Can any optician help me with a contacts question?

Daisy03

I went for a "teach" today for my first contacts. After a lot of trying managed to get one in and out (just about!).

The optician went through the technique for putting them in with me and I must practice at home (without the contacts) before my next appt. She also went through the technique of pinching the lens to get it out. Is it possible to practice getting it out without a lens? This maybe a stupid question but its just when she showed me she did it over a closed lid. Don't want to do it, without an actual lens to pinch if it isn't advisable.

Thanks

_dublinlad_

I'm no optician, but I have spent many years wearing contacts.

Personally I don't think its really that necessary to practice before you have them in your eye. Some will get it quicker then others. Its just a matter of trying over and over and doing it time and time until you don't even think about it.

Just to pass on a couple of tips that your optician my not not tell you.

1) Air dry your hands after you wash them. Wash your hands with whatever soap and give them a good rinse (maybe rinse for longer then you have spent washing, so to get all the soap of your hands) Then air dry your hands with short fast movements (It will dry them quicker then you think). Using this method (once you clean your contacts thoroughly) nothing foreign will enter your eye. Using a towel or toilet paper can leave microfibres on your hand which can in turn get on your lens which can cause irritation.

2) Buy a good eye drop and place one drop in your lens after you clean it and before you insert. I find this leads the lens to sit quicker and to immediately feel comfortable and moist. It also neutralises any solution that may still be on your lens that could cause some irritation.

On a side note. You would be surprised how robust your eyes actually are. I came home drunk a few nights before, took my lens out and went to bed. Then woke up and forgot I had taken them out and to try and remove "them" from my eyes. Spent the best part of an hour one night grabbing and pinching my eyes wonders why my contacts wouldn't come out before I realised. Eyes where a tiny bit red the next morning but all was fine. So what I am saying is if feel free to practice all you want because it won't be any problem for your eyes, but personally I would say just wait till you have them in from of you and give it a go.

Daisy03

Thanks. Went back and still having a little difficulty getting them out. Find them grand to put in now.

Does anyone here know if the individual packs would say "for astigmatism". I have astigmatism and the first trial they ordered for me were for astigmatism. At the last minute they changed the brand they gave me as they are meant to be easier to take out but these say nothing about astigmatism. I only have enough for a few days as I must go back next week to fine tune the prescription and I am only meant to wear them for an hour or so a day. If they are not for astigmatism will this make a difference? The brand is acuvue daily moists.

monkeysnapper

I'm new to contacts myself, I found squeezing a spot technique works for me taking them out , so I pull my top eye up and bottom down and use a finger from each hand to squeeze the zit technique .