HELP: Need Info From Contact Wearers

[pk1959]

Ok, so today I went and had an eye exam and ended up with one contact in my left eye for reading and close up stuff. Doctor said I have 20/20 vision for distance. They just gave me the one contact that I am supposed to wear for a week, then come back and see them to tell them how it is working out. My question is: should I go ahead and buy my first box of contacts directly from them and then look online at places like 1-800-Contacts or Lens.com? She said that they will give me my exact prescription once they are sure it is correct. Do you have to stick with the exact brand of contacts they suggest or as long as I know the prescription, I can buy any brand? I just don't want to pay way to much through them if I can help it. She did say that they would be about $50 a box. Hope these aren't totally stupid questions. Any help you can give me would certainly be appreciated!!!!

 

[Marionnette]

Ok, so today I went and had an eye exam and ended up with one contact in my left eye for reading and close up stuff. Doctor said I have 20/20 vision for distance. They just gave me the one contact that I am supposed to wear for a week, then come back and see them to tell them how it is working out. My question is: should I go ahead and buy my first box of contacts directly from them and then look online at places like 1-800-Contacts or Lens.com? She said that they will give me my exact prescription once they are sure it is correct. Do you have to stick with the exact brand of contacts they suggest or as long as I know the prescription, I can buy any brand? I just don't want to pay way to much through them if I can help it. She did say that they would be about $50 a box. Hope these aren't totally stupid questions. Any help you can give me would certainly be appreciated!!!!

You can take your first prescription and go anywhere to get your contacts. But you cannot change the prescription to a brand or type of lens that is cheaper. Think about it like a prescription you might get from your MD. If he prescribes a certain antibiotic, you cannot substitute another antibiotic because it's cheaper. The whole reason you will be returning for follow up visits is so that your eye doctor can find the right lens for you.

 

[AmandaRG]

You can, however, price out what works best for you and order from there. It is going to depend on what contacts you have as to when they should be changed out. Years ago I had daily wear that I got one pair of contacts for a year. Now, I have extended wear that can be worn for two weeks at a time. I only wear them daily, never at night, so I go a month on a pair. I often wear my glasses for a few days at a time.

Good luck finding what works best for you!

 

[pk1959]

Thanks for your answers so far. This is all so new to me. I don't even have any experience with glasses and prescriptions for glasses etc. The trial contact that they gave me is a 'Biofinity' and can be worn for 30 days, but not at night. So from what you are telling me, that may not even be the brand I end up with. Guess I will have to wait and see what the final prescription ends up being then. Thanks for your help.

 

[kalliyan1]

this is nothing to do with your contact question....how is the one contact thing working for you? I tried it and it seemed like my vision was blurry all the time, then i tried biofocals, a contact in each eye and that didn't work either. Now I just use the length of my arm and for now, that seems to be working.....LOL

 

[mrodgers]

Do not purchase anything until you have another appointment with your eye doctor so they can see how the trial pair is doing.

Different contact brands fit differently. I had a trial pair (after 5 years of wearing another brand) that my doctor wanted me to try and immediately he said he didn't like the way they were on my eye. He had me go home and wear them for a while. They slid down on my eye into my eyelid. They just didn't fit the shape of my eye. I ended up calling the office and ordering my old contacts the next day.

After the doctor gives the OK for a certain contact, then you can get the prescription and purchase at a place of your choosing. Anywhere else you order from, you will be required to give your doctor's name and office number and they will call to verify your prescription and the contacts.

I have astigmatism and those contacts are much more expensive than "normal" contacts. I priced Lens.com, 1800contacts (which Walmart and my doctor's office order through), and I just recently looked up many of the places recommended in another thread here and Vision Direct was far cheaper than any of them.

 

[dansamy]

And make sure they are not prescribing you a "house" brand. Lenscrafters did that to my DH. He was unable to get contacts anywhere else. Needless to say, we don't use them anymore. We stopped in at Sam's, who prescribes major brands and is partnered with 1-800-contacts, and discovered that not only had LC screwed us with the house brand, but DH's Rx was completely wrong. He'd been complaining that he just didn't see as well with them, but I was sure it was just because of the glasses vs contacts difference.

