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

[kacaju]

I am another one who wears them until I remember to take them out.
I have been doing it for at least 14 years... it started back when kid #1 was born. I started to sleep in them because I needed to see when the baby woke up.
I have not had problems, I see my eye Dr. yearly and at any time my contacts do feel funny, I will be the first to take them out and toss them, even if was a new pair.
I have told my eye Dr. how often I wear them and my eyes are healthy. If at any time he told me otherwise I wouldn't do this anymore. I have never looked at it as a cost saving, just a bad habit.

 

[roadtripper]

I can't remember the last time I ordered new contacts...
but in the interest of full disclosure, I wear my librarian glasses every day, and save the contacts for date nights and photo ops. I guess I don't go on enough dates with DH!

I have never had any eye problems, except in college, when (ahem) I may have slept in them occasionally and had the gross crusty eyes in the AM (which was nothing compared to the way my head was feeling). Good times .

 

[DisBride2007]

I agree with the other posters who have said that this is not an area to cut back in your budget. (However, I do tend to forget to change my lenses, but it's not intentional, and I only wear them M-F and never sleep in them.)

I have a question about your insurance plan. Mine covers $150 of contacts every year, OR glasses every other year. Anyway I was wondering if maybe yours is similar? Glasses are more expensive than contacts, so maybe they allow you the contacts each year?

I have also ordered contacts online through 1-800-Contacts and another site. They usually are pretty reasonably priced, and they require a copy of your prescription, so you can't order the wrong kind accidentally.

If your employer offers flex spending accounts, you could also budget for the contacts there and save the money on taxes.

The truth is that it may not make a difference and may never cause you a problem, but it's not worth it to take the chance that it will. One time my hairdresser scratched my eye (don't ask). I had to pay $20 for the co-pay to see the doctor, $20 for the prescription eye drops, and another $20 for a follow-up appointment, PLUS I had to throw out the contacts I was wearing. Anyway what I'm trying to say is that you can end up spending more money to fix a problem down the line.

 

[eclairemom]

Oh, Your supposed to take them out and clean them and dispose of the disposable ones? I wish someone would tell my DH this new information because he insists on never removing them till they are bothering him and not throwing them away till they rip. Seriously he is awful with them and isn't a candidate for Lasik either because he would still need vision correction. He hates glasses because he claims he can't see with them even with a new perscription.

When we do purchase new contacts Sam's has them really cheap.

 

[LisaR]

I have daily wear lenses - I don't know how much disposables are in contrast to these, but I typically get a pair about every 18 months (1 pair). The brand I wear (CSI) is rather pricey, but I have had my current pair for over 18 months and just had an eye exam a few weeks ago - doc said they look practically new still (I clean with Aosept every night).

I wear CSI lenses and have since grade school. I just went to a new eye doctor the other day and he told me I was living in the dinosaur age!

He really tried to sell me on disposables. I wouldn't bite. I know that I would be the type of person that would stretch the disposables as long as possible. Plus, the CSI lenses are very stiff lenses. I have tried a few disposables in the past and they are so floppy by comparison.

I am glad to hear I am not the last surviving CSI user!