contact lens discussion thread (merged)

janb5

You will need to have eye tests every two yeatseven if you decide to buy your lenses online. Choose somewhere recommended especially if you find it difficult to put them in. The opticians wont prescribe lenses until you are confident putting them in. I wore specs virtually since childhood and only started lenses when I was 50! Really changed my life- wouldnt be without them now!:j

Btw I really recommend daily lenses sooo much more easier!

C_Mababejive

Just to add further to post no 4...i too used to use rigid gas permeables and i thought they were state of the art but when i switched to dailies it was another leap.

Wearing dailies gives me perfect all round vison. There is no awareness of their presence and the clarity,brightness and acuity is excellent.

As long as you dont have a complex script,you might get recommended something like acuevue dailies. You can google for price.

I use daysoft
http://www.daysoftcontactlenses.com

However you must,as a new user,be guided by your optometrist and ensure that you attend for checkups as required. You will be amazed at the difference. It may take you a while to sort out your insertion and removal routine. Persevere and with time you will perfect it. I can have both mine in in not much more than a minute.

aaronm_2

Contact lenses are good choices for you need to take them off before you go to bed and the next morning, you have to wear them again. This is very necessary and important for the healthe of your eyes.

belfastgirl23

Just to add a little note of caution, I have tried wearing contact lenses in the past and have found that while they are great for far away stuff I get very bad headaches when I do close up work in them. Considering a lot of my job is based around a computer this is a real issue and I mostly don't wear them.

Very possibly won't be the case for you but I'm just saying it in case you decide to stock up with six months worth and then realise they aren't for you only get a month at a time for the first few goes...

Would love to be able to wear them every day!

Fuzzy_Duck

Ivrytwr3 wrote: »

ever thought about laser eye surgery? Had mine done 7 months now and best thing i ever did!

Problem is it's a lot of money for something that's not permanent, and might even damage your eyes if you're unlucky :eek:

I wear the continuous wear monthlies for £15 a month from Specsavers. I don't wear them all the time, but I can keep them in all day and some of the night occasionally which is more than I had with the 12 hour ones.

C_Mababejive

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Just to add a little note of caution, I have tried wearing contact lenses in the past and have found that while they are great for far away stuff I get very bad headaches when I do close up work in them. Considering a lot of my job is based around a computer this is a real issue and I mostly don't wear them.

Very possibly won't be the case for you but I'm just saying it in case you decide to stock up with six months worth and then realise they aren't for you only get a month at a time for the first few goes...

Would love to be able to wear them every day!

I guess its down to individual cases. For example,i am short-sighted,use dailies but also find it necessary to wear a pair of ready readers as i am entering to era of Presbyopia i.e 40 plus. Dont have issues with reading,computers etc Its possible to buy dailies with some accommodation for Presbyopia.

Hermia

I use Acuvue Daily Disposables and love them. They are a wee bit more expensive than own-brands, but they suit my dodgy eyes. I can't wear CL for work so I am on a D&A package which costs me £30 every 3 months (for 30 pairs). The package does save me money in the long run because you get half-price glasses as a perk. I have to have very expensive glasses because of my eye problems so that is very handy.

Ivrytwr3

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

Problem is it's a lot of money for something that's not permanent, and might even damage your eyes if you're unlucky :eek:

I wear the continuous wear monthlies for £15 a month from Specsavers. I don't wear them all the time, but I can keep them in all day and some of the night occasionally which is more than I had with the 12 hour ones.

Damage your eyes? Yes there is a chance, but it is a cosmetic surgery choice, people have lipo, gastric bands etc. It's not a reason to completely discount the procedure; personal choice has a lot to do with it.

As for cost, so 15 pound per month = 180 per year. I was wearing glasses/contacts for approx 19 years, so say 20. There's 3600 and that is without the eye tests, solutions etc. Like i also said, i used to wear glasses too and also had a pair of prescription sunglasses at 200 pound.

I paid 1500 for my surgery and i wish i had done it a lot sooner.

jenniewb

Am reading this amd am SO JELOUS!! I really want contact lenses but have a strong astigmatism (as well as debt!!) and I have been told by several optitions that I am not suitable for contact lenses, I really want daily lenses, I used to wear CL when I was 15, my optition made them especially but it was a huge cost and they had to last 2 years so I had to clean them daily. Needless to say they were easily ripped whilst cleaning (especially not being able to see them to clean them properly!). I ahve been told that since my astigmatism has gotten worse and contat lenses are now just not do-able.

I wish I could get daily disposables but I guess the technology is just not there yet.

theladsmum

I have worn contacts for 25 years, they are fantastic. Started with hard and progressed to gas permeable. Always thought I couldn't wear soft lenses (which are better for your eyes) because of astigmatism in one eye. Then I found out you can wear soft lenses - I have one normal one and one "toric" lens. I have had no problems with wearing lenses ever, although I sometimes get tired eyes at the end of the day and wear my specs for a couple of hours before bed. Also, if going out in the evening, I take the lenses out for an hour or so if possible then put back in so they will be comfortable all evening.

I have fortnightly disposables, and they cost me £19 a month. Could probably get them cheaper online but am happy to use (very) local optician.

Would never risk laser surgery even if it was free - too scared of the risk of permanent damage to my eyes, and I also know two people who still need to wear glasses after it.

Good luck!