 

[rapunzelmom]

Totally agree with other posters! after wearing "hard" contacts for 35 years my new eye doc talked me into soft. I took 4different lense adjustments to get it right. wait until you get a final fitting and even then only buy a few weeks or months worth as things can change as your eye gets used to things. I have 6months worth sitting in my bathroon right now that are not my current prescription, cant bring myself to throw them out... feels like throwing out $$$

 

[Bonniec]

Im in this line of work

You will have to wai the week to make sure you are adjusting to the contact lens. If it works well and they still fit okay, the doctor will then "finalize" your prescription. At that point, you can request a copy of your prescription.

You can fill it anywhere, but it will have to be the exact lens and power. Biofinity is not too uncommon so you should be fine.

Keep in mind as well, contact lenses prescriptions have an expiration date. Usually 1-2 years depending on the state and doctor. After that, you will have to be examined again and refit. So make sure you get contacts before your rx runs out.

 

[Kitzka]

just wanted to agree with what others have posted. I recentl switched from biweekly to daily contacts and i went through 3 brands to get one with a right fit for my eyes.

Good luck

Lara

 

[pk1959]

Thank you everyone!! All good information and I will be doing EXACTLY what everyone has suggested. I think things are going pretty well with them. I have NO problem putting them in. Taking them out is another story, but I have only done it 3 times, so hopefully practice makes perfect!! Pretty thankful I only have to do it in one eye with the taking out part. Looked on You Tube and watched a couple of videos so got some helpful tips from there as well.

Here is my next stupid question....I have an appointment in a week to go get re-checked. Will I know for SURE if this is the best I can see with the monovision contact that I have? In other words, I have read everywhere to expect my vision to not be perfect since I am using one un-corrected eye for distance and then the corrected eye for reading/computer etc. How will I know if another brand would give slightly better vision?? Is that something the Dr will be able to tell me? Since this is only day 2 for me and I am such a worry wart, I just want to make sure I don't 'settle' for one thing when something else could work better for me. Warned you it was stupid!!!!

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

I also have monovision, and only use one contact. My new doctor gave me a few different lenses to try out. Maybe you could ask to try a different kind. I agree that you don't want to take the first thing that they give you, because I did this at my previous doctor and was amazed at the difference and comfort of the new lenses that the new doctor had me try first. I had a choice based on my trial.

 

[pk1959]

I also have monovision, and only use one contact. My new doctor gave me a few different lenses to try out. Maybe you could ask to try a different kind. I agree that you don't want to take the first thing that they give you, because I did this at my previous doctor and was amazed at the difference and comfort of the new lenses that the new doctor had me try first. I had a choice based on my trial.

You know, this might be a really good idea. It would just be nice to have something to compare against to see what is better and what is not. I certainly don't mind purchasing a few different single contacts to try. I hope he is open to that suggestion. Thanks.

 

[mrodgers]

The thing that worries me about this one contact for short sight and one for long or only one contact at all is depth perception. You need both eyes for depth perception. People only looking long distances with one eye losing depth perception while driving a car is a bit worrisome.

I don't actually know how it would be, but I do know I sometimes have problems with my left eye and contact at work and remove it for a short time letting it soak. With only one eye with a contact in, I can barely function. Then again, my long distance sight is horrible (wouldn't recognize my own kids 5 feet or more away without corrective lenses) so perhaps it isn't as bad if your vision isn't too bad.

I do know my mother tried this and said it was terrible. She said she could see just fine, but did lose just about all depth perception.

 

[Marionnette]

The thing that worries me about this one contact for short sight and one for long or only one contact at all is depth perception. You need both eyes for depth perception. People only looking long distances with one eye losing depth perception while driving a car is a bit worrisome.

I don't actually know how it would be, but I do know I sometimes have problems with my left eye and contact at work and remove it for a short time letting it soak. With only one eye with a contact in, I can barely function. Then again, my long distance sight is horrible (wouldn't recognize my own kids 5 feet or more away without corrective lenses) so perhaps it isn't as bad if your vision isn't too bad.

I do know my mother tried this and said it was terrible. She said she could see just fine, but did lose just about all depth perception.

