My Quest For Contact Lenses

[Mz Destiny]

Well...I got fitted for contacts last Thursday. I went back on Friday to get lessons on how to put them in and take them out. I got them in after a while, but I couldn't take them out. I went back yesterday for more lessons, but I wasn't really into it.

I'm going back on this coming Thursday to practice some more. I really want to wear contacts. I even bought a pair of non-prescription sunglasses as an incentive. Apparently, my eyes are sensitive, and I have a quick response reflex. They want to put some numbing drops in my eyes to lessen the reflex so I can, at least, get the lenses in and out of my eyes better.

Can anyone share their experiences with me? I am at the point of giving up and just sticking to glasses.

Thanks for letting me share.

[Rudey]

I have huge issues with eye sensitivity too. I flip out at glaucoma tests when they blow air into your eyes and probably tried contacts for a good 2 months before i finally got it.

I would go with Acuvue 2 lenses. If you have difficulty looking at the lens, look away. I look in the top corner of my eye and put the lens in. For a little bit i tried touching my eye with washed hands to get used to it but then i realized that didn't work for me.

Just keep trying.

-Rudey

[_Lisa_]

Girl you just gotta keep on practicing! I lost many contacts & had many poked eyes before I got it right!
And the numbing eye drops really aren't so bad, and hey-if they help you I'd go ahead & try them!

[erniegurl00]

All I can say is that you'll get used to it. I've been wearing contacts for about 10 years, and it took me awhile to get the hang of it. One time I panicked because I couldn't get the contacts out. You'll learn how to remove and put them in quickly, and after awhile you'll forget you're evening wearing them. I had to learn not to worry about hurting my eyes.

I know they are old fashioned, but have you thought about hard contacts? My mom has them, and she also has a quick reflex. She hates touching her eyes, and the hard contacts will come off the eye if you lightly poke the corner of your eye.

Best of luck.

[Mz Destiny]

Originally posted by Rudey
I have huge issues with eye sensitivity too. I flip out at glaucoma tests when they blow air into your eyes and probably tried contacts for a good 2 months before i finally got it.

I would go with Acuvue 2 lenses. If you have difficulty looking at the lens, look away. I look in the top corner of my eye and put the lens in. For a little bit i tried touching my eye with washed hands to get used to it but then i realized that didn't work for me.

Just keep trying.

-Rudey

I've flipped over the Glaucoma tests too! I'm ok with the one my doctor does now.

Acuvue 2's are what I was prescribed. My trial pair is still at the office. He won't let me go out with them until we are both comfy with my inserting and removing technique.

[DDDmiami]

Don't give up Mz Destiny!!!



At first it can be difficult! I had problems at first too!! But it takes practice and eventually you get used to it and develop your own way to do it! I personally find it much easier if I hold my bottom eye lid down, pulling it towards my cheek! Well hope it helps!

DDDMiami

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Mz Destiny
I've flipped over the Glaucoma tests too! I'm ok with the one my doctor does now.

Acuvue 2's are what I was prescribed. My trial pair is still at the office. He won't let me go out with them until we are both comfy with my inserting and removing technique.

Try to practice in the privacy of your home too. I felt so pressured being there trying on lenses and my eyes would water and I'd keep wanting to sneeze.

-Rudey

[Peaches-n-Cream]

It takes a while to get adjusted to wearing contacts. I had worn eyeglasses since I was 18 months (1-1/2) so my eyes had been protected from particles and dust for years. I think that the only eyelashes had been in my eyes. Putting the contacts in was difficult at first. The doctor showed me how and then had me practice. I used a small mirror on my desk to see what I was doing. I put the lens on the index finger of my right hand, closed my left eye, held my right eye open with left index and right middle fingers, looked up and toward my nose, and stuck the lens in my right eye. I repeated the process for my left eye. It felt very uncomfortable, but after a week or two I was wearing my lenses for most of the day. Here is a tip: don't look at your finger as it is coming toward your eye. It makes you want to blink. Look up and toward your nose and put the lens on the bottom part of your eyeball. It takes practice. Make sure you wash your hands, sit down at a desk or table with a napkin or paper towel, and away from a fan or air conditioning. Good luck.

