Contact Lenses Discussion Area

FruGal_2

Such scientific testing....way to go MSE! Though I'd not think twice about doing the same...

and the other one was lost on the bottom of slippers for at least an hour

since which getting right way round, insertion and not loosing has been easier easier

Al_Inshearah

You can save money on expensive coloured contact lens by cutting circles out of the wrappers of quality street. ;D

londonman81

That's cheap and at no increased risk to my eyes.  

How do you know that it's not increasing the risk to your eyes???
I'm sure that using one pair of lenses for that long will increase risk of infection to your eyes. And it's not worth saying 'it ain't doon me any harm coz im a hard nose notherner you softee suthner!'. Just because it hasn't done you harm yet doesn't mean it won't in future.

Eyesight is simply not worth gambling with.

Oh btw - daily lenses are not for people with money to throw away - they actually work out better for people who want to wear fresh lenses on an occasional basis. Remember that you don't pay for solution with dailies too...or have you made you own solution using glue, water, squashed ants and vimto too George_Bray??!

I'm surprised you haven't tried cutting soft contact lenses out of condoms yet..and thats a joke btw (before you try it out!) ;D

George_Bray

How do you know that it's not increasing the risk to your eyes??? ...Eyesight is simply not worth gambling with.

It's not increasing the risk of infection one iota because hydrogen peroxide based 2 stage solution will kill virtually any bugs when the lens are left to soak for a few hours. The argument that "eyesight is simply not worth gambling with" is music to the ears of the contact lens makers and opticians. Moreover, current contact lens have an 'expiry date' out to around 2009, so they are unlikely to disintegrate or substantially change character whilst being stored for long periods.

Regards
George

filigree_2

I settled on dailies because they're extra thin, I've got a very strong prescription and long term lenses were too thick for comfort. I factored in the cost of solutions too - they have to be discarded after 28 days/3 months (it varies) and I was fed up with throwing away bottles that were still 90% full. Hydrogen Peroxide does NOT last forever, it degrades very quickly to good old H2O - pretty expensive water in other words!

It's a lifestyle choice too. I'm disorganised and cack handed, I kept losing lenses, forgetting to pack solutions for holidays, putting lenses in without neutralising Contact lens care was a chore and I can't be @rsed to be honest. I spent about 15 years with washable lenses, and the last few with dailies and I wouldn't go back.

A friend of mine ended up in hospital after abusing his contact lenses, he can never wear them again. If I ever reached the point where I really couldn't afford contacts I would revert to specs rather than risk my eye health.

George_Bray

Hydrogen Peroxide does NOT last forever, it degrades very quickly to good old H2O - pretty expensive water in other words!...It's a lifestyle choice too.

You make some good points for your lifestyle but if you don't have the money I still think it makes almost-risk-free sense to keep costs down and stretch the budget.

I'd not heard that 3% hydrogen peroxide solution degrades to water but find it hard to believe that would happen if the bottle is left open (as mine are) for around 3 months, rather than the 1 month mentioned on the bottle. Does air let into the bottle really do this?

Regards
George

filigree_2

The chemical name for hydrogen peroxide is H₂O₂ which is water + oxygen. The spare oxygen molecule evaporates (whatever the correct term is) and you're left with just water. It happens pretty quickly, I remember making lots of lovely bubbles with it in science lessons. For some reason putting chopped liver in the beaker makes it extra fizzy!

George_Bray

...the spare oxygen molecule evaporates (whatever the correct term is) and you're left with just water. It happens pretty quickly...

I just checked my bottle of Ciba Stage 1 solution which is 3% hydrogen peroxide. I guess each bottle lasts me about 3 months with my (possibly risky) approach of only cleaning my lens about every 3 days. But the bottle says to discard the solution within 3 months of opening, so I doubt if the (even partial) change to water can happen within 3 months, or Ciba would advise a shorter period.

The stretching of solutions was not part of my argument for cost reduction on monthly lens and check ups.

Even if a lens is left in stale distilled water for 2 years, I believe hydrogen peroxide is such a good cleaner, that it can be brought back to completely bug free with an overnight soak. I've done it, with no ill effects.

By comparison, I wouldn't want to risk my eyes with any of the all-in-one solutions aimed more at an easy lifestyle than eye care. If the cleaning agent is mild enough to go straight into your eyes, it can't be much good.

Regards
George

FruGal_2

yep the after care is a real bug. I'm sure group bulk buying could reduce costs. Another useful thing might be collapsible bottles so that air is squeezed out as the solution levels decrease. Me I want the recipes, surely bicarb and lemon jus works somehow!

proevo21

hi everyone if u have an optemetrist related questions please ask moi, george_bray please discard any leftover soln afrter recommended usage time as u do not want 2 get an ulcer, its v.painfull and its sight threatening, most c/l disorders are asymptomatic so you will not realise till its 2late!!!! always get ur eyes checked every 6mths if u get red eyes or itchy watery eyes go 2 ur eye care practitioner straight away, if that is not possible go 2 ur locak A & E as it is possible that u may have a corneal ulcer or infective keratitis , both are v.bad and can effecy ur vision and visual accuity so i would reccomend recommend a frequent check and regukar changing of soln as you def dont want a cornael ulcer as iwhen you go 2 get it treated they will take a scrappping to identify the pathogen ( culprit organism ) and that is v.painful even with the anaesthetic,
not reccomended