Crusader
Executive Member
I'm going to be getting contacts for the first time tomorrow. Are there any questions I should ask my optometrist or anything else I should pay attention to?
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Question of the Day: Have you ever been to an airshow?
Getting contacts for the first time
- Thread starter Crusader
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Mila
Honorary Master
Have you tested it?
Mine gave me 5 to test. (Disposable)
BF could not do it. I'm oke with it.
You will not be able to work on a pc for long times with it and wind in your face dries it out.
I can not put them in. I've tried a few times in my life to use contact lenses but I can't fight the urge to close my eyes. When they do go in they are quite uncomfortable.
Never do any unshielded welding with contacts on btw. They can fuse to your eye... or so my lecturers used to tell me.
Never do any unshielded welding with contacts on btw. They can fuse to your eye... or so my lecturers used to tell me.
Crusader
Executive Member
No, haven't tested any. Perhaps they'll give me some to test tomorrow although they ordered these specifically for me. So not sure.
Asked about computer use and she said it wouldn't be a problem. Problem happens when you are in a aircon environment apparently.
Asked about computer use and she said it wouldn't be a problem. Problem happens when you are in a aircon environment apparently.
Mila
Honorary Master
They say( the eye doctors) Girls get it easier because we put on mascara.
Mila
Honorary Master
Did they have to make yours? Is it disposables that they order. If it is the disposables ask your doc for trials before you buy a whole months worth.
Computer use: If like me you look at the screen most of the day you do not close your eyes enough times. You can teach yourself to do it but my eyes got so tired I only use mine on weekends.
In KNP when I stare at the "gras lions" I get all blured up too
This is probably very true.
Mila
Honorary Master
The worst thing ever is that eyelash curler thong!!But yeah I have figured it out
Sounds complicated, be careful when you put those on... could be dangerous.
Crusader
Executive Member
I'm not sure which kind they are or if it was specially made. I'm assuming its disposable. She suggested I try contacts and see how I get along.
One thing to bear in mind is that it's not good to keep contacts in for more than about 10 hours per day on a regular basis. I've stopped wearing them as my optometrist told me I was slowly causing problems as I was keeping them in for 12-15 hours per day.
What's very very very important is how clean your hands are before you put them in...i usually scrubs my palms and fingers with a nail brush then run it under the tap for a while. NEVER dry your hands with a towel if you going to insert your contacts...rather let them dry naturally...don't let your hands touch anything, let it dry by waving your hands.
The towel leaves fibre on your hands and...just don't do it.
You might not be used to putting it in, but you will get use to it. its very simple.
The towel leaves fibre on your hands and...just don't do it.
You might not be used to putting it in, but you will get use to it. its very simple.
Not all Optometrists can keep stock of trial lenses in all curvatures, diameters and strengths available to be able to hand them out immediately.
They initially measure your eyes for the lenses then order the trials for you.
You are probably going to get trial pairs tomorrow. If not then there's something not lekker going on. Request a trial pair before paying for a whole box (set). Sets usually contain anywhere between 3 - 6 month's worth of lenses in then and it's quite a lot to waste if you end up disliking them.
People's fear of putting things in their eyes comes from an inherent reflex. You assume it's going to hurt. Truth is you can touch your eye surface (with a wet finger, preferably) without causing it any damage or feeling any pain. Your eyes are just very sensitive and a very vulnerable part of the body so the urge to shield them is very strong. What most people don't realise is that you don't actually touch your eye when putting in or removing contacts. You only touch the contact. The contact touches your eye and is generally quite cold (from the solution) which is what causes people to jerk away.
I wore contact lenses for about 10 years from the age of about 12 or 13. If they're properly wet, the right way around and you just tilt your pupil slightly away and pop the contact onto the surface of your eye next to the pupil, then when you look forward again and then slowly blink the contact will be slid right into place. A few blinks and you're good to go.
It does take some time to get used to. The things to remember when working with contacts:
- Always wash and store them properly. Don't be shy with the solution - rather too much than too little.
- Don't be lazy and not take them out. You'll regret it.
- Don't sleep with them in. They dry out slightly and the pressure from your eyelids makes them stick to your eye's surface. Then you have to peel them off to get them out and sometimes you pull off the outer layer of cells with it. It can be a bit sting-ey. It also reduces the lifespan of your contacts.
- In the beginning, don't try to wear the contacts for a full day. Put them in for a few hours, then take them out again. Slowly over time you increase your daily wear hours as your eyes adjust. Your eyes take some time to get used to having them in, so don't push too hard at the start.
- You may struggle a bit with depth perception when putting lenses in initially. This is because everything will look exceptionally sharp and clear and strangely flat. Your eyes will adjust soon enough.
- Don't buy the cheapest lenses. The more breathable and moist the lens, the better your eyes will do. I wore contacts for 10 years with young eyes and i've "worn" my eyes out. I can't really wear contacts anymore these days - my eyes are exhausted within a few minutes of putting them in. Be kind to your eyes!
