Contact lens wearers, want some recommendations

[mmntech]

Yeah - what's your prescription? Do you take your glasses off for sitting at the computer or reading.

I've just hit the point where I can't read if I'm wearing my contacts, only for distance. So definitely consider if you are taking your glasses off at various times.

Might be better off getting a really nice pair of glasses.

I'm nearsighted. Don't need them for reading but I do wear them all the time.

My decision to try contacts is a more cosmetic thing. I make web videos at work, which involves being in a studio with bright lights. My glasses cast an ugly shadow below my eyes, which makes me look tired. If I take them off, I can't see the marker on the camera where I'm supposed to look. The company isn't going to spend time and money adjusting the lighting just for me, so contacts are a better route. My benefits do cover them, so I'm not too worried about price.

I booked an appointment with the eye doctor on Friday. She knows I'm looking for contact lens advice. I'll bring up the dailies with her and see what she has to say.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

acuvue 2 is good. i think i'm currently using the oasys. have used a couple other brands. most doctors will give you some samples to try for a couple of weeks. some contacts breathe better and some are thinner. need to find the brand you're personally comfortable with. otherwise your stuck with a 6 month supply.

costco has lenses for cheap. if you need to order contacts without a current prescription this site is good. prices are a little higher though.
http://www.1-save-on-lens.com

 

[jaedaliu]

I only wear mine when I go out. So I have daily disposables. They're super comfortable, easily last the night, and are super expensive. However, a box of 30 can last me 6 months to a year (2 boxes, 1 for each eye.) I get just over $100 a year (or whatever my contact lens reimbursement from insurance is.)

Focus Dailies Toric.

 

[sze5003]

I wear biofinity monthly lenses. They are pretty comfortable and easy to put in. I did have to replace each lense during different days of the month because one time my left lense tore somehow then I replaced it and a week later my right one tore.

They usually last about a month and they get uncomfortable towards the end of the month. Usually I keep them in for 11-12 hrs a day even though you only are suppose to wear them 9 hours a day.

I went skydiving in these too and they didn't get dry either afterwards. I'll probably have to buy an extra box set towards the end of the year though. They cost about $60-70 per set. I paid $7 at the doctor since my insurance will cover a year's worth of lenses. Or one pair of glasses and a second pair for 50% off. But I got my stupid glasses for a buy 2 get one deal from another store without insurance since it was cheap.

 

[Imp]

I'm surprised -- but I'm not -- at the number of people who wear their lenses 24/7 (i.e. sleeping in them).

Last I read, some lenses are designed so that you can technically sleep in them. However, I've always taken them out for at least a few hours a day -- I usually take them out when I get home and put on glasses. Something about letting your eyes breathe. And letting them soak in solution shouldn't be bad for cleaning them out on a regular basis.

 

[sze5003]

I'm surprised -- but I'm not -- at the number of people who wear their lenses 24/7 (i.e. sleeping in them).

Last I read, some lenses are designed so that you can technically sleep in them. However, I've always taken them out for at least a few hours a day -- I usually take them out when I get home and put on glasses. Something about letting your eyes breathe. And letting them soak in solution shouldn't be bad for cleaning them out on a regular basis.

Yea a guy I work with wears monthly lenses that you can sleep in. I wouldn't try to sleep in them though because I've heard horror stories.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I don't remember the brand I wear, but I do know they're supposed to be monthly. However, I use them until they're ruined, then change them out. I think I'm on like the 4th month of my current pair. I need to get a new rx to get more because these are my last pair, but I just started a new job and ins. hasn't kicked in yet.

Edit: I don't sleep with them unless I'm drunk and pass out or just forget. Eyes feel horrible the next morning. Don't recommend.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

yeah i've fallen asleep with mine and they don't breathe too well. i know one guy that ripped out both his corneas and recently a girl ripped out one. heh she had to wear an eye patch. looked like a pirate.

definitely depends on the type of contacts you wear though. some never need to come out iirc.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I wear bi-weekly disposable contacts by Acuvue Oasys.

I normally use them for a month at a time, rather than just the two weeks. They easily stay fresh enough for one month, so it saves me money that way.

Been using that brand for many many years now.

Exact same thing I do. I just switch it when it starts getting dry.

 

[CU]

yeah i've fallen asleep with mine and they don't breathe too well. i know one guy that ripped out both his corneas and recently a girl ripped out one..

