Contact Lenses

Fabio

Hi,

Yesterday I got a pair of 30 day/night contact lenses...the ones that you sleep in and use during the day with no hassle for 30 days and nights before disposing of them. I am trying them for 5 days and nights on, 2 off and then 5 days and nights on with them again.

So far I am not too impressed as at times they are uncomfortable and I have to blink a lot. Also at times my vision is not as sharp as it should be...lines are out of place and stuff...slightly only though but its noticeable.

I'm only in them 2 days and one night so will; this condition get worse or are people here with experience of them happy with them? I am very used to using daily disposable ones and they are very comfy...just wondering will these work out the same as so far it doesn't seem certain they will....

Mojito

I find after a few days they get more comfortable and then you totally forget you have them in.

Must remember to change mine in 2 days!

Fabio

Emmm....They feel comfortable today alright but I'm still not sure about the amount of correcting they are doing to my vision.

It can be very different...one minute its pefect and when I look at a book and look back up at, say a blackboard, its not as shapr as it should be...

seamus

Do you have astigmatism, and are you wearing a toric lens?

I wore them for a while (only wore them during the day). Found them much tougher to get in, on account of them being more solid, but once they were in they were very comfortable. Much more stable than standard monthlys too, never seemed to move about.

hunnymonster

I use 1-2 weekly ones aand I've never had a problem. I assume you got fitted for them by an optician if this is your first time trying them?

dame

They will get more comfortable but if you've had a late night or too they will be more uncomfortable. I wear the same lenses and find that the comfort depends on the dryness of my eyes. When you're more tired your eyes are drier so getting yourself a packet of eye drops. I think the ones I use are called "Revive eye drops for all soft contact lens wearers" or something like that. They come in little individual doses so they're very handy. If your eyes and lenses are dry this could change the shape of the lens slightly which will be making your vision blurry.

Sometimes the prescription for your contacts can be different to your glasses (usually in fact), but sometimes they don't get the prescription for contacts quite right cos they're testing your eyes with a lens in a machine at a distance from your eye as opposed to right on the eyeball. This happened me last year and I had to go back and get the prescription changed. Try the eye drops for a few days or a week but if your vision is still off after that go back to the optician and get them to test your eyes with the lenses in. That'll let them test what change is needed in your prescription. You shouldn't have to pay as they are just correcting the prescription they gave you a few weeks ago.

If you are getting your extended wear lenses from an optician I strongly suggest you look at "www.getlenses.ie". They're based in Dublin and once you send them your prescription (scan/fax is fine) they will fill your prescription for you a lot cheaper than the optician will. For example, the last time I needed to get more it was cheaper to get a full year's supply from the internet crowd than it was to get a 3 month's supply from the optician. I've shopped around a few optician's (including Specsavers) but they're still the cheapest by far. They post the lenses out to you and you get them very quickly. I've been using them for the last four years to order my lenses, ever since I started using the extended wear lenses and saw the price of the optician was charging for them.

Finally, while it is possible to wear the lenses right through for the full month, I would suggest from experience, it's better to take the lenses out overnight for one night halfway through. This is to help the dryness of your eyes and to keep the lenses comfortable.

dame

On the getting your lenses over the internet thing. You do have to get your eyes tested every year and provide them with the prescription every time. That was brought into legislation about two years ago cos the opticians had a problem with people putting off their check-ups (it was hurting their profits as well as not being good for the customer's eyes). Just ask the optician for a print-out of your prescription and they are obliged to hand it over. I've come across an optician who really didn't want to let me get my lenses elsewhere so was hard to get it out of, but they are the exact same lenses, same brand, same prescription - just miles cheaper. It's also handy to get them posted to your door within a week as opposed to going into the optician to collect them whenever they're in and you get time.

(By the way I don't work for the company or know anybody who does - I just think the opticians have been charging far too much of a mark-up for far too long)!

hunnymonster

...but they are much cheaper to order in from the USA and US legislation means they do not need to see a precsription for an Irish shipping address. Contact lenses are medical devices so are not subject to the import taxes so you will not be stung that way. I use visiondirect.com but when I last checked there were several suppliers with similar prices.



