Getting my head around contact lenses... any tips?
Discussion
Folks,
I'm fed up of glasses. I've had to wear them intermittently for years but now basically need them most of the time. I don't like the way they make me look. I'm done!
I have done a contact lense trial in the past but really couldn't get my head around putting them in/taking them out. A mix of squeamishness and cakhandedness.
Can anyone give me hints- Are one type easier to use than others? How did you start off? I'm stocking up on brave pills for another trial!
I'm fed up of glasses. I've had to wear them intermittently for years but now basically need them most of the time. I don't like the way they make me look. I'm done!
I have done a contact lense trial in the past but really couldn't get my head around putting them in/taking them out. A mix of squeamishness and cakhandedness.
Can anyone give me hints- Are one type easier to use than others? How did you start off? I'm stocking up on brave pills for another trial!
Very first go? Get your optician to put them in.
Easy after a few days. Look into a mirror, looking upwards so you don't see you finger coming!
I preferred daily disposables. Throw away each night, fresh pair next morning. No cleaning or messing about. Gives your eyes a rest while you sleep.
Didn't like the 24/7 ones. If they were 30 day lenses (for example) then I found they became uncomfortable after 20-23 days.
Moved onto laser treatment after using lenses for 15 years. Best money I've ever spent in my life.
Easy after a few days. Look into a mirror, looking upwards so you don't see you finger coming!
I preferred daily disposables. Throw away each night, fresh pair next morning. No cleaning or messing about. Gives your eyes a rest while you sleep.
Didn't like the 24/7 ones. If they were 30 day lenses (for example) then I found they became uncomfortable after 20-23 days.
Moved onto laser treatment after using lenses for 15 years. Best money I've ever spent in my life.
I use daily disposables. I put them in the mornings and take them out throw them away at this sort of time in the evenings. Everyday, unless I want to try another look and use the specs.
I usually find running and cycling a lot easier with them! I buy tesco own brand ones which cost me ~100 for 6mths.
Not brave enough for lazer treatment. Hope this helps.
I usually find running and cycling a lot easier with them! I buy tesco own brand ones which cost me ~100 for 6mths.
Not brave enough for lazer treatment. Hope this helps.
I have been wearing contacts for 40 yrs
They vary in the convenience of inserting and removing , particularly removing.
Hygiene is very important so daily disposable is the way to go .
The ones I wear now are the best I have ever tried ....Acuvue Oasys
Good luck with them , wearing them changed my life .
They vary in the convenience of inserting and removing , particularly removing.
Hygiene is very important so daily disposable is the way to go .
The ones I wear now are the best I have ever tried ....Acuvue Oasys
Good luck with them , wearing them changed my life .
You will get used to it, your eyes naturally try and remove anything that gets in it so they're fighting against you by blinking and running.
When I first started it took me 30 minutes to get one in, my eye was bloodshot and running and would sting all day once it was finally in. Now I get them in first try and my eyes don't even react.
When I first started it took me 30 minutes to get one in, my eye was bloodshot and running and would sting all day once it was finally in. Now I get them in first try and my eyes don't even react.
Putting contact lenses in and out takes practice like anything. Your optometrist should show you the best and more importantly safest techniques for inserting and removing the lens.
Modern soft contact lenses can be difficult to remove as they have a high water content which makes the lens more slippery. The high the water content the greater the coefficient of friction of the lens making them more comfortable to wear. High water content lens can be less breathable however so less suitable for long time wear (>10 hours)
A good technique is to try and place the lens on the white part of your eye (conjunctiva over sclera) as this is tougher than the coloured part of the eye (cornea - technically clear with a coloured iris behind). Look into your nose and up slightly, use your middle finger to draw the lower lid down and place the lens gently on the exposed white part with the tip of your index finger. Slowly look towards the outside of your eye to locate the lens. Close eyes slowly and when closed look up then down, right then left, open eye.
To remove the lens look up and into your nose, hold lower lid down with middle finger, carefully drag lens off coloured part with index finger and pinch the lens off the white part with thumb and index. The key is to act slowly and carefully, the eye is delicate. Resist tempted to press on the eye.
Hope this helps, also consider what you want to see with the lens, to advise further would need to know your age and refractive status. Hope this helps.
Modern soft contact lenses can be difficult to remove as they have a high water content which makes the lens more slippery. The high the water content the greater the coefficient of friction of the lens making them more comfortable to wear. High water content lens can be less breathable however so less suitable for long time wear (>10 hours)
A good technique is to try and place the lens on the white part of your eye (conjunctiva over sclera) as this is tougher than the coloured part of the eye (cornea - technically clear with a coloured iris behind). Look into your nose and up slightly, use your middle finger to draw the lower lid down and place the lens gently on the exposed white part with the tip of your index finger. Slowly look towards the outside of your eye to locate the lens. Close eyes slowly and when closed look up then down, right then left, open eye.