[KillarneyRose]

Sticking one's finger in one's eye is definitely not a natural thing to do, so it'll take you a little while to get used to inserting your contact lenses! You can and will get the hang of it, though, so don't fret. It just takes getting used to.

I can't stand putting the lens directly on my cornea, so I pull down my lower eyelid, look up, then put the lens on the white part of my eye under the cornea. It slides into place easily and after a few blinks it will settle nicely where its supposed to be. I hope this helps a bit!

Best of luck!

[abaici]

It just takes time. I started wearing them about 9 years ago. I remember trying to put them in for up to an hour. HORRIBLE! But, I was determined. My eye doctor told me that I would never be able to wear them, because of my behavior during eye exams. I don't know about you, but it's easier for me to touch my eye than someone else.


KEEP AT IT SISTAGREEK!!!

[DZviol]

Hey MZDestiny, just hang in there because it takes a while to get used to contacts. I've been wearing them for 8 years and it was not easy at first. I was able to put them in my eye, but had SSOOOOOO much trouble getting them out. So, I bought marshmallow cream and would dab my index finger with it, and instead of spending forever trying to take them out the right way I would just touch my contact with my finger and it would magically come out!! It may sound weird, but it totally worked. Just make sure not to use too much cream, and rinse your contacts really well.

[_Lisa_]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
Here is a tip: don't look at your finger as it is coming toward your eye. It makes you want to blink. Look up and toward your nose and put the lens on the bottom part of your eyeball. It takes practice. Make sure you wash your hands, sit down at a desk or table with a napkin or paper towel, and away from a fan or air conditioning. Good luck.

I definitely agree with this! I find its easier to put my contacts in if I'm not standing in front of a mirror! I sit down, hold my eyelid open w/ my left hand, look up, & slip the contact onto my eye! Everytime I've ever had a problem getting my contacts in its been because I was either looking in a mirror or watching my finger come straight @ my eye! Talk about scary! Don't do it!

[kappaloo]

I agree with a lot said here. A couple extra tips:

Even though I don't look at my finger when putting on my contacts I found it does help do to it at a mirror at first.

Keep BOTH eyes open while putting your contacts in if you can. It is easier to keep both eyes open than to keep one eye open!

Place a towel over the bathroom counter and lean over it - that way if you drop a contact - it's on the towel or on you, not the floor.

Also, be willing to burn a couple contacts on learning.

Don't insist on perfecting technique before taking the contacts home from the eye doctor - you'll be less nervous by yourself.

[ZTAngel]

Originally posted by Rudey
I have huge issues with eye sensitivity too. I flip out at glaucoma tests when they blow air into your eyes and probably tried contacts for a good 2 months before i finally got it.

I would go with Acuvue 2 lenses. If you have difficulty looking at the lens, look away. I look in the top corner of my eye and put the lens in. For a little bit i tried touching my eye with washed hands to get used to it but then i realized that didn't work for me.

Just keep trying.

-Rudey

I'm the same way. It takes my opthamologist a couple of tries to do the glacoma test because I always flinch.
When I needed contact lenses, I flipped out because I was so scared to put eye drops in nonetheless a contact lense.
I do the same thing as you when I insert the lense. I place the contact lense on the tip of my finger and hold it up to my eye. As soon as the lense in right near my eyeball, I look away to the top of my eye, place the contact lense in and then squeeze my lids shut until the contact is in place.

It will probably take you a while to get use to putting in lenses. When I first starting wearing them, I would set my alarm clock 30 minutes earlier because that's how long it would take me to put the damn lenses in. I've been wearing lenses for 7 years now and I consider myself a pro. I can get them in and out in just 30 seconds but it definitely takes a lot of practice.

When removing the lense, put some re-wetting drops into your eyes and a little bit of saline onto your finger. It's much easier to remove the lense when your eye has moisture than if it's dry (which it usually is at the end of day from wearing the lenses).

[thetalady]

I've been in contacts for 30 years. Definitely stick with the Accuvue 2. They are by far the most comfortable because of high water content. They are 1-2 week disposables, but I can actually wear mine for about 2 months if I take them out every night & disinfect without rubbing. Use Aosept!

And take heart... after a while, your eyes will most likely become LESS SENSITIVE. You know how an eyelash in the eye sends most people into spasms?? You will hardly notice anymore.