I usually go to my local opticians for the checkup every 2 years and always order my lenses online.

dame

hunnymonster wrote:

...but they are much cheaper to order in from the USA and US legislation means they do not need to see a precsription for an Irish shipping address. Contact lenses are medical devices so are not subject to the import taxes so you will not be stung that way. I use visiondirect.com but when I last checked there were several suppliers with similar prices.

Will check them out next time. Thanks for info, didn't realise you could get them from America without the prescription though. Just shows the opticians got that legislation to make it awkward for Irish people looking elsewhere in Ireland for their lenses!

On another (slightly related) topic - the VAT for eye exams (only the exam, not glasses or lenses) with opticians was reduced from 21% to 13.5% a few months ago. Does anyone know of any opticians who have actually reduced the amount they charge since then though? They should have. I remember seeing a bit in one of the papers at the time saying that people could go into the optician and ask for a refund as it was back-dated. Has anyone done this?

Fabio

Thanks for the info lads. I am intending on buying all of my lenses online in future. These ones I have in, the 30 day/night ones are only trial ones yet...

Sometimes it happens that, for instance when I am taking notes in a lecture, I can see the page in front of mine perfectly but when I shift my eyes to see the projector screen or blackboard it appears a little blurry...it takes a few seconds for the eye to adjust itslf. This is not something I noticed before....

As an update...I am finding them better than they were when I first put them on but yet still have some niggly problems...

faceman

Yeah i have used them but i had to switch back to monthly torics as my eyesight got worse and the day/night didn't do my prescription.

My day/nights are slightly less comfortable than the normal ones. However use comfort drops (about €5 from an optician for a bottle). Use the drops goin to bed an in the am and any time your eyes feel uncomfortable. I would also recommend taking your lenses out overnight once a week.

Although your buying online, its vital if you have just started wearing day/nights that you get regular check ups initially from your optician.

The consequences of problems caused by day/nights is generally irreversible.

dame

Fabio wrote:

Sometimes it happens that, for instance when I am taking notes in a lecture, I can see the page in front of mine perfectly but when I shift my eyes to see the projector screen or blackboard it appears a little blurry...it takes a few seconds for the eye to adjust itslf. This is not something I noticed before....

This is because your eyes are dry. The lenses are sticking to the eye and that's why it takes a few seconds to adjust. You didn't notice this before because the other lenses you were using were taken out every night so you were putting in moist ones again in the morning. Use the eye drops, they should help, but if they don't solve the problem then you will need to go back to your old lenses. Having dry eyes for extended periods will cause the little red veins in the whites of your eyes to move to the surface, giving you tiny red lines in the whites of your eyes. This won't harm you but unfortunately the red appearance is irreversible.

faceman

dame wrote:

Having dry eyes for extended periods will cause the little red veins in the whites of your eyes to move to the surface, giving you tiny red lines in the whites of your eyes. This won't harm you but unfortunately the red appearance is irreversible.

Actually if the veins expand, not only is it permanent but you can wear lenses again. :eek:

dame

You can wear lenses again. You just need to be more careful not to let them get so dry again, so that more of them don't come to the surface or you'll be left with a red tinge to the whites of your eyes.

faceman

Odd, my optician told me ur screwed if it happens?

dame

My optician told me what I posted above. I'd use the drops or take the lenses out overnight one night now and again if they're getting dry.

I went to a different optician to my usual one last year as I had moved away from home due to work and the new one was very contrary when I said "thanks all the same but I'll order them off the internet like I always do", after checking the price she had. She dropped her price (by a lot) but still came nowhere near what was available elsewhere. She'd already told me my eyes were perfect and were coping excellently with the extended wear lenses (which I'd been using for three years already), but after that she told me I had to come back in six months max for another eye exam cos the internet wouldn't give the same service (she'd earlier said a year was fine). I said I'd book as normal when I needed to renew my prescription in a year, same as always. I had to ask her a couple of times for the prescription cos she kept going on about how you can't go and talk to the internet if your eyes get sore etc etc.