To remove the lens look up and into your nose, hold lower lid down with middle finger, carefully drag lens off coloured part with index finger and pinch the lens off the white part with thumb and index. The key is to act slowly and carefully, the eye is delicate. Resist tempted to press on the eye.
Hope this helps, also consider what you want to see with the lens, to advise further would need to know your age and refractive status. Hope this helps.
Matt-il77s said:
When I first started it took me 30 minutes to get one in, my eye was bloodshot and running and would sting all day once it was finally in.
I didn't get beyond that stage. I persevered for about a month then gave up. I also found that getting them out was harder than getting them in. No doubt by the end there was a psychological thing going on as well but I lost the battle. 
I've been wearing contact lenses for around 37 years - not the same pair, I hasten to add!
I've always worn what used to be called gas permeable, semi-rigid lenses. Take them out each evening and soak them in special disinfecting fluid overnight. I struggled with putting in and taking out soft lenses and my optician recommended these which apparently have the benefits of both hard and soft lenses with few of the downsides. The daily cleaning routine does seem a bit of a faff but is so important in keeping them clean and you soon regard it as second nature.
Mine tend to last around two years and cost circa £200.00 with a monthly spend of £15.00 on cleaning, soaking and wetting fluids.
I've often thought about laser surgery but I'm a little too squeamish and I wonder if at the age of 57 I'm too old to appreciate the benefits.
I've always worn what used to be called gas permeable, semi-rigid lenses. Take them out each evening and soak them in special disinfecting fluid overnight. I struggled with putting in and taking out soft lenses and my optician recommended these which apparently have the benefits of both hard and soft lenses with few of the downsides. The daily cleaning routine does seem a bit of a faff but is so important in keeping them clean and you soon regard it as second nature.
Mine tend to last around two years and cost circa £200.00 with a monthly spend of £15.00 on cleaning, soaking and wetting fluids.
I've often thought about laser surgery but I'm a little too squeamish and I wonder if at the age of 57 I'm too old to appreciate the benefits.
TR4man said:
I've often thought about laser surgery but I'm a little too squeamish and I wonder if at the age of 57 I'm too old to appreciate the benefits.
Never too old. My mum had hers done at 63.Squeamish? Me too, if you can put a contact lense in you'll have no bother at all with laser. Mine took less than 30 seconds.
Had a trial recently on the monthly ones, going well (bar still taking a minute or two to put them in) until I dropped one on the floor attempting to put it in.
Decided I'll go part-time with them on a pay as you go basis for now; but my brief experience of them has given me the motivation to save up for laser-eye surgery if I'm eligible for the type(s) that doesn't result in problems with night vision.
I was stood in Boots looking around the place in awe I'd say when I first had them in. Everything clear-cut and sharp, no annoying lights going through the smudges when you wear glasses and the UV stuff in the contacts actually felt like it worked. I dunno if that last bit would be a comparable positive for most people, as my eyes are quite sensitive to light.
One tip is when you take them out, follow what feels like an L shape on your eye, with the horizontal stroke going away from your nose. Sometimes doing it this way the lense just came off onto my finger without having to pinch it - may help if you're squeamish OP!
Decided I'll go part-time with them on a pay as you go basis for now; but my brief experience of them has given me the motivation to save up for laser-eye surgery if I'm eligible for the type(s) that doesn't result in problems with night vision.
I was stood in Boots looking around the place in awe I'd say when I first had them in. Everything clear-cut and sharp, no annoying lights going through the smudges when you wear glasses and the UV stuff in the contacts actually felt like it worked. I dunno if that last bit would be a comparable positive for most people, as my eyes are quite sensitive to light.
One tip is when you take them out, follow what feels like an L shape on your eye, with the horizontal stroke going away from your nose. Sometimes doing it this way the lense just came off onto my finger without having to pinch it - may help if you're squeamish OP!
Edited by NoVetec on Wednesday 5th April 17:07
Acuvue Oasys 2 weeklies were the best compromise for comfort, between going for monthly's or daily's. Although I'm currently trialling some daily multifocals (which seem to work via witchcraft) as I'm getting old and need help with reading these days. 
Most opticians will recommend Bio True as the best solution, with which I agree.
