How difficult is it to get used to contact lenses?

[minniecarousel]

I have worn hard/gas permeable contact lenses for 39 years. I just made the switch to soft lenses. Problem is: I can't take them out! The touching the eye thing is very difficult for me.

Anyone successfully transition from hard to soft lenses? I know that I need to trim my nails so I don't scrape the soft lens or the eye.

I go back on Monday for another training session. I'm already regretting making the switch. (I went with soft lenses because my insurance will pay for them. However, I'm out of pocket at over $300. Hard lenses would have been $400. sheesh - some savings.)

 

[jeanelle]

I did this about a year ago. I had had gas permeable lenses for over 20 years. I had a hard time wearing them however. The eye doctor convinced me to try the new soft lenses for astigmatism.

I must say I LOVE THEM! I did have a hard time (and still do sometimes) getting them out. I was so used to just popping out the other ones, it took a bit to get used to touching my eye to get them out. I find it a lot easier if I put drops and have a bit of solution on my fingers when I try to remove them. If they are dry they tend to stick to my eye and don't want to come off.

Good luck with them. I think you will like them once you get used to them.

Jeanelle

 

[minniecarousel]

I just heard from my DDIL. She used to train people on putting in and taking out contact lenses. She saif she would work with me, if I'd like. Isn't that sweet?

 

[veraletta]

You should try to use wet drops in your eyes before you try to remove them.
It makes them easier to remove them.

 

[NotUrsula]

I use a slightly unorthodox method of removal, but I'm trying to help DS get used to them, and his doc says that my method is ok to teach him if it works for him. I've used it for 20 years now. You do have to get past the "finger on the eyeball" squickies, though.

What I do is hold the lower lid open with my ring finger and lay my middle finger gently across my eye, with my hand horizontal. Then I look down, and slowly back up, whilst holding that middle finger on my eye. The lens slides down and off against the side of my fingertip when the eyeball passes under it.

My method doesn't require short fingernails, as I don't do any grasping.

 

[Imzadi]

I can't take out soft lenses with one hand. I have to use the pads of the first finger of both hands, and to use them like a pair of tweezers. I gently squeeze the lens from each side with both fingers and gently push towards the middle, until the suction is released.

My eye dr. thought it was so weird to see me do it that way, but it was the only way they would come out. I tend to have long nails and I was always too afraid to gouge my eye out with the edge of my nail. Using the flat part of the pads and holding my fingers flat against the eyeball did the trick.

Also, try different moisture levels. If your eyes are too dry when you take your lenses out, they will be stuck to your eyes like glue. It is very hard to pry them off that way. You may need to add in drops about 5 minutes before taking them out, so the lenses are rehydrated.

Or try adding a couple drops of saline to your fingers. Wet fingers may help slide the lens. Or completely dry fingers may be needed to grip the edge of the lens.

 

[3boymthr]

I have worn hard/gas permeable contact lenses for 39 years. I just made the switch to soft lenses. Problem is: I can't take them out! The touching the eye thing is very difficult for me.

Anyone successfully transition from hard to soft lenses? I know that I need to trim my nails so I don't scrape the soft lens or the eye.

I go back on Monday for another training session. I'm already regretting making the switch. (I went with soft lenses because my insurance will pay for them. However, I'm out of pocket at over $300. Hard lenses would have been $400. sheesh - some savings.)

Wow you pay a lot for your lenses. Mine are only $50/lens. Of course, I've been wearing the same kind of lens for the last 20 years. My dr. has tried several times to update my lens to more current version of a gas permeable lenses but I can't wear them - they're too soft .

 

[MM27]

I just hold the bottom lashes down with my middle finger. With my index finger I slide the contact downward. Then I use my index finger and thumb to grab the contact out. I've done it this way since I was in middle school because one of my friends had contacts in when she was sleeping and tried to take them out upon waking up and did some severe damage to her cornea because the contacts were very dry and stuck to her eye. The way I take them out, if they don't slide, I put a little saline in to wet them before I try to take them out.

 

[Kimmumum]

I wore hard contacts for 20+ years. They convinced me to wear soft lenses. I never got comfortable with them. I now wear glasses instead.

 

[minniecarousel]

OP here, I placed them in my eyes, took them out and I am wearing them now! It's not as difficult as I thought it would be. It just feels so good to not wear glasses. And as much as I liked my hard lenses (vision was great) I cannot feel these in my eyes, and I always knew when I had the hard lenses on.

 

[bellebuzzntink]

I went from hard to soft a few years ago and haven't regretted it for a second. They just feel so much better! When taking them out I always put a few drops of wetting solution on my finger tips and it makes it much easier. Hope they work out for you as well as they have for me!

 

[Imzadi]

Good for you OP. If they start to feel uncomfortable after a few hours of wearing them, make sure you add some lubricating drops to the eyes. Think of them as little clear sponges. They can get quite dried out after wearing for several hours and need a couple drops to hydrate them again. That will also help when taking them out later.

 

[ndelaware]

I don't use my finger nails to pop my contacts out. I place the pads of my thumb and forefinger at the edges of the lens and slide the fingers together. The lens pops right out.

I just switched to the 2 week extended wear lenses ans after a couple of hours I forget they are in there. I have to remember to remove them at the end of two weeks.