Contact Lenses

[IndyJones]

Hey Sid.

Most people in my office are able to get contacts in and out in a reasonable amount of time (30 minutes or less) the first time they try. For those that aren't able to do it, we send them home with some artificial tears to practice installation, but I find the most effective pratice is to just sit in front of a mirror and try touching your cornea with the pad of your finger while using your other hand to control the lids.

You've got nothing to lose - other than money and time - so I'd say you should go to an office and try them out. One great benefit of contacts in winter is that you don't have to worry about your lenses fogging up as you enter/leave buildings.

I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

No, you're really not.

Modern contact lenses are perfectly safe if they're fitted properly by a qualified optometrist.

That's true, for the most part. But the problem isn't really what I'm doing in the exam room, it's how the patient wears them. Is he taking them out as often as he should be, and putting in a new pair on schedule? Is he cleaning them properly?

Those are the real issues, and I see people every day that aren't using them correctly.

 

[sidious618]

Thanks, Indy.

The glaucoma test and I don't get along, though, I must admit. It freaks me the fuck out with the puff of air smacking my eye. I'm a real baby when it comes to my eyes. But I'm going to make an appointment soon and talk to my doctor about it.

 

[Leroy]

What I did when I had problems putting in contacts was I practiced just touching my eyes with my finger a couple of times a day. If you do this remember to wash your hands beforehand so you don't get an infection.

I have been wearing glasses the most lately since I suffer from dry eyes it's too bad because otherwise I really like wearing contacts.

 

[M'Sharak]

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.

Do you mean peripheral vision?

Am I the only person who regularly has to dig around in my eye for stray eyelashes?

No, I get those fairly often.

 

[{ Emilia }]

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 was the same as you. I was terrified of "touching my eye" but what can I say... vanity...

The first few times it really was kinda awkward. But the guys in the shop told me how to put them in. Yes, there are some tricks for scared people like myself. Get your fingers and the lense in position, then look to the side so you can't actually see your finger and get scared, then just drop the lense onto your eye and close it. It's usually in place when you open your eye again.
They made me do it in the shop, then told me to go outside for half an hour and come back to get the lenses out again. They wouldn't really sell them before they knew that I can manage.

I really love my contact lenses now. I just see a lot better with them in the sense that I can look everywhere without having the frame of glasses obstruct the field of view.

 

[Naira]

^ Full peripheral vision is a great aspect of contact lenses, especially when driving. I really enjoyed that the years I wore contacts. What I did not like concerning driving is that, when tired, the lights of the other cars annoyed me far more than when wearing glasses.

 

[Davros]

I went past contacts and got the laser surgery.

 

[Timby]

I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

No, you're really not.

Hey, I'm just quoting the ophthalmologist, who said that I have roughly 20/240 vision without corrective lenses. All I know is that if I take my glasses off, I can't clearly see anything more than about two and a half inches from my eyes.

 

[Canadave]

I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

No, you're really not.

Hey, I'm just quoting the ophthalmologist, who said that I have roughly 20/240 vision without corrective lenses. All I know is that if I take my glasses off, I can't clearly see anything more than about two and a half inches from my eyes.

Sounds about the same as me, maybe even a little better, and I've been told the same thing. I can see an object with minimal blurriness about two inches from my eyes. Do you know what your prescription is? Mine's right around -10. My optometrist told me he only sees a few people a year with eyes as bad as mine.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I was terrified of "touching my eye" but what can I say... vanity...

Trust me, I understand vanity. But thankfully my vanity is more concerned with looking smarter than looking younger or more handsome. So the glasses work for me.

I went past contacts and got the laser surgery.

My fiancée had it, and she's very happy about it.

 

[Davros]

I went past contacts and got the laser surgery.

My fiancée had it, and she's very happy about it.

Best money I ever spent.

 

[beamMe]

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?

Glasses can be sexy too - on the right guy.

I wear coloured contact lenses to change my eye colour. At first I had difficulties getting them in, but it gets easier each time you put them in.

So, yeah, make the jump.

 

[IndyJones]

I'm legally blind without corrective lenses.

No, you're really not.

Hey, I'm just quoting the ophthalmologist, who said that I have roughly 20/240 vision without corrective lenses. All I know is that if I take my glasses off, I can't clearly see anything more than about two and a half inches from my eyes.

I get what you're saying, I was just being cute because it's a common misconception. In the US being legally blind means a very specific thing, and as it relates to acuity it always refers to the best vision a person is capable of WITH correction. So you can't be legally blind without your lenses.

Do you know what your prescription is? Mine's right around -10. My optometrist told me he only sees a few people a year with eyes as bad as mine.

I had a patient yesterday who's a -22.00D. Imagine that!

 

[Canadave]

I had a patient yesterday who's a -22.00D. Imagine that!

Damn. I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like.

 

[scotpens]

Glasses can be sexy too - on the right guy.

The originator of Nerd Chic.

 

[sidious618]

I made the jump! I got them in and eye and in and out at the doctor's office. I was going to do so again at home but after a minute of trying I realized my eyes were exhausted from doing it at the eye doctors that it'd be silly to keep doing it. They're the 30 day over night ones so there's no urgent need t get them out.

It's exciting! I'm sure there'll be frustrating moments ahead. Time to get out the Xanax!

 

[sidious618]

Oh, and one quick question. Do you guys find it easier to take them out after putting in some drops or no?

 

[scotpens]

Oh, and one quick question. Do you guys find it easier to take them out after putting in some drops or no?

You put a couple of drops of wetting/conditioning solution on RGP lenses before putting them in. I’ve never needed drops to get them out.

Soft lenses, that’s a whole other thing.

 

[sidious618]

I've actually been doing pretty good with them. I'm impressed considering how squeamish I can get. I haven't been this proud of myself in YEARS.

 

[Deckerd]

I used them for about 20 years then I got fed up with them and went back to wearing glasses.