Advice on getting contacts first time?

Bodyfreak135

I'm a 20 year old male been in glasses most of my life I hate it. I tried to do contacts like 3 years ago and was nervous and flinched so much I couldn't do it the next 2 years I didn't even try because I was so nervous. But I'm so sick of having glasses and ready to have contacts I have sensitive eyes some what.

But any advice on doing it fast and quick to get them for the first time? I really can't handle wearing glasses anymore any advice? Thanks

walleyclan1

Practice practice practice

digitalbill

DON'T SLEEP IN THEM!!!!!!!!!

If you think contacts are uncomfortable, try an eye infection.
I have been stabbed, punched, kicked, and bitten.
NOTHING hurts like an eye infection.

OK.. with that said, try the soft contacts.

sizzle74

You will get used to putting them in. Just take your time and relax. You may sweat curse and cry the first week.

Beware though that contacts can harm your eyes greatly. I am hopefully going to get Lasik next Thursday IF my right cornea heals enough to have it done. Nobody ever told me how harmful they can be. You can even go blind after time. I recommend limiting use and getting Lasik once you are done having kids and your vision stabilizes in your 30's.

citylegend

I started wearing them this year after over 28 years of wearing glasses. I now wear extended wear lenses which means I can leave them in and sleep in them (yes that's right) for up to 30 days at a time. They are a great option if your eyes are suitable and find putting them in and getting the out a chore. I find it quite easy to flick them in and out now, it's all about practice. Go and see an optician and in the uk they offer free trials until you find suitable lenses for you eye type. Just remember what I say or anyone else is their personal opinion, everyone's eyes are different and require different lenses, solutions etc

bookworm_847

It just takes practice! I got my first pair of contacts when I was in 8th grade. It took a while to get the hang of, but after all these years I can take them out/ put them in anywhere in any light... I don't even need a mirror! You'll get it, just keep working on it. So much better than glasses!

SashleyA

The more you practice, the easier it is. I've had mine since I was 11 and can put them in in about 2 seconds and in a moving car if I need to (not the smartest thing ever, but eh, it works). When you go get fitted, the person doing the fitting should be able to help, show you what to look for, etc).

In addition to what other people have said (don't sleep in them)- if you get disposables, change them as frequently as it is recommended. I'm super bad about that, but it makes a huge difference. Wear sunglasses, I notice that the sun is brighter in my contacts than my glasses, plus it keeps the wind from drying them out. Also- find a contact solution that works for you, it might take some work, but it really helps. My eye doctor told me to get the Clear Care pack for cleaning and storing and then I use the Bio True to put them in and store for naps and stuff. I swear by the Clear Care, as does my mother.

neon7girl

I've been wearing contacts for over 30 years. I've had soft and rigid ones. It sounds like you would do well in soft. The hardest part is learning to put your fingers close to your eyes, but once you can do that, it's a piece of cake. Wash your hands, take the lenses out as directed and clean them well. Avoid an eye infection - I've never had one, so it is not set in stone that you will. Best advice, don't get lazy with taking care of them. I am now going to monovision because my eyes are getting old. I hate wearing glasses. :noway: Good luck!

ldrosophila

Practice practice practice

^^^^THIS in addition to washing the hands

dont be an idiot like me though if the edges are ever curled or feel slightly hard (from drying out) please dont put them in your eyes. scratched corneas are no fun

sizzle74

I take back the after having kids remark.....sorry man lol

ldrosophila

Oh and the sunglasses advice is great. Get a good pair that blocks out UV.

Serenitytoo

I have to agree with the others... practice and it becomes easy. I wore contacts starting when I was 17 until just a couple weeks ago (so about 20 years). I had soft contacts that I replaced every 1-2months. I didn't mind putting them in and out, but that was the price to pay to get out of glasses. I had a friend where they wouldn't let him leave with contacts until he could put them in and out on his own. I didn't have a choice, they sent me home in them and I had to figure out how to get them out myself lol.

I had SBK eye surgery on Nov.1 and all I can say is it is absolutely fabulous! I could see more than well enough to remove the corrective lenses restriction off my drivers licence less than 24 hours later! SBK is like laisik, but lower risk of side effects, and quicker recovery.

kaned_ferret

If you have a really strong blink reflex this is the thing you need to overcome - before trying them again, get used to doing the following: holding your eyes open without blinking, and touching the white of your eye (with clean dry hands!) It really is mind over matter and perseverence to begin with, has an optician been able to put lenses into your eyes or did you not even get to that point?

