Anyone else trying to make disposable contacts last longer...

[lntsmom]

Here's my deal: I changed jobs this year. My new insurance pays towards an eye exam and contacts or glasses every other year! Compared to my previous coverage this is pretty much an insult. Oh, they will pay towards an eye exam every year IF your prescription has changed.

So, I decided that what I need to do is try to make my monthly contacts last for a month and a half. It isn't easy.

I'm a week away from being able to switch and I'm blinking constantly and want to take my contacts out as soon as I get home.

My goal is to make them last long enough that I can buy one more box of each before my prescription expires so I'll be able to make it through next year without an eye exam.

Anyone else?

 

[toesmom]

Here's my deal: I changed jobs this year. My new insurance pays towards an eye exam and contacts or glasses every other year! Compared to my previous coverage this is pretty much an insult. Oh, they will pay towards an eye exam every year IF your prescription has changed.

So, I decided that what I need to do is try to make my monthly contacts last for a month and a half. It isn't easy.

I'm a week away from being able to switch and I'm blinking constantly and want to take my contacts out as soon as I get home.

My goal is to make them last long enough that I can buy one more box of each before my prescription expires so I'll be able to make it through next year without an eye exam.

Anyone else?

You'll end up paying a lot more if your eye becomes infected. My dh is an optometrist and I hear about these types of infections due to over usage of contacts.

 

[musclemouse]

Yes! I have 6 months worth that I am draggin out for a year! My exam and new contacts this past October and I have 4 packs left. WOOHOO!!

I am nearsighted and don't use them so much. I can see fine except for the little blurry words on road signs, trying to read fast food menus, reading the tv from 4 feet away. So I don't use them everyday. Only when I really need them. Or if I am going to be out of the house all day.

 

[Tjaleks]

I do the same thing. My prescription was up in March 08 and I still have three sets left. I wear them until I just can't or I lose one. This helps me stretch them out. I have never been prone to eye infections due to my contacts. I will have to have a new prescription before I can order any more. So once I am down to one set I will go, but not until then. I don't have eye insurance and what is offered through my work is laughable at best. The ONE guy they cover is an *** and I refuse to go to him. I found an incredible doc, but I have to pay full price. What is really funny is last year when I had my eyes checked I was told my eyes had gotten better, BETTER. Only a little better mind you, but better. I am 32 and have worn glasses since I was in 5th grade. I have never heard those words before.

What solution do you use? I switched to Clean Care last year and love it.

 

[C.Ann]

That's one area where I wouldn't cut back - or anything else that I need to maintain my health and my weight (I've lost a lot of weight again recently and need to get it back up)..

My vitamins aren't cheap, but I buy them anyway.. Dietary supplements I need for health-related problems aren't cheap, but I bite the bullet and buy them.. Boost Plus is not cheap (and I need to drink a minimum of 6 a day), but it stays in my budget - right along with my health insurance premium..

Your eyes are not something that can be replaced and speaking strictly for myself (I have extremely poor vision and have to wear glasses 24/7), no matter what the cost to take care of them, I would pay it..

 

[NotUrsula]

So are you taking them out and switching to your glasses the minute you get home from work? If you are not sharply reducing the number of hours wear you put them through, I sure wouldn't do it.

Dry eye is NASTY, and once it develops you probably won't get rid of it. Wearing contacts when you have dry eye involves liberal applications of wetting drops that are pretty expensive in themselves. You're also at higher risk for conjunctivitis if you wear lenses that are not letting sufficient oxygen through.

Do you buy your contacts online? My eye doctor charges about 30% more than the price I've been able to get online for the same lenses. Once you know your scrip works and you are comfortable with the brand of lens, buying online is usually a better bargain.

Oh, and about this:

What is really funny is last year when I had my eyes checked I was told my eyes had gotten better, BETTER. Only a little better mind you, but better. I am 32 and have worn glasses since I was in 5th grade. I have never heard those words before.

My doc tells me that usually when this happens in your 30's/40's it is the beginning of getting age-related presbyopia (far-sightedness). I've been nearsighted since adolescence. My eyes suddenly started getting better about 2 yrs ago, and my scrip has changed twice since then. I'm now getting worse again, but in the other direction; I'm now farsighted. Having better vision was neat while it lasted, but unfortunately it didn't last long.