She was a crap optician anyway and told me she doesn't recommend extended wear lenses for anyway cos they're too new! She'd already told me my eyes were fine but then she told me she wanted to check my eyes soon after I got up and would I pop in one of the mornings for a couple of mins. I came in a few days later, she asked how long was I up, 1 hr 20 mins, she said that won't do I wanted to see them within an hour of you waking. I just saw red then and reminded her she'd already given them the all clear and I wanted my prescription. Her customer service left a lot to be desired! When she grudgingly handed over the prescription I saw she'd written on the bottom that I needed to be re-examined in six months! Talk about trying to get every last penny! Needless to say I went to a different optician this year and had no such difficulties.

Obviously I met a bad egg but I'd be wary about opticians and what they tell you since then. Short of telling you something that will harm your eyes, they'll tell you what suits them.

baztard

I got them about a year ago. After wearing them for two days one of my eyes became very sore so I took them out, only for the pain to get worse. Turns out the lens had fused with my cornea and took a nice little chunk of it out with it. I'm going for the laser eye surgery now instead.

Fabio

dame wrote:

My optician told me what I posted above. I'd use the drops or take the lenses out overnight one night now and again if they're getting dry.

I went to a different optician to my usual one last year as I had moved away from home due to work and the new one was very contrary when I said "thanks all the same but I'll order them off the internet like I always do", after checking the price she had. She dropped her price (by a lot) but still came nowhere near what was available elsewhere. She'd already told me my eyes were perfect and were coping excellently with the extended wear lenses (which I'd been using for three years already), but after that she told me I had to come back in six months max for another eye exam cos the internet wouldn't give the same service (she'd earlier said a year was fine). I said I'd book as normal when I needed to renew my prescription in a year, same as always. I had to ask her a couple of times for the prescription cos she kept going on about how you can't go and talk to the internet if your eyes get sore etc etc.

She was a crap optician anyway and told me she doesn't recommend extended wear lenses for anyway cos they're too new! She'd already told me my eyes were fine but then she told me she wanted to check my eyes soon after I got up and would I pop in one of the mornings for a couple of mins. I came in a few days later, she asked how long was I up, 1 hr 20 mins, she said that won't do I wanted to see them within an hour of you waking. I just saw red then and reminded her she'd already given them the all clear and I wanted my prescription. Her customer service left a lot to be desired! When she grudgingly handed over the prescription I saw she'd written on the bottom that I needed to be re-examined in six months! Talk about trying to get every last penny! Needless to say I went to a different optician this year and had no such difficulties.

Obviously I met a bad egg but I'd be wary about opticians and what they tell you since then. Short of telling you something that will harm your eyes, they'll tell you what suits them.

That sounds like a right horror story!

Yes I will get the eye drops I think because if your explanation is correct then this should sort things out. My eyes are actually quite dry now and my vision is reflecting this as I cam finding it hard to see the computer screen...its blurry! I'm guessing that my eyes became dried out as I was sitting near the fire earlier and and the room was quite warm so it may have dried out my eyes.

On the red veins thing....I noticed that alright. Since I started the trial on these the corners of eyes are more red than usual. Its not a big deal really but just reading it there made me remember it.

kittex

Fabio wrote:

Thanks for the info lads. I am intending on buying all of my lenses online in future. These ones I have in, the 30 day/night ones are only trial ones yet...

Sometimes it happens that, for instance when I am taking notes in a lecture, I can see the page in front of mine perfectly but when I shift my eyes to see the projector screen or blackboard it appears a little blurry...it takes a few seconds for the eye to adjust itslf. This is not something I noticed before....

As an update...I am finding them better than they were when I first put them on but yet still have some niggly problems...

