contact lenses

R1V3R5

R1V3R5

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So, I decided to finally get contacts. I've worn glasses for years and want to eventually get Lasik eye surgery but right now it's not in the budget. So, I went in today to get my eye exam and practiced putting in and removing the contacts. Well, for me it was easy to put them in but I struggled to take them out. The doctor who gave me the exam was very polite and helpful, but the ladies at the front desk who showed me how to put them in and remove them were complete bitches. They gave me my first pair of contacts but then took them back saying I'd have to come back a different day and practice before they gave me the lenses. I was actually told by my kid brother (who also wears contacts) that they should have given me my first pair so I can practice at home. But, obviously, this was not the case. They told me to come back a different day and when I asked if their was paperwork or a bill, she assured me it would all be taken care of when they can schedule me again to practice more with the lenses. But they are so booked up it may be awhile before they can get me back in.

So, this bring several questions to mind:

#1. Any tips or removing contacts? I know I'm supposed to just pinch them but they seem so damn slippery.

#2. Can I just never go back there? Because I wrote down the prescription and now I can just order them online.

#3. Are all the ladies at optical places complete bitches?

Thanks. Any information is helpful and appreciated.
 
[quote name='valor19']So, I decided to finally get contacts. I've worn glasses for years and want to eventually get Lasik eye surgery but right now it's not in the budget. So, I went in today to get my eye exam and practiced putting in and removing the contacts. Well, for me it was easy to put them in but I struggled to take them out. The doctor who gave me the exam was very polite and helpful, but the ladies at the front desk who showed me how to put them in and remove them were complete bitches. They gave me my first pair of contacts but then took them back saying I'd have to come back a different day and practice before they gave me the lenses. I was actually told by my kid brother (who also wears contacts) that they should have given me my first pair so I can practice at home. But, obviously, this was not the case. They told me to come back a different day and when I asked if their was paperwork or a bill, she assured me it would all be taken care of when they can schedule me again to practice more with the lenses.

So, this bring several questions to mind:

#1. Any tips or removing contacts? I know I'm supposed to just pinch them but they seem so damn slippery.

#2. Can I just never go back there? Because I wrote down the prescription and now I can just order them online.

#3. Are all the ladies at optical places complete bitches?

Thanks. Any information is helpful and appreciated.[/QUOTE]

That's fucked up.

My pro tips:

Putting in: make sure your applying finger is completely dry (lint-free paper towels work best) before putting the contact on your finger. Make sure the inside of the lens is moist, a drop of solution or drops works great. Put it up to your eye and move your pupil to the contact. Use your eyelid for final position if necessary.

Removal: Fingers completely dry, pinch it out of your eye.
 
Make sure you wash your hands before taking them out, or putting them in for that matter. (No long or jagged fingernails either - contacts tear easily :D )

If you have the prescription, you can get the lenses anywhere, and do not need to go back to the optical place.
 
[quote name='valor19']
So, this bring several questions to mind:

#1. Any tips or removing contacts? I know I'm supposed to just pinch them but they seem so damn slippery.

#2. Can I just never go back there? Because I wrote down the prescription and now I can just order them online.

#3. Are all the ladies at optical places complete bitches?

Thanks. Any information is helpful and appreciated.[/quote]

1. Grab and pull. It will get easier over time.
2. This depends on your eye doctor. My eye doctor was a total bitch and said that she wasn't going to answer responses from Internet sites if I try to order my contacts online. I replied, "That's fine. I am not coming back here next time either."
3. yes. see #2.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']This depends on your eye doctor. My eye doctor was a total bitch and said that she wasn't going to answer responses from Internet sites if I try to order my contacts online. I replied, "That's fine. I am not coming back here next time either."
[/QUOTE]


Oh, I never plan to go back there. I was just wondering if I could order lenses since I have the prescription and just tell them to fuck off. Then, not only do I save money by not returning, but I would actually have my lenses and can practice on my own.
 
they did that to me too.
after you put in the contacts and take them out for a couple days, it gets so easy. i remember i thought i would never get used to that, but i did.
 
For ordering them online, most places will require your exam to be current within a year or so of ordering. I'm not sure if they'll require an actual copy of the exam, but I do know they ask for the exam to be recent.

Best tip I've got for putting them in is to put the lens on your index finger, and to use your middle finger to pull down your bottom eyelid. It's not necessary to make sure your finger is totally dry, as I generally find it easier to get them to un-stick from your finger if you've got a drop or two of solution on your fingertip. Add a drop or so into the "bowl" of the lens, and you're set.