I'm a contact lens supervisor so spend a lot of the day teaching people how to put them in

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gsmithnp

I second the "practice touching the white of your eye with a clean finger" advice.

From years of wearing contacts, the best thing I can offer is that you should NOT be able to feel the lenses in your eye. If you can, they aren't fitted properly.

That, and proper washing of your hands before and after handling the lenses, and proper disinfecting of your lenses is vital. I've had contact since I was in 8th grade, and (knock on wood) have never had an eye infection.

TamTastic

I work for an eye doctor and I conduct a contact lens training with new wearers. We teach patients how to put them in and take them out. It does take practice. The first question I ask is how comfortable they are with touching their eye. That makes a huge difference with the lenses. So definitely practice with that. Your eyelids, lashes, etc. are all there to keep foreign objects from entering our eyes. And there we are trying to put something in them. So you really need to gain control in order to get them in. It's like riding a bike and you'll eventually be able to do it easily.

It is important to get a training from someone patient who isn't barking at you. I am pretty good at it. Too bad you can't come see me! haha.

Do not sleep in them even if a manufacturer says to. Also, wearing lenses can dry your eyes out and many people suffer from dry eyes anyway (perhaps unaware), so try to give your eyes a rest in the evenings (or when you can). Take them off and put your glasses on. Clean them properly and don't wear them longer than you're supposed to. (whether daily, two week or monthly). So many people try to push the length of time they wear their lenses and end up coming in for infection or irritation and don't know why! lol!

Good luck!!

:flowerforyou:

HawtinPhoenix

Wear them only a few hours at a time and carry your contact case and solution.

RhineDHP

So in answering to people screaming "LASIK!!!", yeah I'd say not. We're family friends with both an optometrist and ophthalmologist and when casually asking whether or not lasik was worth it (I'm sure they get that question all the time), they both said no. That and the fact that the surgery can be upwards of $2300. Yeah that's a big chunk of change.


I had a hard time at first with my contacts. I have a tendency to always lotion my hands after washing them, so yeah that plus eyeball equals STING OFNOSKEDFRAWWWR. Haha...it just takes practice, and the poster who works in eye care was right, the doctor will ask questions like your comfort level when touching you eye, etc, so you won't be completely in the dark.

Good luck!

AlongCame_Molly

* Soft contacts
* KEEP THEM CLEAN. (if you don't get the throw-away after one day kind)
* don't sleep in them
* keep a spare and solution and glasses with you in case you rub your eye wrong and one falls out.

Start saving now for corrective eye surgery. I wore glasses for 20 years and contacts for 14, and the BEST thing I ever did for myself was get my eyes fixed. Barnett Dulaney Perkins, they're the best!

acpgee

The disposable daily wear ones are the most comfortable, but the most fiddly to handle (being very thin and flexible).

TheRoadDog

Get two.

clb105

If you have to get contacts then I suggest the disposable kind and just keep practicing at putting them in; you’ll get it. Otherwise if it’s an option and if you qualify might I suggest LASIK? It may be an expensive way to go but in the long run you are saving on the expense of contacts/glasses, cleaning solutions and anything else that goes with it. The best part you don’t have to mess with glasses/contacts again (unless you need cheaters down the road – but you won’t even need them if you get the LASIK option where they tweak your eyes different).

I’ve worn glasses since 3rd grade and just got LASIK done this past September. Absolutely LOVE it!!! Only wished I would have done it sooner! :happy:

neandermagnon

LASIK. Don't spend the money on contacts.

not everyone can have lasik. I have keratoconus in one eye and lasik can possibly cause the entire cornea to collapse because keratoconus is caused by the cornea being thin and weak.

I'm mentioning this because I saw several opticians before I was actually diagnosed with keratoconus. It's easy to miss and to be mistaken for being regular astigmatism.

Willbenchforcupcakes

Relax and practise. My eye Dr had me practise for hours when I first got contacts to ensure I was comfortable putting them in and taking them out. You might have to try a few brands until you find the best fit for your eyes.

Make sure your contacts are comfortable for all your daily activities - I recently tried switching to dailies, and had to go back to my old ones, because no matter how comfortable they were for just normal activities, it took forever to refocus and hurt switching back and forth between using a loupe or microscope and unmagnified vision.

arghbowl

Man up and touch your balls. It gets easier with time.