Contact Lenses

[sidious618]

Eye doctors have consistently told me that I'm a good candidate for contact lenses but the thought of touching my eye terrifies me so I've never done it. Lately, I've been reconsidering because I look better sans glasses. Still, the thought of putting things into my eye gives me the chills so I ask you fine folks: what's your experiences with contacts lenses? Should I make the jump?

 

[Canadave]

I think my prescription is too strong to make them feasible, but even if they were, I doubt I'd switch from glasses. Contacts just seem like too much hassle without enough reward, to me.

 

[Timby]

Eye doctors have consistently told me that I'm a good candidate for contact lenses but the thought of touching my eye terrifies me so I've never done it. Lately, I've been reconsidering because I look better sans glasses. Still, the thought of putting things into my eye gives me the chills so I ask you fine folks: what's your experiences with contacts lenses? Should I make the jump?

I'm in the exact same boat as you -- I'm 27, and I've worn corrective lenses since 1991. I've tried to do contacts several times, as recently as this year when I got new glasses, but every single time, I just can't get past my issue of putting something on my eyeball.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I'm on the same boat. I have troubles putting eyedrops in my eyes, so I can't help you on this.

In general, I like how I look with glasses (I dig the young scholar look), but when I go running they are a real nuisance, so I go without, with great risk of lives and limbs. I've been thinking about getting a pair of sport glasses, but I've never got around to actually doing it...

 

[Canadave]

^ That would pretty much be literally impossible for me to do. I'd run into the first tree I came across.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Well, I'm short-sighted but nothing dramatic. I can manage quite well, except for reading traffic signs and stuff. The worst part for me is that I can't see the pretty ladies running on the same park track as me.

 

[Kestra]

Eye doctors have consistently told me that I'm a good candidate for contact lenses but the thought of touching my eye terrifies me so I've never done it. Lately, I've been reconsidering because I look better sans glasses. Still, the thought of putting things into my eye gives me the chills so I ask you fine folks: what's your experiences with contacts lenses? Should I make the jump?

I'm in the exact same boat as you -- I'm 27, and I've worn corrective lenses since 1991. I've tried to do contacts several times, as recently as this year when I got new glasses, but every single time, I just can't get past my issue of putting something on my eyeball.

I'm on the same boat. I have troubles putting eyedrops in my eyes, so I can't help you on this.

In general, I like how I look with glasses (I dig the young scholar look), but when I go running they are a real nuisance, so I go without, with great risk of lives and limbs. I've been thinking about getting a pair of sport glasses, but I've never got around to actually doing it...

Man, I'm the opposite. I have no problem touching my eyes and have been putting in drops by myself since I was in elementary school. I have glasses that I only wear when driving, mostly because I hate them. I tried to do contacts but with my bad allergies, it just didn't work for me. I wish I could wear contacts!

I say start small ... putting drops or something. Maybe just closing your eyes and lightly touching your eyelid?

I forgot to add that you do look good in glasses though, Sidious. I can see why you'd want options but just thought I'd mention that.

 

[Timby]

Well, I'm short-sighted but nothing dramatic. I can manage quite well, except for reading traffic signs and stuff. The worst part for me is that I can't see the pretty ladies running on the same park track as me.

Lucky you. I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

 

[sidious618]

Ha, thanks, Kestra, I appreciate it!

And thanks to everyone else for giving me advice and/or letting me know we're in the same boat.

 

[iguana_tonante]

And thanks to everyone else for giving me advice and/or letting me know we're in the same boat.

The second part is not very useful, but at least it's comforting!

 

[RandyS]

I don't like putting things in or near my eye either. I'm always afraid of putting my eye out, which is why I personally regard contact lenses as the ultimate oxymoron. They're supposed to improve your vision, but if you put them in wrong, you risk serious damage to your eye--ruining your vision.

No, this is one area that, when the time comes for me to need glasses (if I ever do), vanity can go straight to hell.

 

[Kestra]

Well, I'm short-sighted but nothing dramatic. I can manage quite well, except for reading traffic signs and stuff. The worst part for me is that I can't see the pretty ladies running on the same park track as me.

Lucky you. I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

My husband has horrible vision and I am always having to find his glasses for him. They're often right in front of him and he can't even see them.

 

[RoJoHen]

I have glasses that I only wear when driving, mostly because I hate them. I tried to do contacts but with my bad allergies, it just didn't work for me. I wish I could wear contacts!

I have glasses for driving as well, but I haven't been to the eye doctor since I was 16 and first got that prescription. In the last year or two, I've noticed my vision getting worse. I still get by just fine, but I have to squint at things a lot more than I used to.

I think I'm going to try and get to the eye doctor at some point in the near future, and I think I will attempt to get contacts, but touching my eyes is something I can't imagine doing. When my sister got contacts, she would cry for hours because she just couldn't bring herself to touch her eyes, and she would be so frustrated...but now she does it just fine, so I'm sure I'd get used to it.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

I can come over there and poke you in the eye so you can get over the ick factor.

Seriously, I used to think it was gross touching my eye. But you get used to it. Just don't touch them with dirty hands. I'm with the OCD crowd on that one.

 

[shivkala]

You definitely get used to it. What seemed like an odd and disgusting practice now is second nature.

 

[iguana_tonante]

That sounds strangely familiar...

 

[Canadave]

Well, I'm short-sighted but nothing dramatic. I can manage quite well, except for reading traffic signs and stuff. The worst part for me is that I can't see the pretty ladies running on the same park track as me.

Lucky you. I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

My husband has horrible vision and I am always having to find his glasses for him. They're often right in front of him and he can't even see them.

I'm fairly similar. My prescription averages out to -10, so needless to say, I make sure I know exactly where I leave my glasses.

Incidentally, regardless of other reasons, I'm not sure I'd want to switch, as I've just been thinking about how I look rather odd without glasses. At least to me.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Although i stopped wearing lenses 10 years ago, i started at 13. With HARD LENSES. There was no such thing as soft lenses back then! And, IIRC, you aren't actually touching your eyeball. You wet the lens and then go close enough that the eye and the wetting solution sort of do this suction thing and then the lens stays on your eye.

If wearing glasses is really annoying to you, or you really prefer yourself without glasses, GO FOR IT. It takes like, NO TIME to get use to the lenses (and putting them in) and they are definitely worth it. There are lenses these days that are so permeable that it's like wearing nothing at all. And, if you are a candidate, there are the ones you can wear for a few days without having to remove, which would lessen the amount of times you have to put them in and take them out.

Really, it is no big deal. And if i could wear hard lenses at age 13, you can certainly wear (and get use to putting in) the very soft permeable ones they have nowadays. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[RoJoHen]

Although i stopped wearing lenses 10 years ago, i started at 13. With HARD LENSES. There was no such thing as soft lenses back then! And, IIRC, you aren't actually touching your eyeball. You wet the lens and then go close enough that the eye and the wetting solution sort of do this suction thing and then the lens stays on your eye.

I think I'm more weirded out by the idea of taking them out more than putting them in.

 

[TerokNor]

I am wearing soft contacts for nearly 17 years without problems. Like them better than glasses, because you have the ...roundsight...if thats a word.
It´s also not really difficullt putting them in, it does not hurt or anything. Just try it and I am sure you are getting used to it in no time.

TerokNor