Contact Lenses
Discussion
Wear them? Tried them and couldn't get on with them, or just prefer glasses?
I took the jump a few years ago - a free trial with tesco opticians. Took me two hours before I was allowed out in the big wide world. By the time I got them in, I would have a panic and take them back out again.
I have another Trial at Specsavers on Monday so fingers crossed.
Any tips?
Keep your disgusting stories to yourselves
I took the jump a few years ago - a free trial with tesco opticians. Took me two hours before I was allowed out in the big wide world. By the time I got them in, I would have a panic and take them back out again.
I have another Trial at Specsavers on Monday so fingers crossed.
Any tips?
Keep your disgusting stories to yourselves
In my opinion if you can actually feel them once there in you have the wrong lense.
Everybody is different and it took me 2 or 3 brands before I found some that are comfortable - its not a one size fits all job unfortunately so trial and error until you finds some you are comfortabe with.
When I first started wearing them I used to get up 30 mins early in a morning as I struggled to get them in but it soon becomes a 2 second job, like anything practice makes perfect.
Everybody is different and it took me 2 or 3 brands before I found some that are comfortable - its not a one size fits all job unfortunately so trial and error until you finds some you are comfortabe with.
When I first started wearing them I used to get up 30 mins early in a morning as I struggled to get them in but it soon becomes a 2 second job, like anything practice makes perfect.
I've worn them every day for about 10 years. Started with the monthly disposables but got fed up with them breaking when being cleaned and swapped to daily disposables which are great. Never had any issues at all other than the odd dry feeling but changing the lens or some eye drops sorts that.
I left the specsavers scheme because they never give enough lenses (30 per month), some always break and there is often 31 days in a month so you run out. I buy them off the web and go to a local independent for eye tests and contact lens checks.
I left the specsavers scheme because they never give enough lenses (30 per month), some always break and there is often 31 days in a month so you run out. I buy them off the web and go to a local independent for eye tests and contact lens checks.
I've been using contacts for thirty-ish years. Currently daily disposable multi-focals - they're great.
I plainly remember the first time I wore them; the optician fitted them and it felt odd for a few minutes. I was told to go outside and walk about for half an hour.
It was a revelation. I'd been wearing specs since I was 10 years old, but nothing could prepare me for this. I looked up into the trees - I could make out individual leaves, sharp outlines and all! It was a whole new world. Everywhere I looked, there was more detail and colour than I had imagined possible. Maybe my spectacle prescription wasn't spot on, but I passed all the in-house sight tests.
I've never looked back. About the best invention, ever.
I plainly remember the first time I wore them; the optician fitted them and it felt odd for a few minutes. I was told to go outside and walk about for half an hour.
It was a revelation. I'd been wearing specs since I was 10 years old, but nothing could prepare me for this. I looked up into the trees - I could make out individual leaves, sharp outlines and all! It was a whole new world. Everywhere I looked, there was more detail and colour than I had imagined possible. Maybe my spectacle prescription wasn't spot on, but I passed all the in-house sight tests.
I've never looked back. About the best invention, ever.
Worn them for years, I wear glasses occasionally but wouldn't do it full time. I can put my lenses in without looking in the mirror now.
If you go for daily disposables and are going to wear them for more than 12 hrs then pay a bit more for breathable ones. I used Johnson's daily disposables for years and wore them for 16-18 hrs a day. I've had to swap to accuvue oasys as they are much more breathable, basically had I carried on I would have been blind eventually as I have blood vessels in my eye where they shouldn't be.
When the optician tells you not to over wear them it isn't just for fun!
Also I go to Asda opticians pay £38 for 3 months supply. Haven't found them any cheaper even online.
If you go for daily disposables and are going to wear them for more than 12 hrs then pay a bit more for breathable ones. I used Johnson's daily disposables for years and wore them for 16-18 hrs a day. I've had to swap to accuvue oasys as they are much more breathable, basically had I carried on I would have been blind eventually as I have blood vessels in my eye where they shouldn't be.
When the optician tells you not to over wear them it isn't just for fun!
Also I go to Asda opticians pay £38 for 3 months supply. Haven't found them any cheaper even online.
Had monthlies for about 15 years now. Pretty blind (8.5) and severe astigmatism but I find the range of vision great with lenses, especially when playing sport.
Air optix from asda optician, £36 for 3 months (plus £14 off now and again for being so blind). Had to swap to breathable ones a few years back due to blood vessel issue.
Air optix from asda optician, £36 for 3 months (plus £14 off now and again for being so blind). Had to swap to breathable ones a few years back due to blood vessel issue.
I use a system called Ortho K. These lenses are inserted in the evening before bed, overnight the cells on your cornea are rearranged. Once the lenses are ejected in the morning your vision is corrected and this correction slowly wears off throughout the day. It works pretty well for me.
Chris
Chris
I tried varifocal contacts a year ago but could not get on with them. Basically they give you two images and your brain is supposed pick the correct one, something like that. It was like watching a 3D film without the glasses.
How has everyone else got on with contacts and increasing longsight in their middle age?
How has everyone else got on with contacts and increasing longsight in their middle age?
I just recently started using them, about 3 years ago I went in to try them and couldn't get them in my eyes so they wouldn't let me leave with some. I couldn't be bothered going back and trying again until now! (And so happy I did)
My vision gets bad from basically just further than arms length and I can't read anything past that, although I never wore my glasses out and about.
