Astigmatism contacts

jennylynn84 · May 2010

Does anyone have contacts for astigmatism? And if so, please tell me how long it took you to get used to wearing them.

I was nearsighted for a LONG time and wore contacts for YEARS. Then about a year and a half ago I developed astigmatism in my left eye only. I didn't keep getting contacts, primarily because I couldn't afford them OR the $80 fitting after having to buy new glasses.

Well, I got new contacts again about a week and a half ago and the contact for astigmatism is bothering the crap out of me! The other one is fine. Just the left one is annoying. I can feel it, its almost like I have an eyelash in my eye. I went back into the doc and he said that there was some irritation and that the first pair he gave me might have been defective. So he gave me two new pairs, each a different brand, some antibiotic drops and a moistener gel to put in at night.

It's been since Monday, I've exhausted my drops am still using the gel and I'm still aggravated.

I'm wondering what on earth the problem could be! The doc also confirmed my prescription while I was there for the irritation.

Did anyone else experience this? Is it just going to take time?

Help!

bxdarby · May 2010

This is weird, because pretty much the same thing happened to me, except I have it in both eyes. The doctor gave me a pair to try, and at first they were weird, but as the day went on, I noticed them less and less. Then the next day, and about a week after that, they irritated me A LOT! I finally got in to see the doctor again and he just laughed at me and said the reason they were so uncomfortable is because I have been putting them on inside out! I felt like an idiot, but these types of contacts are particularly hard to tell when they are inside out or not, because they still fit quite well. Try flipping them and see if that helps, otherwise, I don't know what's wrong, but I wish you the best of luck and comfort!

aunienue · May 2010

I have atigmatism wore soft contacts for many years. About 10 years ago my Doc suggested I switch to gas permeable lenses (which are sort of like hard). I love them. My vision is much clearer than with the soft.

LoriLou67 · May 2010

I have astigmatism in BOTH eyes, and have all my life. I started wearing contacts 25 years ago with what is called rigid gas permeable lenses. I wore them for awhile, quite comfortable after the trial period. When soft contacts came out in astigmatism form, I was switched to them, then to an extended wear soft lens. I have reached the age now (42 at the moment), that I was having trouble seeing out of the soft lenses, to the point where either I could wear reading glasses over the contacts, or correct one eye for distance and one for close-up...HA! I went to a real eye doctor (instead of the Shopko yahoo) and was put back in gas permeable lenses. They are healthier for my eyes if I'd like to continue wearing contacts for the next 20 years.

If that is not an option for you, then I would go back with said irritable contact and get them to solve the issue. They can look at how it is fitting on your eye. They should be willing to give you a trial or two and work with you to get a proper fit.

Just my experience and .02

hamiltonba · May 2010

I had Lasik surgery and astigmatism is gone!! Yeah Lasik.

delilahthegoddess · May 2010

I had them and never got used to them. It ALWAYS felt like I had something in my eye. But my one eye the astigmatism is quite severe.

jennylynn84 · May 2010

Hm... I might have to consider the RGPs. I've always used soft and didn't even think to ask. The last time I went in he checked out my eyes with my contacts in with the ridiculously bright light. Which I guess answered the "do they fit right?" question. That was my first thought, that they screwed up measuring my eyes.

Are RGPs more expensive?

jennylynn84 · May 2010

Don't I wish I could afford Lasik! One of the girls in my office had it and despite how incredibly disturbing it sounds I'd still like it. Unfortunately I don't really have the money. And if my husband and I ended up with enough money for a Lasik surgery, it would definitely be his. My eyes aren't too bad, but he's getting to the point where glasses can't completely correct his vision.

nicolee516 · May 2010

I have one in my right eye. When I first got contacts, I got the gas permeable or otherwise known as hard contacts. While they made my vision a little more clearer, I didn't like that you could only wear them for a certain amount of time and I can't tell you how many times I blinked and one shot across the room becasue they dried out my eyes so much more! I switched to soft, and Ididn't have any problems other than I can tell weh nthey are inside out, and I did have some kind of irritation in the astigmatism eye. igot Genteal Lubricant eye drops that I would put in after I took out my contacts, and it cleared up that feeling within a couple of days. I got them at Walmart.

jennylynn84 · May 2010

I have one in my right eye. When I first got contacts, I got the gas permeable or otherwise known as hard contacts. While they made my vision a little more clearer, I didn't like that you could only wear them for a certain amount of time and I can't tell you how many times I blinked and one shot across the room becasue they dried out my eyes so much more! I switched to soft, and Ididn't have any problems other than I can tell weh nthey are inside out, and I did have some kind of irritation in the astigmatism eye. igot Genteal Lubricant eye drops that I would put in after I took out my contacts, and it cleared up that feeling within a couple of days. I got them at Walmart.

LOL. Sorry to laugh, but a contact flinging out of your eye (with cartoony sound effects in my head) is funny imagery.

I might have to try drops. The guy I was next to in the waiting room said that he had dry eyes so they could easily rotate in his eye and the weight wouldn't allow it to slide back into place cuz it was stuck.

I've never known myself to have dry eyes, but I notice the problem most when trying to read or use the computer (which is unfortunate because that's pretty much my job description).

LongMom · May 2010

Amazing thread - I JUST got my first pair of Astigmatism contacts and I did NOT like them! I wore contacts for YEARS in my 20's and they were fine! This astigmatism is a new thing for me.

My doctor did order me another pair to try - one eye was "off" it's measurement. I've been afraid to try them now!

kfsooner · May 2010

I love my RGP....I have had them since I was 16. I am now 42. The reason I have RGP is the astigmatism. My sight is very nearsighted and I cannot do laser surgery. I wear them all day long and have no problems. Good luck with any contacts!!

Astigmatism contacts

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