[Niall]

So I was thinking of trading in my glasses for contacts and I did speak to my optician about them but she didn't tell me too much what they'd be like to use etc.

Does anyone here use contacts? If so do you use 'hard' contact lenses (cause apparently my eyes are too sh**e for soft ones)? I just wanted to know whether they're comfy and worth the hassle.

[Smithy]

-20:20 vision-

[MTVN]

I'm a bit short sighted & need glasses for driving and sometimes when I'm watching the telly or something I'll wear them, it's never been much of a problem but I swear that as I wear them more my eyesight gets worse so I might get contacts, from what I've heard they're no problem really once you get used to them and you barely notice them, never worn them myself though

[Stu]

Go in front of the mirror and practice touching your eyeballs with your index finger.

If you can manage that you can manage contacts.

[Ammi]

I wear them, I've worn hard ones before but the ones I've got now are like a gel, which apparently let more air to the eye and are better for my eyes. I've worn them for years and don't you don't really feel them unless your eyes are tired, then I take them out and wear my glasses for a bit. If you get them you'll never want to go back to glasses

[Niall]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I'm a bit short sighted & need glasses for driving and sometimes when I'm watching the telly or something I'll wear them, it's never been much of a problem but I swear that as I wear them more my eyesight gets worse so I might get contacts, from what I've heard they're no problem really once you get used to them and you barely notice them, never worn them myself though

I've got an astigmatism which makes everything blurry (without my glasses that is). And I've heard the same apart from the story my Mum gave me - she put them in back to front once and though she went blind.

Originally Posted by Stu

Go in front of the mirror and practice touching your eyeballs with your index finger.

If you can manage that you can manage contacts.

Lmfao *starts poking self in eyes*

[Niall]

Originally Posted by rhino

I wear them, I've worn hard ones before but the ones I've got now are like a gel, which apparently let more air to the eye and are better for my eyes. I've worn them for years and don't you don't really feel them unless your eyes are tired, then I take them out and wear my glasses for a bit. If you get them you'll never want to go back to glasses

Oh okay. I really want to try them cause glasses are just so impractical sometimes and they just really get on my nerves.

So are the hard ones worth getting then (and yes I know how pervy that sounds lmfao )?

[Vicky.]

Mine used to take me about half an hour to put in

And then i would be crying for about an hour afterward

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Niall

Oh okay. I really want to try them cause glasses are just so impractical sometimes and they just really get on my nerves.

So are the hard ones worth getting then (and yes I know how pervy that sounds lmfao )?

Yes hard ones are great, I wore them for ages but my eyes started to get damaged because they were drying out and weren't getting enough air to them, so she changed me to these gel ones which are quite a new thing, they are better for my eyes but I found the hard ones more comfortable, no probs at all. They move with your eye too so you can see normally, whereas with glasses you can only see ahead, if that makes sense

[T*]

I want them too.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Mine used to take me about half an hour to put in

And then i would be crying for about an hour afterward

Yeah, they are strange to put in at first, but I got used to them pretty quickly, now I don't even think about it

[Pyramid*]

Wore them for about 20 years - soft ones till my astigmatism made them too uncomfy.

if you have astigamatism: there are special ones you can purchase - toric lenses - more expensive and they are a hit or a miss....some find they are comfy - some say they are as uncomfy as hell.

Spoiler:

SOFT TORIC CONTACT LENSES
Soft toric contact lenses have different curves in different meridians to correct astigmatism. Special weighting ensures that the accurate lens meridian is used at the right time to correct the astigmatism. This makes sure that the lens does not move around when it is being worn.

RIGID GAS PERMEABLE TORIC ASTIGMATIC CONTACT LENSES
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are hard lenses and contain 'pores' that allow oxygen to pass through. These are generally for patients that may have enough astigmatism to warrant the use of an RGP lens. Unlike Soft Toric Lenses, they do not conform to the uneven contours of an eye with astigmatism. The way that they correct astigmatism is by causing the space between the back of the lens and the front of the cornea (making it even) to fill with tears. At 20-20, we recommend that you change your RGPs once every year.

However, RGPs require very careful cleaning in order to maintain the optical clarity of the surfaces and keep the eyes free of dirt and bugs. A surfactant cleaner is first used and then the lens is rubbed and rinsed with saline (never tap water). After this the lens can be stored in the container with the conditioning-disinfectant solution. Then after every 7 days of use the lenses must be protein cleaned. This is when a pill is popped into the container with saline and after fizzing for about 20 minutes, it is rinsed, re-cleaned and reconditioned again.

[Niamh.]

You should get laser eye surgery when your 18

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by rhino

Yes hard ones are great, I wore them for ages but my eyes started to get damaged because they were drying out and weren't getting enough air to them, so she changed me to these gel ones which are quite a new thing, they are better for my eyes but I found the hard ones more comfortable, no probs at all. They move with your eye too so you can see normally, whereas with glasses you can only see ahead, if that makes sense

You can also peel onions without crying !!!