Monovision has been around for decades. If there really was a widespread problem with operating a motor vehicle while wearing monovision lenses, the insurance companies would be all over it.

The truth is that it can take a couple of weeks for your brain to adjust to focusing one eye for near and one eye for far vision. It's not the same as covering one eye and looking at something, which does cause you to lose your depth perception.

OP, the best answer for your questions about not having the best possible vision with your lens is to voice your concerns about it to your eye doctor. If you are having problems focusing on the computer after the trial period, let him/her know. If you find that you're squinting or reaching for reader glasses, you need to have the power tweeked a bit.

What you do not want is a buffet of lenses to choose from daily. You should stick with one lens at a time until your doctor finds the best one for you. Jumping around from one lens to another during the trial period is counterproductive. A good eye care physician will work with you until you get the best possible correction. I went thru 4 different trial lenses until we finally got the right power in my multifocal lenses.

 

[rapunzelmom]

as a contact wearer for more than 35 years (yikes I am old), my advice is to make sure you are working with someone who really knows contacts. I have extremely bad vision, and astigmatism which makes fitting me difficult. I finally found a contact specialist! What a difference! I realizd not everyone has my unique situation but if showed me not all eye docs have the same skills in fitting contacts. just a suggestion

 

[disneymarie]

You know, this might be a really good idea. It would just be nice to have something to compare against to see what is better and what is not. I certainly don't mind purchasing a few different single contacts to try. I hope he is open to that suggestion. Thanks.

My dd eye doc takes no money until the proper fit, if they can find it. She has terrible vision, astigmatisms, one eye much worse then the other...

 

[cbg1027]

My eye doctor will do price matching. If I come in with a print out from an online retailer showing a price that is cheaper than what they are charging for the same thing, they will match it for me as long as it's not less than what they pay. That way I can get my contacts from the same place that I get my eye exams done.
You could try asking your eye doctor and see if they will do price matching.

The purpose of letting you try out the contact for a week isn't so much to make sure you see correctly, but to ensure the contact fits your eye and is comfortable (of course, that can have an effect on your vision). Eyes are shaped differently, and so are contacts. Some types fit you better than others and will offer better comfort if they fit correctly.

You should be able to tell pretty quickly if you can't see right. I recently tried a new kind of contacts and after 2 days of wearing them I knew they didn't work for me because they gave me a feeling like they didn't cover my whole pupil - I had areas on the outer edges of my vision that seemed blurry. They were also just uncomfortable, which I think ties in with the blurred edges of vision.

And the doctor should be able to tell you at the re-check if your vision is what it should be. That's why you read the letter chart. Like I said, the week test is more for comfort and fit - the doctor will notice if you come back and can't read the letters that you should be.

Since you're a new contact wearer, my advice would be to buy the minimum number of contacts you can. Whatever is in a box (usually 6 if they're monthly). That way you can change if needed down the line and won't have tons of extra contacts you can't use.

My vision gets progressively worse pretty much every year, so I only buy a six month supply at a time.

 

[Bonniec]

One thing regarding the depth perception....you definately lose your depth perception by wearing monovision contacts. It's a trade off of not having to wear glasses or if multifocal contants didn't work for you. As of just hitting 40 myself and having to think about this stuff, I'm not sure I could adapt to that. However, a LOT of people do great with them.

It's totally fine for driving. Each state is different but generally they only require you to be 20/40 or better in one eye. As scary as that might seem, you'd be REALLY scared to know what visual acuities people actually drive around with. Especially in the state of Florida! I've seen a LOT of drivers who can't even see the big E (20/400) on the chart.

 

[pk1959]

OP here. From all that I have been reading (which is A LOT) about this monovision, some people do have a problem with depth perception. There are even some articles that mention a pilot in an airline crash who used a monovision lens and they wondered if that could have been a factor in the crash. The eye doctor mentioned and I also read the fact that 20% of peoples brains just flat will NEVER adapt to the one contact correction.

I think I just need to give it more time. It's not horrible by any means. I like the up close correction that the lens gives me, but don't like the loss of clarity in my distant vision that the lens causes. Guess I want to have my cake and eat it too! Thanks everyone for your input.