New to Contact Lenses Questions

Equanimity

Hi there

Just wondering if anyone could answer a few questions on contact lenses which I am very new to. Just wearing them about a month and a half now.
They are daily disposables and are Toric (for astigmatism)...

1. Optician said my vision would be better with monthly lenses - I opted for daily as I was new to it all and wanted to try it first.
The vision is better than without but not at all as strong as with my glasses.
If this is true why do pals of mine who are literally blind as a bat, wear daily disposables and can see really well?

2. A lot of the time I put them in very easily but they sting like mad for a bit. Am almost at the point of reefing them out and then it seems to settle.
Anyone else experience this?

3. They get quite dry and uncomfortable by the end of the day after work. Is this common?

4. regularly I have problems with a lense after putting it in. I put it in easily but after a moment it feels wrong. I take it out and check for being inside out etc. and put it back and it's not right. Then I have to through it out and get another one.
This could be an expensive habit !

Would love it to work out but. I will of course be going back to the Optician for a follow on check up but just wondered if these are common issues to other users.

Thanks in advance, i really appreciate it!

Equanimity

OldNotWIse

Equanimity wrote: »

Hi there

Just wondering if anyone could answer a few questions on contact lenses which I am very new to. Just wearing them about a month and a half now.
They are daily disposables and are Toric (for astigmatism)...

1. Optician said my vision would be better with monthly lenses - I opted for daily as I was new to it all and wanted to try it first.
The vision is better than without but not at all as strong as with my glasses.
If this is true why do pals of mine who are literally blind as a bat, wear daily disposables and can see really well?

2. A lot of the time I put them in very easily but they sting like mad for a bit. Am almost at the point of reefing them out and then it seems to settle.
Anyone else experience this?

3. They get quite dry and uncomfortable by the end of the day after work. Is this common?

4. regularly I have problems with a lense after putting it in. I put it in easily but after a moment it feels wrong. I take it out and check for being inside out etc. and put it back and it's not right. Then I have to through it out and get another one.
This could be an expensive habit !

Would love it to work out but. I will of course be going back to the Optician for a follow on check up but just wondered if these are common issues to other users.

Thanks in advance, i really appreciate it!

Equanimity

I wear two weekly disposables for astigmatism. I find they are more comfortable. I couldn't get used to daily ones. I find acuvue the best, let the most oxygen in. Re the stinging, the only thing I can think is you might be allergic to the preservative - this happened me. I have to use a preservative free solution (aosept) but its hydrogen peroxide so CANNOT be let near your eyes unneutralised. I've done this and ended up in the Eye and Ear twice. Not pleasant at all, but afaik its the only presrvative free system. Not an issue if you stick with daily lenses of course.

Are you sure you're not putting them in inside out? Sounds silly but easy to do! When you take it from the case, put it on your fingertip and examine at eye level. It should be perfectly rounded. An inside out lens will be slightly out of shape and once inserted, will not fit properly, and cause discomfort. Also make sure they are not torn.

Re the dryness, its common with lenses. I'd say avoid wearing them in air conditioned environments and for too long. You can get drops that are suitable to use with lenses - I use artelac single dose units (being single dose, they are presevative free - most other drops require removal of lenses before and waiting 15mins after) They are a little pricey though, €18 for 60 units.

re the power, this shouldnt be happening. I am minus 7 (the "dont see the bus til after its hit you" category) and can get perfect vision with lenses, speak to your opt about this.

Finally, advice I wish I had heeded 15 years ago when I started with lenses - dont wear for very long periods if you can help it! Try to give yourself "off" days. Be careful with hygiene and eye makeup products etc as lots of things can be irritants when you wear lenses. But most of all...dont overuse. Hope this is of some help

OkayWhatever

My eyes sting like crazy too when I first put them in, sometimes there's tears streaming down my face!!

I thought it was only me though, I put it down to not removing all my mascara or putting them in too roughly. I never even thought about it further but maybe I should have and changed what I use-I use the Specsavers ones in the navy and white box. I wouldn't even know where to begin if I decided to get a new brand, so i'll probably just put up with the stinging

OldNotWIse

OkayWhatever wrote: »

My eyes sting like crazy too when I first put them in, sometimes there's tears streaming down my face!!

I thought it was only me though, I put it down to not removing all my mascara or putting them in too roughly. I never even thought about it further but maybe I should have and changed what I use-I use the Specsavers ones in the navy and white box. I wouldn't even know where to begin if I decided to get a new brand, so i'll probably just put up with the stinging

What type of solution do you use?

Equanimity

Hey OldNotWise

My apologies I have been out of action for the last week but really appreciate your response! Thanks so much, it was really helpful!

I actually got to see the optician this morning as it happens.
She said that the lenses were moving around in my eyes when I looked up or down etc. which would explain them hurting a bit and also the vision not being great as it's a bit blury when they are not sitting tight on the eye!
Also as I work in an annoyingly air conditioned building she too suggested drops (I never knew they existed!).
She's going to try me on two brands of monthly lenses and see if they fit better so will see when they come in next week.
Hopefully one will work out well!

Re the inside out mention. She also asked me this today - we put a fresh pair in just to be sure that wasnt the problem and it wasnt. I am sure i have done this before as it's been really uncomfortable and blury when I do. Well i assume that's what happened.
I can't see any difference between inside out and not inside out - the shape looks exactly the same! Maybe that's because they are toric lenses for the astigmatism?
I assume all lenses are in the correct form when packaged?
I just wonder how they seem to get inside out so easily!

Anyway thanks again for your response, it was really helpful!

S

OldNotWIse

Equanimity wrote: »

Hey OldNotWise

My apologies I have been out of action for the last week but really appreciate your response! Thanks so much, it was really helpful!

I actually got to see the optician this morning as it happens.
She said that the lenses were moving around in my eyes when I looked up or down etc. which would explain them hurting a bit and also the vision not being great as it's a bit blury when they are not sitting tight on the eye!
Also as I work in an annoyingly air conditioned building she too suggested drops (I never knew they existed!).
She's going to try me on two brands of monthly lenses and see if they fit better so will see when they come in next week.
Hopefully one will work out well!

Re the inside out mention. She also asked me this today - we put a fresh pair in just to be sure that wasnt the problem and it wasnt. I am sure i have done this before as it's been really uncomfortable and blury when I do. Well i assume that's what happened.
I can't see any difference between inside out and not inside out - the shape looks exactly the same! Maybe that's because they are toric lenses for the astigmatism?
I assume all lenses are in the correct form when packaged?
I just wonder how they seem to get inside out so easily!

Anyway thanks again for your response, it was really helpful!

S

Hope you can get to the bottom of it. My lenses are for astigmatism also and there is definitely a different shape when they are inside out. I think they take a lot of getting used to. I've had mine actually fold up and get stuck under an eyelid. Put in torn ones without realising, and the best (latest) - drunken removal of lenses and waking the next morning to see one stuck solid to the toilet seat lol. Sometimes they can come out of the packs inside out, I've even had one coming out torn. Optician will usually replace free.

Hope the drops work out. Air condiditoning is a killer. When we wear lenses we blink less, and looking at a screen makes us blink less aswell - all elading to dehydration which can make then really uncomfortable. Air con just ads to this. The drops should help

Also be careful when closing the cap on the lens case - it can tear them if they are not exactly centred!