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Mine used to take me about half an hour to put in

And then i would be crying for about an hour afterward

Omg. You see this is the thing I'm worried about, I'll make my Dad spend a ****load of money on them and then I won't wear 'em cause they're not comfy. I really want to try them though ugh.

Originally Posted by rhino

Yes hard ones are great, I wore them for ages but my eyes started to get damaged because they were drying out and weren't getting enough air to them, so she changed me to these gel ones which are quite a new thing, they are better for my eyes but I found the hard ones more comfortable, no probs at all. They move with your eye too so you can see normally, whereas with glasses you can only see ahead, if that makes sense

Ah right I get what you mean. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Wore them for about 20 years - soft ones till my astigmatism made them too uncomfy.

if you have astigamatism: there are special ones you can purchase - toric lenses - more expensive and they are a hit or a miss....some find they are comfy - some say they are as uncomfy as hell.

Spoiler:

SOFT TORIC CONTACT LENSES
Soft toric contact lenses have different curves in different meridians to correct astigmatism. Special weighting ensures that the accurate lens meridian is used at the right time to correct the astigmatism. This makes sure that the lens does not move around when it is being worn.

RIGID GAS PERMEABLE TORIC ASTIGMATIC CONTACT LENSES
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are hard lenses and contain 'pores' that allow oxygen to pass through. These are generally for patients that may have enough astigmatism to warrant the use of an RGP lens. Unlike Soft Toric Lenses, they do not conform to the uneven contours of an eye with astigmatism. The way that they correct astigmatism is by causing the space between the back of the lens and the front of the cornea (making it even) to fill with tears. At 20-20, we recommend that you change your RGPs once every year.

However, RGPs require very careful cleaning in order to maintain the optical clarity of the surfaces and keep the eyes free of dirt and bugs. A surfactant cleaner is first used and then the lens is rubbed and rinsed with saline (never tap water). After this the lens can be stored in the container with the conditioning-disinfectant solution. Then after every 7 days of use the lenses must be protein cleaned. This is when a pill is popped into the container with saline and after fizzing for about 20 minutes, it is rinsed, re-cleaned and reconditioned again.

You have an astigmatism? *High five* I'll have to ask my optician about the toric ones next time I go in for a test.

Originally Posted by Niamh.

You should get laser eye surgery when your 18

I don't think I can even then, my eyes are too awful.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Niall

Omg. You see this is the thing I'm worried about, I'll make my Dad spend a ****load of money on them and then I won't wear 'em cause they're not comfy. I really want to try them though ugh.



Ah right I get what you mean. Thanks.



You have an astigmatism? *High five* I'll have to ask my optician about the toric ones next time I go in for a test.



I don't think I can even then, my eyes are too awful.

My brother got it done and his eye sight was shocking

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

My brother got it done and his eye sight was shocking

Hmm I'll consider it but I'm not sure if I can. I remember my optician telling me a couple years ago that current technology wasn't good enough to fix it or something.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Niall

Hmm I'll consider it but I'm not sure if I can. I remember my optician telling me a couple years ago that current technology wasn't good enough to fix it or something.

Oh I couldn't put contacts in I reckon, I hate anything near my eyes!

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Oh I couldn't put contacts in I reckon, I hate anything near my eyes!

it sounds like a horrible thought atm that every morning instead of just putting on some glasses, I have to poke myself in both eyes. But glasses are so irritating. Especially when they fog up on me - that annoys me so much.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Niall

You have an astigmatism? *High five* I'll have to ask my optician about the toric ones next time I go in for a test.

Astigmatism is pretty common.

[Pyramid*]

The world of hard contact lens removal !!!

[Vicky.]

Mine were soft ones.

It was easy getting them out. The only problem was the little buggers wouldnt stick to my eyes when i tried putting them in

[Sam:)]

I wear 1-Day Acuvue Moist,at first they were very hard to get in/get out,but it never really hurts.You may think its more convenient but it takes about five minutes (sometimes longer) to put them in.Its also really hard to put them in when you've just woke up.They do give you confidence and they dont hurt so i'd go with them.
Oh and btw i have an astigmatism!

[Sam:)]

oh and btw if you visit the acuvue site and you know your pescription they'll send you five free pairs!

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Niall

Omg. You see this is the thing I'm worried about, I'll make my Dad spend a ****load of money on them and then I won't wear 'em cause they're not comfy. I really want to try them though ugh.

Niall you can get a free trial you know. I got a month one, since I never got used to them i never went back to buy them

You can be a dick too, and go round the different opticians trying out all their free trials. By the end you will know whether you can wear them full time or not. A month might not be enough time to let them settle properly. Thats what I planned to do, but ended up not bothering