Most opticians will recommend Bio True as the best solution, with which I agree.
carreauchompeur said:
Folks,
I'm fed up of glasses. I've had to wear them intermittently for years but now basically need them most of the time. I don't like the way they make me look. I'm done!
I have done a contact lense trial in the past but really couldn't get my head around putting them in/taking them out. A mix of squeamishness and cakhandedness.
Can anyone give me hints- Are one type easier to use than others? How did you start off? I'm stocking up on brave pills for another trial!
I hated glasses and failed the contact lens trial (if that's even possible). I'd spent 47 years learning not to put my fingers in my eyes and didn't take naturally to it. The optician had to take them out for me.I'm fed up of glasses. I've had to wear them intermittently for years but now basically need them most of the time. I don't like the way they make me look. I'm done!
I have done a contact lense trial in the past but really couldn't get my head around putting them in/taking them out. A mix of squeamishness and cakhandedness.
Can anyone give me hints- Are one type easier to use than others? How did you start off? I'm stocking up on brave pills for another trial!
Six months later I had RLE surgery and now don't need glasses or contacts.
I had my eyes Lasered 10 years ago - would highly recommend it too.
I used to wear contact lenses - it got comfortable enough that i once spent a good 10 minutes (when pissed) trying to remove lenses which i wasn't wearing. Basically trying to drag my lens across my eye ball! Surely i cant be the only one?
Probably one of the factors which contributed to me not drinking anymore!
I used to wear contact lenses - it got comfortable enough that i once spent a good 10 minutes (when pissed) trying to remove lenses which i wasn't wearing. Basically trying to drag my lens across my eye ball! Surely i cant be the only one?
Probably one of the factors which contributed to me not drinking anymore!
I had that too after going from contacts to being lasered, especially after a few drinks 
I'd often stare into the mirror poking and pulling my eye trying to get my 'contacts' out. After ditching glasses I also used to reach up to remove them before getting in the shower etc
In reply to the OP's predicament though, contact lenses do take a while to get used to, both putting in and wearing. After a while though it becomes second nature and part of life. Both my sister and I got them for the first tmie whilst still living at home and I remember it took both of us half an hour or more to get them in the first time. After a while though you'll be popping them in quickly as part of your post shower routine or whatever. You'll quickly realise that the whites of your eyes aren't sensitive and get over the squeamishness, which originates from our knowledge of how sensitive the pupils are. My wife can actually pop her contacts in whilst I'm driving down bumpy roads, usually without a mirror! She also often asks me to take them out if she loses one and has no issue at all with that.
Ultimately, ten years ago, my eyes couldn't cope with contact lenses and I started to get some fairly significant issues. I then had LASEK and it's completely changed my life - highly recommended, but you must be aware of the risks of course.
I'd often stare into the mirror poking and pulling my eye trying to get my 'contacts' out. After ditching glasses I also used to reach up to remove them before getting in the shower etc In reply to the OP's predicament though, contact lenses do take a while to get used to, both putting in and wearing. After a while though it becomes second nature and part of life. Both my sister and I got them for the first tmie whilst still living at home and I remember it took both of us half an hour or more to get them in the first time. After a while though you'll be popping them in quickly as part of your post shower routine or whatever. You'll quickly realise that the whites of your eyes aren't sensitive and get over the squeamishness, which originates from our knowledge of how sensitive the pupils are. My wife can actually pop her contacts in whilst I'm driving down bumpy roads, usually without a mirror! She also often asks me to take them out if she loses one and has no issue at all with that.
Ultimately, ten years ago, my eyes couldn't cope with contact lenses and I started to get some fairly significant issues. I then had LASEK and it's completely changed my life - highly recommended, but you must be aware of the risks of course.
OP you'll get used to it after a few tries, I think everyone will tell you that it's difficult to train yourself to touch your eyeball!
I use the Air Optix night and day ones but take them out every night, you'd be mad to wear them 30 days and nights in a row. They're more comfortable than the daily ones, I wear them every day staring at a computer screen and it's fine.
Regarding laser eye surgery, everyone who's had it says it's great and I have considered it but there are still risks, however small they are. Even if it's 0.0001%, the risk of something going wrong is just not worth it for me. I'm just going to persevere with lenses.
I use the Air Optix night and day ones but take them out every night, you'd be mad to wear them 30 days and nights in a row. They're more comfortable than the daily ones, I wear them every day staring at a computer screen and it's fine.
Regarding laser eye surgery, everyone who's had it says it's great and I have considered it but there are still risks, however small they are. Even if it's 0.0001%, the risk of something going wrong is just not worth it for me. I'm just going to persevere with lenses.
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