Contact Lenses

Any experiences, or comparisons between contacts and glasses?

[MatthewHSE]

I've worn glasses for the past eighteen years, since I was about six. Over the past few years, though, I've gotten tired of them. So, when I went to the optometrist this week, I asked about contact lenses.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sensitive about my eyes! After about thirty minutes, the nurse managed to pry my eyelids open enough to pop the contacts in. I was amazed at how well I could see, far better than I ever could with glasses, and it was rather novel to be able to see with sharp, crisp detail with no clunky glasses hanging on my face.

Then it came time to see if I could get the things in and out on my own. And here it is that I must admit failure. I just can't seem to stop the reflex of blinking when I touch my eye with a finger, lense, or other foreign or domestic object. And so here I sit, having ordered yet another pair of eyeglasses, yet earnestly wishing I could use contacts instead.

So my questions are, does anyone here have experiences about the use of contacts vs. glasses for computer work, or any advice that I might find helpful in at last acheiving victory in this area? Oh, to feel freedom for those few minutes, then to suddenly have my hopes dashed and again be enslaved! ;)

[Lipik]

I'm wearing lenses for about 10 years now. I was going to the eye-doctor, and askt for some info about lenses, he didn't give me info, just put them into my eyes, and there I was.
But I was sold from the first day. I would never use glasses anymore.
The problem for putting in and taking out the lenses is normal the first days (weeks,...) but now this is becoming as normal as putting on your shirt.
I keep my eye open with middle and ringfinger from one hand and put lens in with the other hand. But now I can even touch my eye-ball without blinking.
So don't give up! in one month it's all natural!
Oh yes, after some months I suffered from my lenses. They became blurry, irritating etc... I bouth new ones (better, more expensive) and now I use one set for 2 years without any problems. I even don't now I'm wearing them. It's so much easyer to :
- wear sunglasses
- you always look trough your lenses whatever direction your eyes go
- no problem with rain/dust on your glasses
- no broken or scratched glasses
- ond much more.

Good luck

[coho75]

MatthewHSE, I had the same problem as you for the first few weeks after getting contacts. I thought I would never be able to get the lenses in or out of my eyes. But now, it has become so easy that I no longer needed a mirror to perform the feat. Just give it some time. You will get used to it, and you'll wonder why you didn't get contacts sooner.

coho75

[encyclo]

I would suggest whisky. Get a bottle of whisky, and drink all of it. This will give you the courage to put the things in your eyes.

The only downside is that your vision will remain blurry for a while even with the lenses in place. But you shouldn't attempt driving or anything like that right after trying contact lenses. Or after drinking a bottle of whisky for that matter.

;)

[Dayo_UK]

>>>>So my questions are, does anyone here have experiences about the use of contacts vs. glasses for computer work

I have had contacts for 10ish years aswell - and dont own a pair of glasses. Although I should and probably will buy some for the computer work - dont have problems with the contacts - it just that it seem to make more sense to wear glasses when concentrating on the computer (Officially I dont think you should wear the contacts for more than 12 hours - but mine are in from when I get up till when I go to bed)

But, as mentioned you will soon get used to putting them in and taking them out. I have soft lenses - I have heard that hard contact lenses are worse though.

>>>>I was amazed at how well I could see, far better than I ever could with glasses, and it was rather novel to be able to see with sharp, crisp detail with no clunky glasses hanging on my face.

I was amazed when I first put them in too - I could see all the leaves on the trees and all the spots on my face :( (I was a teenager at the time :))

[wheel]

Sticking your finger in your eye is definitely something you've just got to work at until you don't blink. Everyone has this problem the first bit with contacts. But it's well worth it. No more fogging up, wearing whatever sunglasses you like, etc.

The only problem is swimming, and late in the evening when they can get a bit dry, not as readily removable as glasses.

I wear both glasses and contacts routinely. I'm seriously considering laser eye surgery right now, so I don't have to bother with either.

[Debbie_King]

I've been wearing soft contact lenses since 1992 and I could never go back to wearing glasses.

I can put them in and take them out without even using a mirror; it's now become second nature.

One thing to be aware of though: ALWAYS! remember to remove them before going to bed. Sometimes if I've been very, very tired (or drunk, lol) I've forgotten to take them out and woken up the next day with my eyes streaming and sore. NOT to be recommended.

Apart from that though, they are great :-)

[Wi11]

I use daily disposables, which I like because there's no need to worry about cleaning, dropping them etc.

Also I've found a way of removing them without touching my eye ball, which is just to slowly push my eye lids together and out pops the lens. Then it's just a case of flicking it in the bin. :) I too had problems removing them at first, but this method works great for me.

[smellystudent]

I've worn lenses for about 10 years, and dailys for the past 6.

The first month or so was difficult - I had to put aside an hour in the morning to get them in. Now, I can do it first time without a mirror.

I found that soft lenses with a six month life became uncomfortable after 4 months, which is part of the reason I switched to dailys.

I find that I'm noticeably less co-ordinated when wearing glasses - the loss of peripheral vision really gets me. I'm dangerous when driving with glasses, because I don't see things to the side of me.

[lZakl]

Not everyone can get over the "finger-in-the-eye". My wife went to get contacts 2 years ago, and not even the Doctors could get them in, her eye actually moved further back into the socket as if trying to run away! She tried every day for 5 week's to get them in with only one success. Anyway, we figure we're better off with Lasik. Doing it early next year hopefully. Just saying contacts work for almost everyone. I mean, I have never seen an eyeball run for it's life until that point!

[suzyvirtual]

Get LASIK surgery (I acknowledge that not everybody is a good candidate for it)! After 12 years of contacts I got it 4 years ago and it was some of the best money I ever spent. Imagine waking up every morning and being able to see--its awesome!