First Time Contact Lens Wearer
Discussion
Persevere no matter how angry you get the first few days. I was initially adamant I was giving up on them, but wouldn't be without them now.
The fingers you use to stretch your eye open, make sure they are bone dry. Otherwise you slip and the eye opening is too small.
When you scoop the lens out of the pot, place it on top of your other hand upside down first, then scoop it up onto the finger you are applying with.
All things my wife told me, I ignored, and now do every day lol
The fingers you use to stretch your eye open, make sure they are bone dry. Otherwise you slip and the eye opening is too small.
When you scoop the lens out of the pot, place it on top of your other hand upside down first, then scoop it up onto the finger you are applying with.
All things my wife told me, I ignored, and now do every day lol
I wore glasses until I was 19 and have worn contact lenses for the last 22 years.
1) If your requirements/prescription allows, go for daily disposables. Worth every penny in my opinion. I've always had them. No need to worry about cleaning, solutions, putting them in those little pot things... Just peel open a new pair in the morning, stick them in, take them out and bin them at night. Really easy and no worrying about contamination or not cleaning them properly. Easy for travel and holidays as you never have to take any bottles of solution or anything. A strip of 7 days worth of new lenses is pretty small.
2) Don't shower or swim with them in. I have done on and off for years, but stopped doing it recently as I've been told off by opticians. You can get some really nasty eye infections from showering/swimming with them in.
(I wear them on the beach and when lounging in pools or outdoor Spa's, but I tend to avoid water splashing my face, and I'm not really interested in swimming anyway)
But overall, best thing I ever did. I always thought glasses were a pain in the arse. having something sat on my face all day was annoying, I hated that they steamed up, got covered in raindrops in the rain, slid down my nose when it was hot weather, annoying to fit under skiing goggles, stopped me wearing sunglasses etc. Hated it.
They have freed me from all that, and I can wear any sunglasses I want like a normal person
1) If your requirements/prescription allows, go for daily disposables. Worth every penny in my opinion. I've always had them. No need to worry about cleaning, solutions, putting them in those little pot things... Just peel open a new pair in the morning, stick them in, take them out and bin them at night. Really easy and no worrying about contamination or not cleaning them properly. Easy for travel and holidays as you never have to take any bottles of solution or anything. A strip of 7 days worth of new lenses is pretty small.
2) Don't shower or swim with them in. I have done on and off for years, but stopped doing it recently as I've been told off by opticians. You can get some really nasty eye infections from showering/swimming with them in.
(I wear them on the beach and when lounging in pools or outdoor Spa's, but I tend to avoid water splashing my face, and I'm not really interested in swimming anyway)
But overall, best thing I ever did. I always thought glasses were a pain in the arse. having something sat on my face all day was annoying, I hated that they steamed up, got covered in raindrops in the rain, slid down my nose when it was hot weather, annoying to fit under skiing goggles, stopped me wearing sunglasses etc. Hated it.
They have freed me from all that, and I can wear any sunglasses I want like a normal person
50 this year, been wearing lenses on and off for the last 34 years!
Never been fully comfortable
Always go back to glasses
Don't be disappointed if they're not for you - full time!
Don't panic getting them in and out, takes practice but you'll get there.
CLEAN hands - clean hands!
If your eyes are gritting, tired, hungover, full of suntan cream, or going to be - take your specs!
Enjoy - brilliant once in
Never been fully comfortable
Always go back to glasses
Don't be disappointed if they're not for you - full time!
Don't panic getting them in and out, takes practice but you'll get there.
CLEAN hands - clean hands!
If your eyes are gritting, tired, hungover, full of suntan cream, or going to be - take your specs!
Enjoy - brilliant once in
dundarach said:
<snip>
If your eyes are gritting, tired, hungover, full of suntan cream, or going to be - take your specs!
<snip>
This is a good point. If your eyes are gritting, tired, hungover, full of suntan cream, or going to be - take your specs!
<snip>
If you are out for the full day or a late night, or driving a long distance, usually best to keep your glasses in the car or bag.
There will be the rare occasion where you get grit blown in your eye and have to take your lenses out, or driving late at night when your contact lenses start irritating your eyes.
To the posters saying not to swim/shower with them in - what do you do when on holiday and swimming?
There is no way I could not wear mine in the sea and ever find my way back to my towel! I don't want to wear glasses on the beach either.
Ditto for a shower - take them out then put a new pair in afterwards (unelss you only shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night)?
I had never considered not wearing them swimming, sailing or showering up until a few years ago when an optician dropped it into the conversation (first time I had been advised that despite wearing them since around 1990).
To the OP - make sure your nails are smooth, I've scratched my eye on more than one occasion removing them. Not pleasant.
There is no way I could not wear mine in the sea and ever find my way back to my towel! I don't want to wear glasses on the beach either.
Ditto for a shower - take them out then put a new pair in afterwards (unelss you only shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night)?
I had never considered not wearing them swimming, sailing or showering up until a few years ago when an optician dropped it into the conversation (first time I had been advised that despite wearing them since around 1990).
To the OP - make sure your nails are smooth, I've scratched my eye on more than one occasion removing them. Not pleasant.
river_rat said:
To the posters saying not to swim/shower with them in - what do you do when on holiday and swimming?
There is no way I could not wear mine in the sea and ever find my way back to my towel! I don't want to wear glasses on the beach either.
Ditto for a shower - take them out then put a new pair in afterwards (unelss you only shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night)?
I had never considered not wearing them swimming, sailing or showering up until a few years ago when an optician dropped it into the conversation (first time I had been advised that despite wearing them since around 1990).
