First attempt at contact lenses

**MAJOR METAL** · #1 07-29-2009, 09:07 PM

I had my first attempt at contact lenses today and I have serious doubts if I will get the technique of putting them in correctly. I tried for an hour to get it and I just couldent. To get me out of there I asked the Dr. to put them in for me. I am supposed to go back on Friday for a tuttorial with a pro there. Has this happend to anyone else, any recomendations to overcomming this issue ? Thanks.

KeithBMI · #2 07-29-2009, 09:11 PM

You'll get it. I had a hell of a time for the first couple of days.

Now I can do it with my eyes shut.

bui · #3 07-29-2009, 09:14 PM

It'll come naturally after a few days...my first pair were the hard contacts, in 4th grade...wore them til junior year of college. I put the contact on my index finger, pull bottom lid down with right middle finger and top lid with left index finger. Look straight forward. It might make it easier to put a drop or two of solution on the lens before you put it in. You'll get the hang of it after a few times, like Keith said.

TOOL460002 · #4 07-29-2009, 09:29 PM

i got glasses in 5th grade, and then soft contacts in 7th grade. i had the exact same problem as you. your eyeball just doesnt want to be touched, and it can be hard to keep it open and all that. now, i can touch my eye without blinking or holding my eyelids back. youll get it. i really feel for you, because i remember how much the transition sucked, but its completely worth it. now, its awkward vision-wise for me to wear glasses.

i have been wearing contacts for twelve or so years, and now i wear accuview oasys, and they are the best contacts i have ever worn. they breath so much better than anything else ive tried. youre supposed to take them out every night, but i have left them in for two weeks or so. thats not recommended, but i have never gotten an eye infection, and a contact that breaths well will reduce irritation.

anyway, the point is, just keep at it, and use lubricating eye drops when your eyes get irritated and dry.

bui · #5 07-29-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

i got glasses in 5th grade, and then soft contacts in 7th grade. i had the exact same problem as you. your eyeball just doesnt want to be touched, and it can be hard to keep it open and all that. now, i can touch my eye without blinking or holding my eyelids back. youll get it. i really feel for you, because i remember how much the transition sucked, but its completely worth it. now, its awkward vision-wise for me to wear glasses.

i have been wearing contacts for twelve or so years, and now i wear accuview oasys, and they are the best contacts i have ever worn. they breath so much better than anything else ive tried. youre supposed to take them out every night, but i have left them in for two weeks or so. thats not recommended, but i have never gotten an eye infection, and a contact that breaths well will reduce irritation.

anyway, the point is, just keep at it, and use lubricating eye drops when your eyes get irritated and dry.

I'd be careful with leaving them in...my college roommate started wearing in high school, and didn't get an infection til he got to college. Had 2 infections within a year from sleeping in them for weeks at a time.

I'll second the eye drops comment though, I like the "Blink" products, or Systane. I find that putting a drop or two of Systane on the lens prior to putting it on keeps your eyes lubed a little longer. I've always had really dry eyes (had all my tear ducts plugged, still didn't help much), but I'll take contacts over glasses any day. Next up is Lasik, this fall.

Joe Gress · #6 07-29-2009, 10:57 PM

I couldn't stand mine for the first week or so since taking them out and putting them back in was so hard. I almost ended up taking them back. But I got used to it after a week.

Disraeli Gears · #7 07-29-2009, 11:12 PM

I have the same problem; unfortunately after trying many times I still haven't been able to do it. The doctor couldn't even put them in for me, I apparently have the strongest eyelids she's ever seen

. I'm hoping to get it right though- glasses really are a pain..

TOOL460002 · #8 07-29-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bui

I'd be careful with leaving them in...my college roommate started wearing in high school, and didn't get an infection til he got to college. Had 2 infections within a year from sleeping in them for weeks at a time.

Next up is Lasik, this fall.

haha, yeah, i know... i really should be more diligent about removing them nightly, and its not something i recommend at all. ive been lucky, or i have eyes of steel, because i have never, ever, not once washed my contacts like youre supposed to, or really done anything proper with regards to lenses. just for this thread, i will take my contacts out tonight, such is my love for tb.

good luck with the lasik. my mom had it about a year ago, and was only out of action for 24hr. she is very happy with it. i will probably get that done once im sure my eyes arent getting any worse (they pretty much have, but not entirely). it sounds like an excellent procedure.

CamMcIntyre · #9 07-30-2009, 01:51 AM

I remember when i tried contacts.