I was there a few hours and managed to get them in and out, it is a bit awkward at first but once you get the nack of it, its ok.
My vision gets bad from basically just further than arms length and I can't read anything past that, although I never wore my glasses out and about.
I was there a few hours and managed to get them in and out, it is a bit awkward at first but once you get the nack of it, its ok.
croyde said:
I tried varifocal contacts a year ago but could not get on with them. Basically they give you two images and your brain is supposed pick the correct one, something like that. It was like watching a 3D film without the glasses.
How has everyone else got on with contacts and increasing longsight in their middle age?
Yep. See above. How has everyone else got on with contacts and increasing longsight in their middle age?
I've been using dailies for about 3 years now. I'm -5.75 in both eyes at the age of 26.
It was prompted after breaking some prescription sunglasses while rock climbing (doh!).
I love them. I can wear proper wraparound sunglasses, I don't worry about breaking or losing my glasses. I wear my glasses still if I'm lazing about at home at the weekends or reading in bed, but that's about it. Because I don't wear them on some days I've built up a deficit of about 2 weeks worth over the last year, which I'm happy with, considering occasional lense breakages.
I always carry spares in my wallet & backpack - I sometimes blink them out if I've been wearing them over a long day.
It was prompted after breaking some prescription sunglasses while rock climbing (doh!).
I love them. I can wear proper wraparound sunglasses, I don't worry about breaking or losing my glasses. I wear my glasses still if I'm lazing about at home at the weekends or reading in bed, but that's about it. Because I don't wear them on some days I've built up a deficit of about 2 weeks worth over the last year, which I'm happy with, considering occasional lense breakages.
I always carry spares in my wallet & backpack - I sometimes blink them out if I've been wearing them over a long day.
I get dailies from Specsavers. I only wear one in the left eye. Costs me about £5 a month by direct debit. I don't wear glasses/lenses much. I am required to wear them when I drive and I wear them for fishing where I need to see a fly or float at distance. The contacts mostly get used when I want to wear polarising sunglasses - I did get prescription sunglasses, but they were just ordinary tinted lenses.
Having said that, I've recently mislaid all my specs, so I am now using a contact lens every day that I need to drive somewhere. I've got quite a backlog of lenses to get through, though.
Having said that, I've recently mislaid all my specs, so I am now using a contact lens every day that I need to drive somewhere. I've got quite a backlog of lenses to get through, though.
Specsavers continuous wear lenses, for ten years or so.
Before that soft lenses of various types for 3 decades.
Continuous wear are designed to be worn for up to 30 days, although it's appropriate to take them out if you feel the need, and a night without them once a week is a good idea.
Just brilliant. I don't know I'm wearing them, save I can see.
The only times I have issues is in dusty environments, end of the day I'll always take the lenses out for a soak over night.
Specsavers also give you a pair of >£60 glasses for free provided you pay for your lenses by monthly Direct Debit - which is handy, if like me you only use glasses for a best a few hours a month.
Before that soft lenses of various types for 3 decades.
Continuous wear are designed to be worn for up to 30 days, although it's appropriate to take them out if you feel the need, and a night without them once a week is a good idea.
Just brilliant. I don't know I'm wearing them, save I can see.
The only times I have issues is in dusty environments, end of the day I'll always take the lenses out for a soak over night.
Specsavers also give you a pair of >£60 glasses for free provided you pay for your lenses by monthly Direct Debit - which is handy, if like me you only use glasses for a best a few hours a month.
I've been using contacts for about 3 years now.
First i started with monthly disposable that needed to be taken out every night and cleaned, then on to daily disposable.
I've now moved on to a set which i can keep wearing for 30 days at a time because of the amount of oxygen they let in. I've find the only time i notice them will be first thing in the morning (some protein build up, which dissolves after a few blinks) or sitting up late at night and watch hours of crap TV. Every now and again i take them out for a few days to give my eyes a rest from the contact though.
First i started with monthly disposable that needed to be taken out every night and cleaned, then on to daily disposable.
I've now moved on to a set which i can keep wearing for 30 days at a time because of the amount of oxygen they let in. I've find the only time i notice them will be first thing in the morning (some protein build up, which dissolves after a few blinks) or sitting up late at night and watch hours of crap TV. Every now and again i take them out for a few days to give my eyes a rest from the contact though.
Five years into using Vision Express daily disposables.
Eyes are the only thing I'm squeamish about and it took about two months for me to properly get used to them (the thought of actually touching my eyeball filled me with dread) but now find them excellent and have never had an issue whatsoever.
Occasionally have one fold over but normally finds it's way out by the next morning.
Laser surgery is something I'm considering. I'm 46 and on the basis that have a fair few miles left in me yet, I'm looking at it more from a financial benefit that anything else.
Eyes are the only thing I'm squeamish about and it took about two months for me to properly get used to them (the thought of actually touching my eyeball filled me with dread) but now find them excellent and have never had an issue whatsoever.
Occasionally have one fold over but normally finds it's way out by the next morning.
Laser surgery is something I'm considering. I'm 46 and on the basis that have a fair few miles left in me yet, I'm looking at it more from a financial benefit that anything else.
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