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Contact Lense questions

Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
In a nutshell. I finally got around to getting contact lenses. Problem is that my eyes have astigmatism and are smaller than the average human eye. If you weren't aware, astigmatism means they have to add more weight to the bottom of the contact, making it significantly larger than a normal contact lense. At present, it takes me anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour to get the lenses in my eyes.

While there is a marked improvement in my vision, there some things that are a little blurry. Text, mainly. With my glasses, I can lean back in my computer chair and read AT text on my 2005FPW LCD in FireFox with the text size on normal. With my contacts, the text is blurry. I can still read it, but I usually have to lean forward a little to do it. Also, blinking while looking at the text seams to sharpen it somewhat.

When I asked the rep at the clinic about this after first getting them both in, she said that glasses will make vision a lot sharper than contacts could potentially do. And since I've worn glasses for more than 10 years, my eyes are definitely not used to wearing contacts yet. She suggested, I try them for a week and see how I fare.

I do know whenever I get new lenses in my glasses, everything is a little out of focus while me eyes adjust.

Thankfully, the contacts do not seem to effect my driving abilities. Those still suck.

Cliffs

Glasses wearer for 10+ years.
Finally got contacts
Vision isn't quite as sharp.
Told to try them for a week.
 
Contacts can be a bitch at first, but eventually it will become as simple as putting your glasses on. It just takes some getting used to.
My contacts are no where near as clear as my glasses.

Explain to me how you put them on.
 
Do you use Toric lenses? I have an astigmatism as well and had the same exact problems you did until I was given a Toric lens for my left eye.

It does take a little time to adjust, depending on your Rx things will not look perfect for a little while. If you find yourself being able to focus sometimes and then not others I would suggest looking into a toric lens.

It is hard to tell from your post whether the lens they gave you was a toric, they have two little notches on the top and bottom so when you blink, they are pulled down into the correct position on your eyes.

And putting them in will take you no time after a while, it took me 5 years to be able to get contacts in, I would try every year at the doctor's office for hours. It just takes time. My suggestion is that you put the contact on the index finger of your dominant hand, put your other hand over your head and hold up your eyelid and then look at yourself in the mirror and touch the lens to your eye.
 
Yeah, going to contacts can be bothersome in alot of ways. I would say definitely give it a week or so and then see how you have adjusted. I ended up going back to glasses after wearing contacts for years because of the hassles as well as the now and again irritation due to dryness, dust, etc.

On a side note. I also found myself wondering if, in the long run over a period of years upon years, contacts could actually be harmful in some way. Thats another reason I decided to go back to glasses. Thats just me though😉
 
I think you'll find that over time you'll adapt. I have astigmatism as well, and use contacts and glasses more or less interchangeably. I have never bothered with astigmatism contacts - mine isn't too bad - but in general my vision is better with contacts. It's just nicer having an unfettered field of vision, you know?

I know this advice may be coming too late, but you might well have preferred non-astigmatism contacts, which would have been easier to put in. You might ask your doc for a trial pair of disposable non-astigmatism lenses to try.

You will get used to putting them in. I had a REALLY hard time when I started using contacts (I was 13 or 14), but got used to it quickly.
 
My whole process usually takes less then a minute for both eyes.

1-after brushing teeth and the whole washing face speal, rinse hands, spray contact solution on fingers.
2-Dip fingers into case, drag out a contact, place into eye, roll eye, blink
3-Repeat for other side.

EDIT: I wear my glasses when I think it'll be a busier day at work because I'll be staring at the monitor more. I like contacts when going out, but when I'm doing work, reading documents, looking at the screen like 3 feet away, glasses own contacts.
 
You'll get used to it.

edit: and yeah, I have poor vision (-8) with 180 degree astigmatism in my left eye and none in my right. My doctor's solution was to go with non-astigmatism contacts and underpower my left eye a touch. Worked great. Glasses do provide slightly sharper and clearer vision, but I hate the glare, the fscked up sense of scale, and the "fishbowl" vision.
 