Solution = lubrication = less friction = slides right off your finger = contact in

Works for me. :)
 
To get them out, I first put a drop of solution on my finger, then gently slide them to the outside of the eye, making them easier to pinch out between my thumb and index finger. The sliding out method doesn't work for me.

When putting them in, make sure to not make contact with anything before they go in the eye. I have long eyelashes, so this was a problem for a while.

My contact lady was nice, she sat through me struggling for a long time and even said I was one of the fastest... I knew she was lying to me, but she was still nice.
 
Make sure you replace them regularly and wash them regularly.

Practice putting them in. Practice a lot. When you first get them It's going to take you forever to put in both contacts, but overtime it will be cake.

I was a dumb ass/forgot to replace my lens after I had them too long and one got "stuck" in my eye for awhile. What happended was I fell asleep with contacts in my eyes heh. That sucked. I ended up stressing the hell out of my eyes trying to get them off. Gah

I also had a issue where I didn't wash them one day, and you know what happened the next day? Pink eye. PINK fuckING EYE. Had to miss work and it really sucked (the losing money part anyways). You would think I would learn my lesson the first time, but I did it AGAIN. That was the last straw in the bucket.

With my laziness and forgetfulness I had to get rid of contacts and go back to glasses. I had contacts for a good two years and I looked better without glasses, but I ended up going back to glasses with the problems I had.

Oh and always look for sales on contacts. They do alot of sales every couple of months so you can stock up on boxes when they have good sales. Otherwise contacts are going to run you more then glasses in the longrun, which they probably will anyways even with the best of sales.
 
The one fun thing about contacts is when you're putting it in and it rolls back in your eye...ahh fun times.

But yeah, on getting it out I agree....push the bottom of your eye down with your middle finger and with your other pointer finger pull your top eye open...then with the hand that is pushing the eye down use your pointer and thumb to gently pinch it off the eye.

When I first got contacts I had to wake up 30 min earlier just to put them it. Practice makes perfect.
 
Man, I wish I could still wear contacts. They dry out my eyes wayyy too much after only an hour or so of wearing them. Drops don't help either. I'm not really sure what happened, but my eyes just can't tolerate them anymore. My doctor says I have thin retinas, so I don't know if that's part of the problem or what. Going without glasses isn't an option either, I have a -9 prescription. And I'm pretty sure considering those things I'm a terrible candidate for laser eye surgery too. :(
 
Anyone suggest a particular contact lense? My trial pair were supposed to be a pair of O2 Optix. I looked at the Acuvue 2 but I can't find my size. My prescription is 8.6, 14.2, -6.00.


Also, I appreciate all the advice on putting in and removing my contacts. You folks here at CAG rock!
 
[quote name='valor19']Anyone suggest a particular contact lense? My trial pair were supposed to be a pair of O2 Optix. I looked at the Acuvue 2 but I can't find my size. My prescription is 8.6, 14.2, -6.00.


Also, I appreciate all the advice on putting in and removing my contacts. You folks here at CAG rock![/QUOTE]
Sounds like you're using your glasses prescription. Contact prescriptions are only one number (for example, I'm -1.50 in my left eye, and -1.75 in the right).

I fully back the Optix O2. I use their disposables, and they're really comfortable.
 
#1. I usually do what mtxbass1 suggested. You might like pinching later on though, it gets a lot easier later on when you've gotten used to touching your eye.

#2. I have no idea.

#3. Yes, mine's a bitch too.
 
You get use to doing it after awhile. And your eye doesnt get red or hurt if you poke it or something after awhile aswell. I can touch my eye with my finger without the contact in and it doesnt hurt anymore.
 
[quote name='life.exe']You get use to doing it after awhile. And your eye doesnt get red or hurt if you poke it or something after awhile aswell. I can touch my eye with my finger without the contact in and it doesnt hurt anymore.[/quote]
Same here. It's actually quite fun to poke your eye.


Well I think it is...
 
I recommend just getting the day and night lenses. They are more expensive, but its awesome to be able to wake up any time and see. Even though it gets to be second nature taking them out and putting back in, there are times when it takes forever to get them in or out, especially if you're sleepy.
 