Ouch. I wore contacts from like 5th grade until sometime in high school. I don't remember the brand as this would have been in the mid 80's to mid 90's. I would sleep in mine for weeks straight. I couldn't even tell they were in. The doctor always said my eyes looked fine, guess I was lucky. My prescription wasn't very strong though. Not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Brainonska511]

I'm surprised -- but I'm not -- at the number of people who wear their lenses 24/7 (i.e. sleeping in them).

Last I read, some lenses are designed so that you can technically sleep in them. However, I've always taken them out for at least a few hours a day -- I usually take them out when I get home and put on glasses. Something about letting your eyes breathe. And letting them soak in solution shouldn't be bad for cleaning them out on a regular basis.

Not taking care of your lenses and wearing them for weeks on end (when they aren't designed for that) is a good way to develop eye problems. It's not an inconvenience to take out contacts at the end of the day, considering I only have one set of eyes and I should take care of them.

 

[Ns1]

acuvue

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I wear biofinity monthly lenses. They are pretty comfortable and easy to put in. I did have to replace each lense during different days of the month because one time my left lense tore somehow then I replaced it and a week later my right one tore.

They usually last about a month and they get uncomfortable towards the end of the month. Usually I keep them in for 11-12 hrs a day even though you only are suppose to wear them 9 hours a day.

I went skydiving in these too and they didn't get dry either afterwards. I'll probably have to buy an extra box set towards the end of the year though. They cost about $60-70 per set. I paid $7 at the doctor since my insurance will cover a year's worth of lenses. Or one pair of glasses and a second pair for 50% off. But I got my stupid glasses for a buy 2 get one deal from another store without insurance since it was cheap.

I also wear Biofinity lenses. My experience is pretty much the same as yours, but if I have to replace one lens I just toss them both out. I go back and forth between them and glasses depending on how I feel each day. I usually buy mine from Lens.con when they have a sale for 3+ boxes and it ends up costing ~$27 per box.

I use ClearCare lens solution (peroxide with a neutralizing stone) and I never have any hassle with cleaning. Not to mention the cleaning case holds the contacts in proper position and direction, making it very fast to put them in each day. Its significantly faster than putting in a new pair since I never have to check orientation.

The problem with contacts is finding one that fits your eye best. None of our recommendations are nearly as useful as having a fitting session and trying several different brands for comfort and fit.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I also wear Biofinity lenses. My experience is pretty much the same as yours, but if I have to replace one lens I just toss them both out. I go back and forth between them and glasses depending on how I feel each day. I usually buy mine from Lens.con when they have a sale for 3+ boxes and it ends up costing ~$27 per box.

I use ClearCare lens solution (peroxide with a neutralizing stone) and I never have any hassle with cleaning. Not to mention the cleaning case holds the contacts in proper position and direction, making it very fast to put them in each day. Its significantly faster than putting in a new pair since I never have to check orientation.

The problem with contacts is finding one that fits your eye best. None of our recommendations are nearly as useful as having a fitting session and trying several different brands for comfort and fit.

God that ClearCare thing was annoying. If you had to use your contacts anytime after taking them off you're screwed.

 

[Ns1]

God that ClearCare thing was annoying. If you had to use your contacts anytime after taking them off you're screwed.

that's why you only put them in the case at night...

 

[deadlyapp]

God that ClearCare thing was annoying. If you had to use your contacts anytime after taking them off you're screwed.

Funny story about that stuff - an ex girlfriend of mine was having dryness issues with her contacts and had forgotten to bring solution over to my house for the evening, so I volunteered to go pick some solution up at the store for her. She didn't tell me what type to get and when I asked her she said any of them will do. I mistakenly grabbed this clear care or similar stuff and she proceeded to squirt it directly into her eye to try to relieve the dryness.

I guess it relieved the dryness but she couldn't see for at least a few hours.

Good times.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I have pretty dry eyes (thanks Accutane). I wear Acuvue Oasys and they treat me well. The only thing I found is that I cannot use the ones that correct astigmatisms because the thicker portion of lenses gets significantly hard when just a little dry, thus causing a load of irritation. I have zero hope of wearing contacts longer than about 12 hours a day.

 

[sze5003]

I use opticlear express solution. Makes the contacts nice and soft and it's easier to put them in that way.