 

[Tjaleks]

My doc tells me that usually when this happens in your 30's/40's it is the beginning of getting age-related presbyopia (far-sightedness). I've been nearsighted since adolescence. My eyes suddenly started getting better about 2 yrs ago, and my scrip has changed twice since then. I'm now getting worse again, but in the other direction; I'm now farsighted. Having better vision was neat while it lasted, but unfortunately it didn't last long.

Thanks, that was not shared with me. Like I have said I have had vision problems for most of my life. I guess it really doesn't matter if it is near-sighted or far-sighted. I was just happy for one small moment.

 

[disneynuts777]

I do not think that I could make my daily wears last any longer than a day. By the time I am fishished wearing them (usually 14-16hrs) they are beyond rewearing. I am blinking constantly by the end of my day. I have no vision coverage and since what sight I have left I want to keep I just keep this in my budget. I have worn glasses/contacts since I was two and I truly cherish that I can still see.

 

[momto2girls]

So are you taking them out and switching to your glasses the minute you get home from work? If you are not sharply reducing the number of hours wear you put them through, I sure wouldn't do it.

Dry eye is NASTY, and once it develops you probably won't get rid of it. Wearing contacts when you have dry eye involves liberal applications of wetting drops that are pretty expensive in themselves. You're also at higher risk for conjunctivitis if you wear lenses that are not letting sufficient oxygen through.

Do you buy your contacts online? My eye doctor charges about 30% more than the price I've been able to get online for the same lenses. Once you know your scrip works and you are comfortable with the brand of lens, buying online is usually a better bargain.

Oh, and about this:



My doc tells me that usually when this happens in your 30's/40's it is the beginning of getting age-related presbyopia (far-sightedness). I've been nearsighted since adolescence. My eyes suddenly started getting better about 2 yrs ago, and my scrip has changed twice since then. I'm now getting worse again, but in the other direction; I'm now farsighted. Having better vision was neat while it lasted, but unfortunately it didn't last long.

I've got to agree with this. I have dry eye and it is not fun. I don't have any medical reason for developing it so I'm not sure what caused it. I never slept in my contacts overnight or anything but I know that I sometimes wore them for a lot longer than I should have. It wasn't even for the cost but just lack of time/opportunity in getting to the eye doctor.

Anyway, now I can rarely wear contacts lenses anymore. I bought some daily disposable ones and I will occasionally wear them for a few hours when I want to look my best, but I tear them out of my eyes and throw them away as soon as I can. I HATE wearing glasses with a passion, but I just can't tolerate contacts anymore.

So, I agree that you should be really careful with your vision.

I also agree that buying lenses online is a much more economical option. And I also agree with the comment about your vision getting "better" (going the other direction) in your 30s. Sadly, it will never go back to perfect.

 

[TaniaU]

I was able to stretch disposibles for far longer than a month and a half But now I'm buying online and I don't mind changing as much because they're so much cheaper than through the doctors office.

My opthamologist did tell me that my recent vision problems are most likely from bad contacts and to cut back on the amount of time I wear them.

 

[6Smiles]

Try Costco - for lenses I only paid about $25.00 a box for the Acuvue astygmatism.

 

[JJMom93]

My optometrist told me not to wear them longer, as it will scratch your corneas.

It can also decrease the oxygen your eyes get, which can lead to problems later on.

I usually only stretch mine out an extra week or so...not any longer than that, because my eyes start to feel like sandpaper.

 

[sasha's goofy]

I have worn contacts since 1982. I have always used Aosept to clean them nightly. I have weekly wear lenses and usually wear a pair for a couple of months with no problems. I buy four boxes at a time and that usually lasts until my next eye appt. I go every other year as well. Maybe I am just lucky but I have never had a problem wearing them that long.

 

[punkin]

Don't do it. I have this fight with DD all the time. She wears her contacts until they disintegrate, not for monetary reasons, just because she's 15 yo. Her doctor has screamed at her about it, but she can make 3 boxes of contacts last almost a year.

 

[rainy~daze]

i used to try to make mine last longer, i got so many sty's (sp.) in my eyes i had to wear my glasses for the last 6 months till they healed and then got lasik.
just passed 5 yrs in march, best thing i ever did for my eyes!