It took me an average of 2 hours to get them in or out. I gave up after a week. I had an extremely hard time keeping my eyes open wide enough to get them in. I have tiny eyes in the first place, so I head to spread the lids open or else I didn't have a chance. It didn't end up happening.

I've thought about giving contacts another try, but meh. It's far easier for me to roll over and put my glasses on. Sometime after I get a full time real job that pays well, I'll look into lasik, but otherwise-I'm sticking with glasses.

Coelho · #10 07-30-2009, 06:20 AM

I went to the eye doctor yesterday, after using glasses for a long time, I will go there next month to do contact lenses test.

Phalex · #11 07-30-2009, 06:38 AM

Watching my wife touch her eyeball when she puts them in in the morning seriously creeps me out!! Ughh....

Marley's Ghost · #12 07-30-2009, 06:56 AM

Here's what you need:

Low lint paper towel
fragrance/dye free soap
Lubricating drops

Wash hands, dry with towel
Place contact on fingertip, put some drops on lens
Pull down lower lid with other hand.
Place lens on eyeball, roll eye for a few seconds before blinking.

You can practice desensitizing your eyeballs by gently repeating this process without the lens, just touching the eyeball

I have been wearing contacts for 30 years with very few problems. Go with disposables and take them out every night.

JulienJeff · #13 07-30-2009, 06:59 AM

You'll get it, don't worry.
I tried during one week. The first day, it took me one hour to put them. The day after, it took 10 minutes, the day after, 10 seconds.
Unfortunately, my eyes didn't want lenses... I have very sensitive eyes and there was no air enough going through the lenses so my eyes were too dry.

RS · #14 07-30-2009, 07:11 AM

Never got used to them. Would take me 20-60 minutes to get them in even after a couple weeks. Gave up on them soon after that.

Kipaste · #15 07-30-2009, 07:53 AM

I use contact lenses only when snowboarding and I agree, it's a pain in the ass. It takes about 30 minutes to put them on. My technique is looking as far up as I can and then I use more force than skill to get the lenses on and hopefully after few nasty feeling blinks they'll settle on their correct places. Taking them off sucks too, but (un)fortunately they usually come flying off with the first big crash. I hate contacts and I'd never wear them if I really didn't have to. Some of these days I'm going to invest in corrective goggles.

Sonic_Death · #16 07-30-2009, 08:56 AM

When I first got my contacts I didn't wear them consistently for a few years because I hated putting them in... then once senior year of high school hit I wanted to start wearing them again, so I gave it another shot, and lo and behold I've worn them almost every day for the past 4 years.

It just comes naturally after a while. Personally I have like three different techniques for putting them in, though I usually just stick with the same one. Just try not to lose faith MM!

CrispyDelicious · #17 07-30-2009, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

You'll get it. I had a hell of a time for the first couple of days.

Now I can do it with my eyes shut.

+1

It just takes practice. Poking around in your eyeball isn't exactly natural, so you have to overcome that.

Din Of Win · #18 07-30-2009, 09:16 AM

I gave up on contacts.

Haha, the reason is lame though. When i first got them it took about 45 minutes to get them in and by then my eyes were all red and irritated. When i went to school (highschool at that time) a teacher jokingly accused me of being high. Well... that time was the pinnacle of my "hardline straightedge" time and i was so offended by this i threw them away. It left such a bad memory that still, ten years later, i wont get them.

I have no problem wearing glasses anyway!

bassguppy · #19 07-30-2009, 10:02 AM

LASIK

after wearing glasses and contacts for nearly 25 years I finally decided to get laser eye surgery. It's the best thing I could have ever done. Just waking up in the morning being able to see 20/15 is great. easier to drive and not having to bother with contacts.

It seemed scary at first the thought of surgery on my eyes but I didn't have any pain at all and don't regret it at all.

Din Of Win · #20 07-30-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassguppy

LASIK

after wearing glasses and contacts for nearly 25 years I finally decided to get laser eye surgery. It's the best thing I could have ever done. Just waking up in the morning being able to see 20/15 is great. easier to drive and not having to bother with contacts.

It seemed scary at first the thought of surgery on my eyes but I didn't have any pain at all and don't regret it at all.

My step-dad got Lasik and LOVES it. Positivley life-changing for him.

On the other hand, one of my room mates got it and we think he was too young when he did because now his eyes are getting blurry again...

Personally... i don't think i could willingly allow lazers to cut flaps of my eye... *shudder*