 

[Midwayman]

Daily lenses are the way to go. Less hassle with cleaning and storing, and way way more comfortable. Sure they are a little more, but its worth it.

 

[MongGrel]

I've been wearing contacts for 40 years or so now, so I guess I'm pretty much just used to having them in, and have no problem leaving the 30 day ones in non stop I guess.

It works here at any rate, though I might have to switch to the bifocal, multifocus type soon.

My far sightness has finally started going a bit, but just barely yet.

 

[CA19100]

God that ClearCare thing was annoying. If you had to use your contacts anytime after taking them off you're screwed.

True, but I've NEVER had lenses so clean in the morning. Absolutely the most effective solution I've ever used, and no need to rub to remove protein. Tried a sample on my doc's suggestion a few years ago, and never looked back.

I use the Biofinity Toric lenses, and have been very pleased.

 

[TridenT]

Your doctor usually prescribes or recommends a certain brand/set, in my experience. (Only been to two or three docs in WA/OR though, so what do I know?)

Anyway, I have a slight astigmatism in my right eye. I could have gotten the contacts that correct for that, but they're like two to three times as thick and very noticeable. It's like stepping back 20 years in contact technology. I decided to go with the regular ones and just save myself the uncomfortable wear and deal with the slight astigmatism (it's not the end of the world). I wear monthlys and I am near sighted. I don't wear them everyday anymore because I don't have to. (My job doesn't require distance vision. Only college does for reading the black/white/project board and that's only 3 days a week) I can read a computer screen pretty well from the distance that I usually sit from it. If not (i.e. I'm mega slouching in my chair and putting my feet up on the subwoofer/tower/desk) then I can increase the font size or make the video full screen.

I can walk or bike around town without my glasses fine. I sit at about -1.50, so that's why. I can also drive without my glasses, but not perfectly and I definitely don't like to. (Especially at night because of strong light halos/blurs/bokeh really fucking up my view, but I can do it in a pinch just fine...)

Anyway, monthlys are good for the cost. Downsides to the kind I have are that you need to put them in cases every night and cannot wear them while you sleep. (Really bad news bears otherwise. They like fucking dry onto your eye and it's horrible when you wake up. You think your eye is ruined for life because it's stuck on there pretty damn well and it hurts like a bitch to get off) That said, I don't think I could wear the kind that you can wear overnight/weeks constantly because my eyes are super dry.

On top of that, I don't actually like wearing contacts when I am at the computer for any extended period regardless of possible sharpness improvements. When I'm at the computer, my eyes don't typically blink that often. And because of that, the contacts dry up really fast, defocus, become difficult to get moisture into, and so I have to remember to blink. And it's just one more fucking thing to think about every few seconds that you don't want to. So, I don't wear them when I can avoid it...

I used to wear glasses for those kinds of occasions or when I needed my absolutely best vision. (Contacts do not have equal vision properties as glasses. Glasses are noticeably superior, but you probably wouldn't have noticed until I told you just now or if your optometrist did.) But mine were stolen. (Stolen. I don't know why people steal some shit, but they love my shit! My car, my bike, my glasses! Everything I touch!)


EDIT: Also, dailies do cost significantly more. $40+/month vs $15/month. (It adds up, mother fucker. That's $300+year for dailies! $300!!! You could buy multiple pairs of glasses with that!)

 

[alkemyst]

EDIT: Also, dailies do cost significantly more. $40+/month vs $15/month. (It adds up, mother fucker. That's $300+year for dailies! $300!!! You could buy multiple pairs of glasses with that!)

Costs are a consideration. What works for you works for you.

I don't mind spending a lot on my eyesight to see and be comfortable. I don't even notice I have contacts anymore and I have astigmatism.

I can't even buy single pair of glasses for $300 though

 

[Midwayman]

I can't even buy single pair of glasses for $300 though

http://www.zennioptical.com/

 

[Imp]

God that ClearCare thing was annoying. If you had to use your contacts anytime after taking them off you're screwed.

Oh, man. I heard about that stuff and did some research recently after switching contact solutions.

People buy that stuff and forget to read the bottle thinking they're all the same -- I'd be guilty of that at some point. That stuff apparently cleans lenses incredibly well but it'll burn your eyes out if you don't let it neutralize in the included case properly.