the same experience with my last eye test for drivers license. Just scraped through. Thing is, I had not realised just how much my eyesight deteriorated.

Thing is, with my eye condition; glasses are not an option - the first optometrist I visited gave me glasses that ultimately didn't work. Only after seeing a specialist, I was recommended to have eye surgery and then RGP contacts (Hard lenses)

I've gotten so used to them, I don't even feel them in my eyes most days.

I've been using soft contact lenses for many years now. The first few days of using them I did panic each time I put them in and needed to take them out. The whole "touching my eyeball" thing freaked me out too. It took me about 2 to 3 weeks to get used to the process and stop freaking out. Haven't looked back since. You need to be quite strict with yourself ensuring you keep the lenses clean to prevent eye infections. Also never sleep with them still on. I know people who've done that and it's a mission removing the lenses after.

Same with hard lenses. Since I only have one pair of contacts, they need to be kept clean and soaked overnight - otherwise not doing that properly, just once, means your eyes burn when putting them in the next morning.

Yup, never sleep with them in - though I have had naps with them in, which I think is OK. Not like they can go anywhere, just a mission to get out if the get stuck at the top (under the lid) of the eye ball.

 

[WAslayer]

Took me about two or three days to get the hang of it and was fine from there.. must say, I have slept with mine a number of times and the only thing that bothered me, is I could feel the lens while I was sleeping, which didn't make for much peaceful sleep..

Being lazy, I eventually switched to dailies, as cleaning the monthlies was too much of a chore..

I am back to glasses now though, contact lenses are just too expensive these days.. if I can get them cheaper for the same quality, would go back..

 

[Priapus]

I am back to glasses now though, contact lenses are just too expensive these days.. if I can get them cheaper for the same quality, would go back..

I guess that’s where I am lucky. My contact lenses are reusable for up to like 2+ yrs. Maybe longer with good care. So that helps.

 

[Hemi300c]

I have been wearing lenses since about 1988

The ones I wear now are soft multifocals and as per the past I take them out once every six months or so for the first time and put new ones in. I give a very good rinse in the morning and evening.

@OP
You will get the hang of taking out and putting in very quickly
Keep rinsing with lens cleaner
As soon as you feel something irritating your eye react.

 

[B-1]

Got to an point this year where glasses were not optional anymore. Started wearing contacts a few times a week. The first few days were a bit of a struggle but once you get the trick you should get them in within 1-3 tries on average.
I'm paying R1050 for 6 months worth of contacts.

 

[RedViking]

Got to an point this year where glasses were not optional anymore. Started wearing contacts a few times a week. The first few days were a bit of a struggle but once you get the trick you should get them in within 1-3 tries on average.
I'm paying R1050 for 6 months worth of contacts.

That's also cheaper than wearing glasses. It's insane what the stuff cost.

 

[B-1]

That's also cheaper than wearing glasses. It's insane what the stuff cost.

You really need both but the glasses should last longer if you don't use them every day. The optometrist I use is pretty decent though, glasses can be under R2000 with him. I paid R3500 but only because the frame was pricey. I don't have any special requirements though, just getting old.

 

[Sworaxe]

Been using them for many years, since I was a teenager. Get used to it pretty quick, maybe a week or two.
Make sure hands are clean before you start putting them in or taking out.
Also do not go to sleep with them in. Your eyes will dry out during sleep, and they get stuck.
It hurts like a mf taking them out next day.

 

[BrotherTheresa]

Have also been using it for years. You will get used to it. Was wearing soft, disposable lenses until a year ago.
I switched to hard, scleral lenses. What an improvement. Vision is much improved, and the comfort is exceptional, not that the soft lenses bothered me, but these lenses are so much better.

 

[SykomantiS]

Used to wear contacts when I was very young- primary and high school. Now I'm too lazy to bother every morning and night, so I use my glasses. I do have a pair or 3 that I got but not really using it.

I can't remember how young I was when I started using contacts or how long it took me to get the hang of, but I think it was pretty quick. I have no qualms touching my eyes, but I do get iffy when other people try to.

Something to note: you do get a type of lens that you can keep in and sleep with, it's a monthly I think. Not sure on the details/manufacturer. Thing is, they don't work for everyone- and I'm one of those. Speaking under correction here but it is a protein build-up in/on the eye that is the issue for people who can't use these lenses and sleep with them in. So in my case, using those lenses has no benefit but my wife's best friend for example, has no issue with her contacts. Your optometrist should be able to give more details.

 

[CUZ_458]

i have the daily lenses for stigmatism but not for more than 5 hours in a day . I only use it when swimming or doing sports. I tried many different brands and types but nothing works for me to keep it in all day. The dryness and irritation gets to me after a couple of hours

 

[SHL]

I went to try out contacts the other day as I want to ditch glasses and it is not easy to get LASIK where i am.

Putting them on and taking them off was a challenge. The thought of touching my eyes is also something that scares me. It felt great to be able to see properly without glasses but I still cannot put them on and take them off on my own and so will probably have to go back and practice for a while.

For those that use contacts, how long did it take you to get comfortable putting them on and taking them off?

Just remember to remove them....

Seeing is believing: doctor finds 23 contact lenses hidden in patient's eye | You

The patient had been forgetting to remove her contact lenses at night and so they began bunching up in her eye, causing her major pain.

www.news24.com

 

[Big Rat]

Soft monthly lenses since 1994. Took a few weeks to get comfortable with them.
I got them for sports, and luckily never lost a lens in all these years of playing rugby.

 

[myBBexpert]

Used to wear contacts when I was very young- primary and high school. Now I'm too lazy to bother every morning and night, so I use my glasses. I do have a pair or 3 that I got but not really using it.

I can't remember how young I was when I started using contacts or how long it took me to get the hang of, but I think it was pretty quick. I have no qualms touching my eyes, but I do get iffy when other people try to.

Something to note: you do get a type of lens that you can keep in and sleep with, it's a monthly I think. Not sure on the details/manufacturer. Thing is, they don't work for everyone- and I'm one of those. Speaking under correction here but it is a protein build-up in/on the eye that is the issue for people who can't use these lenses and sleep with them in. So in my case, using those lenses has no benefit but my wife's best friend for example, has no issue with her contacts. Your optometrist should be able to give more details.

Please send wife's best friends number. Need clarity on something.