My vision has been going downhill, so I thought about going straight to contacts (I like horrible in glasses and don't want to look all nerdy). My problem is that I flinch every time I try touching my eye, so I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to do it. :(
 
just man up about it, to put them in, i just grab it and shove it in my eye to take them out, just snatch it off the eye with lightning speed
 
i wore contacts for two or three months but they got really uncomfortable towards the end of the day. acuvue 2

i wanted to try the acuvue advanced with the hydraclear but my prescription is old and i'm too cheap to get an eye exam again. :whistle2:#
 
I wore contacts for years (and incidentally, I was a big fan of the sliding/rolling it out method because I simply couldn't handle pinching at my cornea...) and liked it a lot. However they tended to get pretty dry (they have drops for that now). I highly recommend lasik, though. I got it a few years ago, and it was fantastic. I used to have terrible vision (I recall it was something like -11 in both eyes) and after the surgery I could see perfectly right away. It's expensive (a few thou, if I recall correctly) but is completely worth it - besides, add up how much you spend on contacts, glasses, prescription sunglasses, contact solution, etc in a year and then multiply it by... how ever many years you're planning on living... Anyway, it's worth it.

Only side effect was that my eyes tended to be dry afterwards (easily fixable with inexpensive OTC drops). Oh, and I was terrified during/before the surgery (they gave me valium but it didn't seem to help with the, um, abject terror). The surgery itself didn't hurt at all (although it is disconcerting smelling something burning and realizing that it's your cornea). A lot of people are eligible for it now (I myself have astigmatism and was eligible), and many places will do a free consultation to see if you're eligible. My only warning about it is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is: if they're charging $500/eye, you probably don't want to go there... or at the very least, want to look them up online and through the AMA.

Anyway, go lasik!
 
I couldn't wear my hard contacts for a long time because they dried my eyes out I finally got laser eye surgery almost a year ago and with my -7.5 eyes now I see just fine. :) best money I ever spent


[quote name='Dead of Knight']Man, I wish I could still wear contacts. They dry out my eyes wayyy too much after only an hour or so of wearing them. Drops don't help either. I'm not really sure what happened, but my eyes just can't tolerate them anymore. My doctor says I have thin retinas, so I don't know if that's part of the problem or what. Going without glasses isn't an option either, I have a -9 prescription. And I'm pretty sure considering those things I'm a terrible candidate for laser eye surgery too. :([/QUOTE]
 
[quote name='JJSP']Sounds like you're using your glasses prescription. Contact prescriptions are only one number (for example, I'm -1.50 in my left eye, and -1.75 in the right).[/QUOTE]

That was actually my contact prescription (8.6, 14.2, -6.00). First number is curve of eye, second is width of the lens, and the third is the actual lens strength. I'm lucky that my contacts are identical for both eyes.


And I finally do have my contacts. As another CAG said, I just had to "man up." I've found pushing the contact down and grabbing it when it wrinkles works for me. And, for the record, I do want to get Lasik eventually but I have no vision insurance right now. I'm sure my employer will pay for the surgery once I finish the academy.
 
[quote name='valor19']That was actually my contact prescription (8.6, 14.2, -6.00). First number is curve of eye, second is width of the lens, and the third is the actual lens strength. I'm lucky that my contacts are identical for both eyes.


And I finally do have my contacts. As another CAG said, I just had to "man up." I've found pushing the contact down and grabbing it when it wrinkles works for me. And, for the record, I do want to get Lasik eventually but I have no vision insurance right now. I'm sure my employer will pay for the surgery once I finish the academy.[/QUOTE]
Ah, my bad. I was thrown off by all the extra numbers. Whenever I've ordered them from online vendors, I've only needed the strength. Anyhoo, here's hoping you don't have any problems with them. Good luck!
 
[quote name='valor19']And, for the record, I do want to get Lasik eventually but I have no vision insurance right now. I'm sure my employer will pay for the surgery once I finish the academy.[/quote]
Well I highly recommend it (if that wasn't clear, lol). And congrats on the contacts. One good way to practice for them is to touch your eye (after cleaning your hands really well, obviously) every day - you pull down your lower lid and poke your eye with a fingertip. My eye doctor recommended that, because I was super nervous about things being near my eye (as a teenager, I once kind of dislocated my eye doctor's shoulder when she was trying to put in drops... I swear I didn't do it on purpose!! I was just... pushing her arm away from my eye...). Anyway, for people who are having issues getting used to contacts, that's an advice thing.
Also sometimes the contacts end up being too small - one pair I tried actually STUCK to my eye, and I (and my eye doctor) couldn't get them out. Eventually the next morning I was able to kind of wash them out. It was rather horrifying, because I could feel it suctioned to my cornea. **shudders**
 
To make things a little safer, I slide the contact down so it's on the white of my eye before removing it, this way the action is away from my cornea.
 
They have different contact type/solution if your eyes feel too dry. Some have more oxygen and whatnot.

Taking them out/putting them in becomes second nature after about a month.

I always slide my contact away from my pupil before taking it out.
 
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