contact lens discussion thread (merged)

tootiefrooties

Hello

I had contacts at 13, and it was such a relief! I was unfortunate enough to need braces, and as I've worn glasses since age 4, the combination of both was too much for my delicate teenage ego! I used daily disposables which are brilliant. The first few days I struggled like hell taking them out, but after that it's a piece of cake. Just make sure he has clean hands before putting them in and taking out. They can be quite reasonably priced (there's a page on online contacts if you search main MSE page) so it's worth a trial, at least.

I turn 21 next month and the only time I've worn contacts in the last 3 or 4 years is on my wedding day and when I dye my hair. But they were totally necessary for those self-conscious years!

redstellabella

Hi, My daughter started wearing contact lenses at the age of 10 and has been wearing them for the past year without any problems. She always puts her glasses on before going to bed and then they are ready for her to put on first thing in the morning. She then wears the lenses for roughly 14-15 hours a day but if she is going swimming she keeps her glasses on as you can't swim with lenses in. With regard to cleaning, I clean the lenses every day to ensure she doesn't get an infection but this is a small price to pay for the difference the lenses has made in her life.

Savvy_Sue

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Pink_Eyes

redstellabella wrote: »

if she is going swimming she keeps her glasses on as you can't swim with lenses in.

I asked a question about swimming and glasses/lenses (not on here) and got told it was ok to wear contact lenses as long as I wore googles as well. (not prescription ones)

Running_Horse

In my experience, adults are unlikely to be any more rigorous with their CL cleaning regime than children.

studentgirl_2

I have worn contacts from the age of 11 im 30 now. I hate my glasses and never wear them out, ever ever. I would say that I was better at cleaning them when I was a kid. I wear gas permable at the mo. But the disposable monthly ones could be good, I would go for it.

divadee

lawrie28 wrote: »

Evening All,

The WIfe has lenses with a base curve of 8.7/14.0. Asda opticians seem to think there are not many lenses she can use???? something about having a very big flat eye. They let her use acuvue advance fortnightlies, but think some others may be better, dry out slower, but they cost a fortune - don't know what they are, but they wont give her a free trial they cost that much.

any ideas?

johnsons oasys were recommended to me as i have dry eyes, and these are 2 weekly ones. has she tried those?

There is a brand new daily lens out by johnsons acuvue called tru eye, is that the one she has been recommended? This lens is ment to be amazing i know 3 people who have tried it and they say it was amazing, like not wearing contacts at all all day every day.

tru eye uses the same materials as monthly/2 weekly lenses so even though it is a daily lens it can be worn all day every day as it lets in so much oxygen to the eye. Normal daily lenses dont let enough oxygen into the eye so shouldnt be worn all day every day.

The downside is the cost and avilablility, it is only available at acuvue approved centres at the minute, there is no free trials avilable yet either. The cost is about £50-60 a month for 30 pairs. But there is a £30 off your first purchase voucher here. you need to have a new contact lens assesment though.

moneypooh

My daughter has worn them since she was 13 and it changed her life. She had problems with glasses especially with sports activities. She wears monthly ones for school and daily ones for holidays and weekends away. The daily ones are easier with regards to cleaning when away.
You can also swim in daily ones without wearing goggles.
My daughter has her eyes checked every 3 months at the opticians as part of our contact lens care plan, so she's constantly checked for any eye problems and changes to her prescription.

It's certainly not the cheapest option but the difference it made to her lifestyle really did out way the extra cost.

I'm sure you could do a free trial and just see how he gets on, after all he might not like them.

good luck either way

wishiwasarichgirl

I am an optician and have fitted children as young as 8 or 9 with contacts.
As long as they are sensible and motivated to wear them, and they have regular check ups it is not a problem. For young children I would generally advise daily disposable lenses, as compliance with cleaning instructions is not always very good from kids (although often young adults are much worse :rolleyes:) This will depend on his prescription however.

I would not advise wearing lenses every day for a child of 10, and certainly not for 14-15 hours a day as another poster suggested. So they will still need spex as a back up for evenings/couple of days a week/if he has eye infections/conjunctivits etc...

Ideally you should not swim in lenses, as bacteria & chlorine from the water can soak into the lenses, but if he is wearing dailies and throws them away afterwards then risks of infection are minimal.

lauraza

Just wanted to share that I am ordering from Coastal Contacts.com, no customs charges, £30 per 6 month supply of O2 Optix, I think this is a good deal!