Bad day at the optician

Kinder Bueno

My eye sight is bad, very bad, I knew this so I made an appointment the other day and today I went in. It was 5 years ago since my last eye test for glasses. I went in with the intention of getting contact lenses, all was going well until it came to putting them in. The lady put them in first and to say it was extremely uncomfortable and painful would be an understatement. She poke and prodded for a good 10 minutes trying to get them in. I have a protruding eyebrow bone which I understand makes it more difficult.

Anyway, she then handed me over to her assistant to show me how to put them in myself and take them out. This did not go well at all, I couldn't no matter how hard I tried get the damn things in. I could get them out no problem, I pressed on them and slid them down to my cheek bone, a little unconventional but the lady(trying to hold back her laughter) said it was fine doing it this way. I tried a few times more to put them in but nope, wouldn't happen for me. I was disgusted and pretty embarrassed to be honest. I did not think it would be that difficult. I asked her could I take two contacts home and I would try some more but for some reason she said no?

Anyway sorry about the long winded post but I am sitting here with two sore eyeballs, a headache and my pride in pieces. She said to come back in whenever I wanted and give it another go, I said I would but after todays experience I am very reluctant.

What I want to know is there any tips or is there a knack(sp) to putting in contacts?

This cost €65..... I would have had more fun eating the money.

bridster007

Gas Permeable are easier to put in and remove than soft lens. They are smaller and less flimsy.
It takes a bit longer to build up wearing time though, about 10 days. They also have better vision.
More expensive initial cost but I am only on my 3rd pair in 23 yrs.
Maybe there is less profit for opticians than disposables so they don't push them .

blackeyedpeat

Don't give up! Most people haven't a notion what they are letting themselves in for when they ask to be fitted with contacts. I've had a woman exclaim "seriously your not going to put that in my eye are you?"
Your brain instintively knows that you should not be touching your eye and automatically tries to shut. This is a hard habit to break.
Book a second appointment. Go back at least you are now fully aware of what is involved. It may even require a third visit. It get's easier with practice and is well worth it. (The optician wasn't being akward when they wouldn't give you lenses to practice with. They need to know that you can safely handle the lenses before issuing a supply.)( Although the assistant laughing wasn't very professional)

Sprog 4

I had great difficulty the first time I put in my contacts in the shop (which I barely managed after about 10 mins). I could do it with my eyes closed now (well.. you know what I mean). My technique is very simple. I close my eyelid a bit and place my index finger on it. I also place the thumb of the same hand just below my eye (I use the hand on the same side of my body as they eye for this). I move these fingers apart to widen the eye and give me plenty of room. With the lens on the end of my other index finger I can stick it in the centre of my eye really easily and blink a few times to get it dead centre. Getting them out is a little harder but my technique for that is to widen my eyes as before, look down, place my index finger and thumb of the other hand on each side of the lens with soft pressure. As I look straight ahead again, the lens comes off 90% of the time. I just repeat until it does. I get no eye irritation at all this way.

I am sorry to hear about this, it sounds awful. If the staff were sniggering at my discomfort, I wouldn't be one bit happy.

dylbert

I remember the first time trying it at the opticians, had to give up after half an hour, the fact my eye's where watering and I was sweating made matters 10 times worse. Try keep your eyelids and fingers dry with some tissue, It gets alot easier.

And don't make the mistake my friend made, he got lenses for a snowboard trip one year, after he spent ages and loads of lenses each morning trying to get them in, on the third morning he finished off the first box and opened the other and noticed it was a different prescription, he hadn't realised they where different for each eye

nino1

bridster007 wrote: »

Maybe there is less profit for opticians than disposables so they don't push them .

Or maybe the fact that the are x100 more uncomfortable than soft lenses at the beginning which would hardly help compliance!!

bureau2009

I practically fainted the first time I had a contact lenses in my eye.

These were gas permable lenses and I think I fainted owing to a mixture of shock and ............disappointment.

Now, very occasionally, I wear disposables.

louisewalsh23

Sorry to hear you had such a bad time. Maybe go to another optician where you might feel more comfortable? Chances are you felt worse because you were under pressure from rude staff! I'd book into another opticians and give it another go. Honestly, you'll get the knack you just have to relax and trust yourself that you'll be able to do it. It will come naturally with some practice!