To the OP - make sure your nails are smooth, I've scratched my eye on more than one occasion removing them. Not pleasant.
I only shower first thing when I get up, or last thing before I go to bed, so that bit isn't an issue for me. I put them in after the shower, or take them out before the evening shower. Plus, there is little more painful than getting shampoo or shower gel in your eye if you have contact lenses in!There is no way I could not wear mine in the sea and ever find my way back to my towel! I don't want to wear glasses on the beach either.
Ditto for a shower - take them out then put a new pair in afterwards (unelss you only shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night)?
I had never considered not wearing them swimming, sailing or showering up until a few years ago when an optician dropped it into the conversation (first time I had been advised that despite wearing them since around 1990).
To the OP - make sure your nails are smooth, I've scratched my eye on more than one occasion removing them. Not pleasant.
I will wear them on the beach, in the pool, or for a paddle in the sea, but I won't usually be getting water in my eyes during those activities. I'm not really interested in swimming. Just lounging around by the pool
It is definitely something you should be aware of as the bacteria that causes the infections has been on the rise, and cases are up. The NHS reported a threefold increase in Acanthamoeba keratitis since 2011, and in 2018 declared a serious 'outbreak'. These cases were from domestic tap water and swimming pools, spas etc.
It should be taken very seriously as the infection is difficult to treat and can cause permanent blindness. Yes, permanent blindness.
It's one of those 'not worth the risk' things. It's easy for me to avoid, so I just heed the advice.
I wore contact lenses for over thirty years before getting my eyes lasered, never had a problem with using them in the shower or whilst swimming. I had daily disposables which were brilliant and well worth the extra cost for the convenience. I used the local Spec Savers who provided an excellent service and posted a new set out every three months, couldn't fault them.
I've been wearing lenses for 30 years now (since I was 14) and I started off on a proper pair i.e. non-disposable. Moved to monthlies probably about 15-20 years ago.
Basically what Lord Marylebone said - even down to the no lenses in the shower and I tend not to swim when on holiday. If I do it's breaststroke (the only kind I get these days).
The only thing I'd disagree on is dailies, but it's just a personal coice. I'm a monthlies person. I use the Boots peroxide system, hence it doesn't matter if I drop them down the bog even - rinse any muck off and shove it in the bleach. The all-in-one solution/cleaners are crap and, in my case, led to me suffering a few issues (allergic reaction after long term use and also GPC). I'm also a big fan of independent opticians over high street.
Dailies seem like an environmental disaster to me - although it probably balances out once you factor in lens cases and cleaning solution bottles - and I think the supposed benefits over monthlies are a little overblown.
Basically what Lord Marylebone said - even down to the no lenses in the shower and I tend not to swim when on holiday. If I do it's breaststroke (the only kind I get these days).
The only thing I'd disagree on is dailies, but it's just a personal coice. I'm a monthlies person. I use the Boots peroxide system, hence it doesn't matter if I drop them down the bog even - rinse any muck off and shove it in the bleach. The all-in-one solution/cleaners are crap and, in my case, led to me suffering a few issues (allergic reaction after long term use and also GPC). I'm also a big fan of independent opticians over high street.
Dailies seem like an environmental disaster to me - although it probably balances out once you factor in lens cases and cleaning solution bottles - and I think the supposed benefits over monthlies are a little overblown.
I swim with mine in (wearing goggles) but throw them away and swap to glasses as soon as I get changed, speaking to the optician she said I'm still at an increased risk of infection but by taking them out straight after swimming I'm minimising the increase in risk.
Echo what has been said above about frustration at the start - it was taking me 10 minutes to get them in during the first week but for me it just clicked and I haven't looked back.
Also, welcome to the world of wearing whatever sunglasses you want without having to get a pair of prescription ones made up!
Echo what has been said above about frustration at the start - it was taking me 10 minutes to get them in during the first week but for me it just clicked and I haven't looked back.
Also, welcome to the world of wearing whatever sunglasses you want without having to get a pair of prescription ones made up!
river_rat said:
To the posters saying not to swim/shower with them in - what do you do when on holiday and swimming?
There is no way I could not wear mine in the sea and ever find my way back to my towel! I don't want to wear glasses on the beach either.
Ditto for a shower - take them out then put a new pair in afterwards (unelss you only shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night)?
I had never considered not wearing them swimming, sailing or showering up until a few years ago when an optician dropped it into the conversation (first time I had been advised that despite wearing them since around 1990).
To the OP - make sure your nails are smooth, I've scratched my eye on more than one occasion removing them. Not pleasant.
Prescription goggles. Not as much choice but can get some ok ones. My eyesight isnt that bad that I can get by.There is no way I could not wear mine in the sea and ever find my way back to my towel! I don't want to wear glasses on the beach either.
Ditto for a shower - take them out then put a new pair in afterwards (unelss you only shower first thing in the morning or last thing at night)?
I had never considered not wearing them swimming, sailing or showering up until a few years ago when an optician dropped it into the conversation (first time I had been advised that despite wearing them since around 1990).
To the OP - make sure your nails are smooth, I've scratched my eye on more than one occasion removing them. Not pleasant.
I dont remember if I was ever told not to wear them swimming, but when I first got them I wasnt a swimmer. When I got the nasty bug I was swimming for an hour a time 3/4 times a week and keeping the lenses in all day after.
What started with what felt like a scracthed cornea turned into months of misery and treatment and hospital visits. What I had was very rare and it took a while for the hospital to work it out
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