Contact lenses

[JanaDee]

ALL of my cons are for glasses. I HATE HATE HATE my glasses. I don't like when they get dirty, I don't like the marks on my nose, I don't like that my vision stops at the end of the lens, I don't like that my depth perception is skewed, I don't like when they fog up when I go outside, I don't like that they are so thick that even the specialty thin lenses look like coke bottle bottoms, I don't like the way the press behind my ears. I pretty much loathe everything about them.

Yes my contacts cost money to replace but it balances out the cons of the glasses so much, that I don't even consider the expense to be a con. They are worth every penny and then some.

Agree with all the above. My vision is so much better with contacts!

 

[AllisonK]

I also love my contacts - but like this poster, I have very VERY poor vision, so glasses are not nearly as perfect a correction as my rigid gas permeables. The only con for contacts I would say, is that there is a learning curve with them. For the first year or two I had mishap after mishap - I've torn them, chipped them, lost them... and having to wear my glasses while waiting for replacements was so annoying! They are especially wonderful doing most sports (I horseback ride and big thick glasses bouncing around on your face are a real pain), and being able to wear any type of sunglasses (not prescription) is a big money saver.

I also have gas permeable lenses and after the initial learning curve and a few lost/chipped lenses (I got them at the end of my senior year of high school and have been wearing them for almost seven years since I was diagnosed with my cornea disease) I am a contact lens fan 100%. The biggest pro, for me, is that they correct my vision well enough that I can drive and not have to be dependent on anyone but myself. Cons? If I'm in a dry room they get really dry, but I just put in some drops or clean them off and put them back in. Before I wore gas permeables, I wore the regular two-week disposable lenses. I hate wearing my glasses and only do so while reading or watching television in bed or if my allergies are acting up.

 

[Turn the Page]

I tried contacts for a couple years and detested them.

For one thing, half the time I would forget to put them in and they don't work when you don't put them in . Most people get used to putting them in and it takes no time at all. The doctor said after a couple weeks you will be able to put them in in less than thirty seconds. Bull....I would spend twenty minutes trying to get the stupid things in so they would stay and not either fall out or flop back over my finger.

Another problem was apparently my eye is not perfectly spherical like the contacts are made to fit (which may also have been the reason why it was so hard to put them in) so air would get in them and after about 6 hours they were miserably dry. Forget wearing them all day, I had to take them out as soon as I got home because they were driving me batty. Also, my body is apparently a bit acidic naturally so my eye fluid would start breaking the contacts down early. They were supposed to last a month but after about 2 weeks they started getting blurry and by the end of 3 weeks they were mostly useless.

Unfortunately, due to my particular prescription needs there aren't many types out there to choose from. Which is fine. I'm perfectly happy with my glasses. So much simpler. I just wake up in the morning and slip them on and whalah....clear vision.

Most people love them. I'm just one of the few that hate them. Chances are you will be happy with them so give them a shot and see what you think.

 

[weswife]

I just found this post! I am so excited as I just got my contacts today!!! They feel great! Now I want colored ones ........

 

[JanaDee]

I liked the idea of contacts also and have experiments with a variety of them for 20 years. The bottom line for me is that due to extreme myopia (short-sightedness) and astigmatism combined there has never been a pair that corrects my vision as effectively as glasses do. The closest I ever came was with a pair of gas-permeable hard lenses but they are EXTREMELY difficult to get used to and not comfortable for occasional wear.

I'd encourage you to try them but don't be disappointed (like I was) if you're one of the few people that they just won't work for. I didn't realize that was possible and spent a lot of money on different kinds of lenses over the years before I gave up. Good luck and Happy New Year!

I am near-sighted and have astigmatism, but I've only ever worn soft lenses. I've never had an issue seeing clearly.

I love that when I look down, it is clear. When I look to the side, it is clear. When I am driving and checking my blind spot, my vision is clear.

None of that can be said with my glasses.

 

[tennvalgirl]

I love mine.
The only CONS for me are-
they can tear easily and you have to keep them really clean and your hands really clean when you pop them in.

 

[tina.tina]

ALL of my cons are for glasses. I HATE HATE HATE my glasses. I don't like when they get dirty, I don't like the marks on my nose, I don't like that my vision stops at the end of the lens, I don't like that my depth perception is skewed, I don't like when they fog up when I go outside, I don't like that they are so thick that even the specialty thin lenses look like coke bottle bottoms, I don't like the way the press behind my ears. I pretty much loathe everything about them.

Yes my contacts cost money to replace but it balances out the cons of the glasses so much, that I don't even consider the expense to be a con. They are worth every penny and then some.

I could have written this exactly. I am 39. I first got glasses when I was about 10 or 11. I hated them. I think I broke them accidentally on purpose when I was 13 or 14. (I could tell that I sat on them in my coat pocket and bent them. I knew if they were bent, I would still have to wear them, so I sat a little more firmly )

I first got contacts just before I turned 16. I would wear them for a week and then wash them, wear them another week and toss them. I had such a hard time getting them in that it caused me a little anxiety- but never really any problem after they were in. I quit wearing them a couple of years later when my parents quit paying for them. When I was about 21, I started wearing a different kind and had no problems whatsoever getting them in.

My sister goes to the eye doctor and gets a trial pair of contacts. She never purchases contacts. She wears them 24/7 (never takes them out) until they tear up- a year or two. Her reason for never taking them out: she has terrible vision and hates not being able to see. I keep telling her that not taking care of her eyes certainly won't help that.

My mom tried contacts a few years ago and couldn't stand them. My former boss was the same way. Two other people in that office wore contacts. They complained non-stop about their contacts on a daily basis. They always made trips to the bathroom to adjust or take them out. I had been working there for several months and said something about my contacts getting dried out by the heat. They didn't believe I had contacts because I never mentioned them- I just never thought about it. They all had to look in my eye to see for themselves!

 

[FireDancer]

I wear contacts and the only con I can think of is having to take the time to put them in and take them out. I hate glasses and am grateful for the invention of the disposable contact lens.

 

[runsandjumps]

I just got contacts again after taking a 15 year break.

Pros
I can sleep in these for a week without cleaning. Two weeks total.

I don't have to worry about having sunglasses or transitions. I can just grab any pair.

I can put on eye makeup easier- liquid eye liner is my friend.

Cons
Cost mainly. Mine are acuvue oasys for astigmatism and they run about $220 a year plus cleaner and cases.

I have kids and they can get into my stuff. However my kids have destroyed a few pairs if glasses so I think it's a wash.

They did take some getting used to. I wasn't used to how thick these were and was considering canceling my order. Now I don't even feel them.


I did order a couple of back up pairs from zenni optical so I will try the contacts for a year and go from there.

Ana