I don't have any astigmatism, but it still took me about a year to get completely comfortable with them. At first I had trouble focusing on one thing for longer than a few seconds. And things would get blurry after a few seconds as well. It felt like my eyes were looking in different directions. They do take some getting used to, I imagine with an astigmatism it would only take longer than I did.
 
And don't ever put them on over your sink when you are running the water.
I have lost so many contacts by dropping them into the sink while the water is running.
 
Worn contacts for like 13 yrs now. I don't even own glasses anymore; I just can't stand them. I really want to get laser surgery now.
 
I have used contacts for years after being a diehard glasses fan, my most recent trip i picked up these and they are the best contact lenses i have ever used.

Text
 
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
And don't ever put them on over your sink when you are running the water.
I have lost so many contacts by dropping them into the sink while the water is running.
Click to expand...
As a gas permeable contact wearer for years who switched to soft about 4 years ago, I can strongly say that:

soft contacts >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> gas permeables
 
Same situation here. I tried 3 different brands of contacts, 3 weeks each and couldn't see clearly better than 30% of the time.

I enjoy seeing clearly too much to wear them and I'm now back to glasses.

In my case, it could also be a cse fo getting older. I'm 42
 
It is accepted that glasses will be sharper than contacts. Contacts also make your eyes more sensitive to light. I have one eye with toric and one regular. I have been using them for about a year now and I got comfortable after about a month. The toric lens will sometimes rotate on your eye and cause you some pain (like when your head is tilted). If you have a strong motivation to wear contacts for whatever reason, then stick with them for a week. If these don't work out, ask them to give you another trial pair of another brand. Each brand is made differently and perhaps another one will fit you better.
 
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
And don't ever put them on over your sink when you are running the water.
I have lost so many contacts by dropping them into the sink while the water is running.
Click to expand...
As a gas permeable contact wearer for years who switched to soft about 4 years ago, I can strongly say that:

soft contacts >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> gas permeables
Click to expand...

I've never worn glass contacts. Always soft. I can tell you that even though they are more expensive, the daily wear, disposable contacts are the most comfortable. They are the thinnest and you hardly even notice they are there. Then you chunk them, and throw on a fresh pair in the morning.
 
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
My suggestion is that you put the contact on the index finger of your dominant hand, put your other hand over your head and hold up your eyelid and then look at yourself in the mirror and touch the lens to your eye.
Click to expand...

I don't have astigmatism lenses, but I put my contacts in like this, but add to this procedure using your dominant hand middle finger to hold down the bottom eyelid. Just making sure the eye is wide open so the lens doesn't get caught on anything as you put it in.

I didn't like the idea of putting something in my eye when I first got contacts, but once I got used to them, it's great not to have something sitting on your nose all day, collecting scratches and raindrops, and to be able to wear real sunglasses and play sports with no fear.

Just hope you don't have problems with irritation or 'breathing' 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Furyline
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
My suggestion is that you put the contact on the index finger of your dominant hand, put your other hand over your head and hold up your eyelid and then look at yourself in the mirror and touch the lens to your eye.
Click to expand...

I don't have astigmatism lenses, but I put my contacts in like this, but add to this procedure using your dominant hand middle finger to hold down the bottom eyelid. Just making sure the eye is wide open so the lens doesn't get caught on anything as you put it in.

I didn't like the idea of putting something in my eye when I first got contacts, but once I got used to them, it's great not to have something sitting on your nose all day, collecting scratches and raindrops, and to be able to wear real sunglasses and play sports with no fear.

Just hope you don't have problems with irritation or 'breathing' 🙁
Click to expand...

I also use the middle finger of the same hand I am using the index finger of to hold down the eyelid. I don't pull the top eyelid up.
But my eyes have a problem with breathing and I get frequent headaches when I wear my contacts.
 