- always carry an extra case, a little bottle of solution, some contact-friendly eyedrops and your glasses or an extra pair with you. Contacts are easy to lose or tear and you never know when you might need to switch back to glasses or add some extra moisture to your eyes, especially when you work in an airconditioned environment. They can dry out, especially in the car.
- Sunglasses are your friend.
- Don't confuse left and right!
They initially measure your eyes for the lenses then order the trials for you.
You are probably going to get trial pairs tomorrow. If not then there's something not lekker going on. Request a trial pair before paying for a whole box (set). Sets usually contain anywhere between 3 - 6 month's worth of lenses in then and it's quite a lot to waste if you end up disliking them.
People's fear of putting things in their eyes comes from an inherent reflex. You assume it's going to hurt. Truth is you can touch your eye surface (with a wet finger, preferably) without causing it any damage or feeling any pain. Your eyes are just very sensitive and a very vulnerable part of the body so the urge to shield them is very strong. What most people don't realise is that you don't actually touch your eye when putting in or removing contacts. You only touch the contact. The contact touches your eye and is generally quite cold (from the solution) which is what causes people to jerk away.
I wore contact lenses for about 10 years from the age of about 12 or 13. If they're properly wet, the right way around and you just tilt your pupil slightly away and pop the contact onto the surface of your eye next to the pupil, then when you look forward again and then slowly blink the contact will be slid right into place. A few blinks and you're good to go.
It does take some time to get used to. The things to remember when working with contacts:
- Always wash and store them properly. Don't be shy with the solution - rather too much than too little.
- Don't be lazy and not take them out. You'll regret it.
- Don't sleep with them in. They dry out slightly and the pressure from your eyelids makes them stick to your eye's surface. Then you have to peel them off to get them out and sometimes you pull off the outer layer of cells with it. It can be a bit sting-ey. It also reduces the lifespan of your contacts.
- In the beginning, don't try to wear the contacts for a full day. Put them in for a few hours, then take them out again. Slowly over time you increase your daily wear hours as your eyes adjust. Your eyes take some time to get used to having them in, so don't push too hard at the start.
- You may struggle a bit with depth perception when putting lenses in initially. This is because everything will look exceptionally sharp and clear and strangely flat. Your eyes will adjust soon enough.
- Don't buy the cheapest lenses. The more breathable and moist the lens, the better your eyes will do. I wore contacts for 10 years with young eyes and i've "worn" my eyes out. I can't really wear contacts anymore these days - my eyes are exhausted within a few minutes of putting them in. Be kind to your eyes!
- always carry an extra case, a little bottle of solution, some contact-friendly eyedrops and your glasses or an extra pair with you. Contacts are easy to lose or tear and you never know when you might need to switch back to glasses or add some extra moisture to your eyes, especially when you work in an airconditioned environment. They can dry out, especially in the car.
- Sunglasses are your friend.
- Don't confuse left and right!
Crusader
Executive Member
Would it be best to get glasses as well? These where supposed to replace my glasses, but if you are going to have to switch between contacts/glasses it doesn't make much sense.
i would suggest you get glasses as well, you can where a pair of lenses for a month, but you can also where it for more or less a year if you only use it on weekends.
The reason why i would suggest glasses is, you going to need it when driving, lenses are not a good option if you going to drive...and glasses gives you the opportunity to stretch the lifetime of a pair of lenses for longer.
Even when you are at home, your eyes might get tired of lenses, mainly because your eyes are not breathing, that's what lenses do, but when the need arises, the glasses at home would be great replacement.
At work(depending on the work you do), glasses, at home, glasses, but weekends...when you on the prowl for girls, contacts.lol
The reason why i would suggest glasses is, you going to need it when driving, lenses are not a good option if you going to drive...and glasses gives you the opportunity to stretch the lifetime of a pair of lenses for longer.
Even when you are at home, your eyes might get tired of lenses, mainly because your eyes are not breathing, that's what lenses do, but when the need arises, the glasses at home would be great replacement.
At work(depending on the work you do), glasses, at home, glasses, but weekends...when you on the prowl for girls, contacts.lol
Crusader
Executive Member
Guess I'll find out tomorrow if I can handle it. My major problem is that I'm 200km away from the nearest optometrist so it's not as if I can go round exchanging/changing stuff on a daily basis.
Maddmatt
Expert Member
If they're too hard to put in and uncomfortable, then they're not for you. So don't go crazy if you can't deal with them.
The optometrist was scared I was going to kick him in the nuts when he tried putting my contacts in. Managed to get one in, too uncomfortable. Gave up, went with glasses.
Quite fond of the glasses with transition lenses I have, not sure I would want my eyes fixed with Lasik or anything now because it means losing my glasses
The optometrist was scared I was going to kick him in the nuts when he tried putting my contacts in. Managed to get one in, too uncomfortable. Gave up, went with glasses.
Quite fond of the glasses with transition lenses I have, not sure I would want my eyes fixed with Lasik or anything now because it means losing my glasses
Mila
Honorary Master
how bad is it?
If you have to wear them you will hate not having the specs for TV days.