Has your optician spoken to you about exfoliating the eyelid rims? My contacts kept sticking and I had blurred vision at times like you mention. She taught me how to 'scrub' along the edges every 2 days to clear out the sticky pores. It has helped alot.

kizzyr

I've tried many types of contact lenses over the years and am now of the belief that the daily disposables are the only way to go and think that over all they are healthier of your eyes. But thats just me and the longer life ones may be ok for other people. I get dry eyes a LOT though and find that the Optrex re wetting drops are great, especially when I use the lenses rather than my glasses. If the lens gets uncomfortable and my vision doesn't feel as sharp as it should I put a drop of two of these in and I'm much better. Some of them you can't use with the lens in but with others you can so make sure you check the label before you buy.

dumbyearbook

Hi been wearing lenses 8 years and the thought of even leaving one in for one night = not good !! like teh above post the dailes are the best job though a bit more expensive than other options

dame

kittex wrote:

Has your optician spoken to you about exfoliating the eyelid rims? My contacts kept sticking and I had blurred vision at times like you mention. She taught me how to 'scrub' along the edges every 2 days to clear out the sticky pores. It has helped alot.

I've never even heard of that in all my years using contacts!

The extended wear lenses are great if you're working irregular hours or don't have the time for taking them in and out, ie if you're on call. I do agree that the daily disposables are probably the healthiest but they're so light you can blink them out from time to time. Any lenses are better than glasses if you need to wear hearing protection for work or a face mask. The rims can interfere with the seal.

Fabio

To be honest I just find that I look different in lenses...a change from the norm! Also the way my glasses go in the rain is very inconveineinet and also for playing football...contacts are the job then like!

I'lltry the drops I think and if that doesn't work then I'll stick with a big batch of dialy disposibles from the web!

I was actually told about exfoiliating the eyes! I havent done it though so i suppose I really should...

Glowing

I usually buy my lenses from Irish websites, and its a very standard price of 30 euro a month for 30 pairs of disposable lenses. Can you actually find them cheaper? Anyone want to send on a link please?

The_Minister

I don't wear contacts, but my optician told me that if I did, then I shouldn't expect as clear vision, or as comfortable use as with glasses. If you wore glasses before switching, then you may simply need to get used to the new standard of vision, and the feeling of having the lenses touching your eyes. There may be nothing wrong with your lenses, it could all just be a matter of adjustment.

hunnymonster

Glowing, which wesite it that? 30 euro for 30 PAIRS is actually quite reasonable. visiondirect is still a small bit cheaper but not much.

seamus

The_Minister wrote:

I don't wear contacts, but my optician told me that if I did, then I shouldn't expect as clear vision, or as comfortable use as with glasses.

This can depend on a lot of things. I personally get much clearer and sharper vision with lenses than I have ever had with a pair of glasses.

There are a lot of factors however. Glasses are relatively easy - you get your lenses cut to your personal specification, and that's it. Contact lenses aren't quite so easy. You can get permanent lenses cut to your personal perscription, but it's horrifically expensive and you run the very real risk of losing a lens easily. To get monthly (or even six monthly) disposable lenses cut in a similarly custom fashion would also be far too expensive.

So contact lens manufacturers make lenses in standard configurations. The number of possible configurations is suitably large that most people can find a pair of lenses that comes very close to their personal prescription. But some people still fall outside these configurations and have to make do with a best fit scenario.

Take Astigmatism, which I understand is the most common vision defect after Myopia. Generally people with astigmatism tend to have axes on or near 180 degrees or 90 degrees. So contact lenses generally only come in either of these configurations. Someone with an axis of say, 160 degree, will be able to wear a lens configured for 180 degrees, but the correction won't be perfect, and the lens will be more likely to slip and move about, particularly when they first start wearing lenses.

hunnymonster

I have a very slight astigmitism. I have in the past bought toric lenses but found them uncomfortable and expensive so I now use normal ones. It was my optician that suggested it. I find my vision better with lenses bacuse I'm pretty careless and my glasses are always scratched, dirty or sitting half way down my nose (very prissy secretary!). The only disadvantage for me is that when I spend long days exclusively at a computer (sometimes 18 hours) my eyes are tired.

dame

I find my vision is much clearer with the lenses than with glasses too. There are new extended wear lenses now specially for astigmatism, my friend has them and is getting on well with them.

Glowing

Hunnymonster, I usually order them from specsaversdirect.com (Ciba Vision -90euro for 90 Pairs), however I found a site (http://www.yourlenses.ie) that does the same ones for 68.98 for 90 Pairs! There is a delivery charge of 5Euro though (still a fair bit cheaper!)

Zaph

Moved from PI