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Do you use Toric lenses? I have an astigmatism as well and had the same exact problems you did until I was given a Toric lens for my left eye.
Click to expand...

Both eyes are Toric lenses. Apparenty, my astigmatism is bad enough to warrant it.

My firs time at the clinic, I could not get them it at all. Almost 3 hours after I started, I left frustrated. Same thing happened the 2nd time, although I managed to get the left eye in. The third time, I got my right eye in and my left eye in.

They did schedule a followup appointment next week, lense prescription may change then.

As for putting them on, I usually have to try multiple techniques to get them in. For the left eye, I put the lense on the very tip of my right index finger, holding my left eye open with the fingers of my left hand from the side. That usually works fairly well.

My right eye is always the more problematic one though. Usually, putting it on the index finger of right hand and holding my eye open from above with the left seems to have the highest success rate.

My right eye seems to be a LOT more touchy than my left eye as well. Even getting close to my right eye with a finger causes a twitching spasm. Have to be quick putting in the right eye.
 
i had a heck of a time getting used to contacts while looking at computer monitors, but now it's switched. i've had contacts for about 3 months and now i have a hard time looking at monitors WITHOUT my lenses in

go figure
 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Do you use Toric lenses? I have an astigmatism as well and had the same exact problems you did until I was given a Toric lens for my left eye.
Click to expand...

Both eyes are Toric lenses. Apparenty, my astigmatism is bad enough to warrant it.

My firs time at the clinic, I could not get them it at all. Almost 3 hours after I started, I left frustrated. Same thing happened the 2nd time, although I managed to get the left eye in. The third time, I got my right eye in and my left eye in.

They did schedule a followup appointment next week, lense prescription may change then.

As for putting them on, I usually have to try multiple techniques to get them in. For the left eye, I put the lense on the very tip of my right index finger, holding my left eye open with the fingers of my left hand from the side. That usually works fairly well.

My right eye is always the more problematic one though. Usually, putting it on the index finger of right hand and holding my eye open from above with the left seems to have the highest success rate.

My right eye seems to be a LOT more touchy than my left eye as well. Even getting close to my right eye with a finger causes a twitching spasm. Have to be quick putting in the right eye.
Click to expand...

You will get it. It just takes a bit of time. No worries.
 
It is not unusual for new contact wearers to have difficulty getting the lenses in and out. It is contrary to human nature to put something in your eye. You get used to it. I've been wearing contacts for more than 20 years (since I was 12, 34 now).
 
Originally posted by: hjo3
That's messed up... my eyes are astigmatic and I can get contacts in in about 2 minutes.
Click to expand...

what the hell is the matter with all u people? 2 minutes? 😛

If it took me more than 20 seconds for both eyes in the morning I'd really start to get annoyed... I hate it when it doesn't go in on the first drop.. heh

I'd say, 10 seconds for both eyes when I am getting ready for work in the morning.
 
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
And don't ever put them on over your sink when you are running the water.
I have lost so many contacts by dropping them into the sink while the water is running.
Click to expand...
As a gas permeable contact wearer for years who switched to soft about 4 years ago, I can strongly say that:

soft contacts >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> gas permeables
Click to expand...
I've never worn glass contacts. Always soft. I can tell you that even though they are more expensive, the daily wear, disposable contacts are the most comfortable. They are the thinnest and you hardly even notice they are there. Then you chunk them, and throw on a fresh pair in the morning.
Click to expand...
Hard lenses are still plastic. I figured you might wear them because it is typical to rinse them under running water, the usual way they are lost (for me at least). And gas perms are long term use, a pair cost a couple hundred or more and can last for several years. So losing one can be a real disaster. I used to have to wear gas perms because of the astigmatism in my left eye, but then they came out with toric lenses, and now this technique with regular softs (which was the best thing ever let me tell you).

I wear 30 day softs now and could scarcely care if I lose one. They're so cheap after my insurance that I bought a couple years' supply in advance.
 
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