 

[owensamo]

Check the online contact places - I managed to get a deal early last year for contacts that they list as bi-weekly, but that my optometrist had prescribed for monthly wear. Since I only switch them half as often, they last twice as long, so for the cost of 1 years of lenses, I got 2!

I still went in to get my eye exam before the end of the year (covered by insurance/FSA), and the doctor said that was a great deal and good idea! Also, you might check with your dr and see if the same lenses go by other names, as they might be less expensive that way!

Amanda

 

[CastleCreations]

I guess I shouldn't even admit this, but I've worn contacts for years..since I was 13 and I'm now 32. I've only had one eye problem and it wasn't contact related. I wear disposables and I have no idea how long they should last. Sometimes I wear the same pair for months. I take them out at night, clean them and put them back in, in the morning. Often I sleep in them, because I forget to take them out. I only throw them away when they become, not slippery, any more. LOL. I have dozens of boxes and every time I get an eye exam, they always give me more. Because of the eye disease that I had years ago, I visit the eye doctor 3 times a year. So far, no problems...
I don't know how much your eye doctor charges but for 2 boxes of Acuvue Oasis and my exam is around 150 dollars.. not too bad.

 

[neatokimmo]

I have one month planned replacement toric lenses. I wear them 2-3 months for each set. My eyes produce very little protein and I usually replace them if they happen to tear.

I've been wearing contacts for 20 years now (ok so now I feel old). Back in the days, my contacts were $300 for one pair and you bought insurance if you tore a lens (that made them like $60 each). Those lenses were worn for a year at a time.

So fast forward to today. Tell me why my new and improved lenses can't be worn for more than a month? They look and feel exactly the same. They are cleaned twice a day (going into the case and coming out) and enzymed once a week.

I've never had contact related eye issues and I got a compliment the last time I went to the ophthalmologist about my healthy eyes - the ones with the 2-3 month old lenses in them

So yes, I think you can stretch them if you have good cleaning habits and don't have a history of eye problems

 

[delmar411]

I guess I shouldn't even admit this, but I've worn contacts for years..since I was 13 and I'm now 32. I've only had one eye problem and it wasn't contact related. I wear disposables and I have no idea how long they should last. Sometimes I wear the same pair for months. I take them out at night, clean them and put them back in, in the morning. Often I sleep in them, because I forget to take them out. I only throw them away when they become, not slippery, any more. LOL.

I'll stand up and admit I do this too except worse. I haven't even had an exam for years. 1800contacts will just refill my RX whenever I do run out or my boxes expire.

I wear my contacts 24/7 until they fall out then I toss them and put in a new pair. I just went through my closet the other day and threw away half a dozen pairs because they expired in early 07.

It's not a money saving thing on my end though. It's a 'I hate my glasses, they hurt my head and I'm blind as a bat w/o contacts'. I need to be able to see in the night so I can take care of whomever is up in the middle of the night. And I cannot stand being blind. It freaks me out.

I do need to go get an exam since my contacts aren't working as well now but I'm sure if I do the eye dr will take them away and not give me a new RX. That happens every 4 or 5yrs and they ban me to glasses for a min of 6mths-1yr.

Anyway, for all that I admit I do this, I highly recommend you DON'T do that. Your eyes should be more valuable to you and a years worth of contacts don't cost much more than a good pair of glasses. I do have major eye issues that wouldn't have happened if I had just changed them out according to directions and took them out at night to let my eyes breathe.

 

[sunnyday123]

I've worn contacts for 25 <gulp...holy crap I'l old!>....the pair I have in are a two weeks old.....I have the kind you can sleep in, but you should never ever ever do that unless it's once in a while. Your eyes need to breath and they are probably itchy because they have muckity-muck on them! They could also have a tiny tear on them, I usually get one on the outer rim if I rub my eyes alot I forget the name I wear, but they are super thin and super comfortable. But the op are right, you can't get more eyes ( well you could, but I doubt you could see out of them!) When I was in a pinch, my eye Dr would let me have a sample pair to wear until mine came in ( my vision is like 20/1500 so obviously I'm a special order!) That being said, I really cannot live without them since my glasses are sooo heavy, and I can't function without them. It's so routine now to get up and put them in. I would call and see if you can get a pair to last you. Also, when you do take them out for the night, try to run a stream of cleaning solution down them to wash off the muck.