Need contact lens advice - please

[Luvndisney]

I recently (4 months ago) got contacts from my doctor in preparation for the wedding in July. Aty first it was hard to put them in and out and I put it off. However, I have gotten much better and now take them in and out easily. My problem now is that they are way too dry for em to wear. I am waiting to go back to my dr. but he keeps running around and switching contacts and it is costing me a lot of money. The contacts are so bad they hurt me and I use drops almost every hour when I am wearing them. I know there has to be an easier way or my wedding day is going to be really bad.

So what kind of contacts does everyone use? is there a brand that is better for dry eyes?

what brand of drops do you use that lasts a long time?

I really at my wits end with these. If I can't figure it out its no glasses and no clear vision on my wedding day

Help please

 

[RangerPooh]

I have Acuvu2 and really like them. Some brands allow more oxygen to access your eyes, and I did try one of these styles and found it to be uncomfortable, although DH really likes them. As for rewetting drops I ususally use renue or opti-free. Question, when you put them in do you have solution in them or are they "dry"? I know that if I put them in "dry" then they are uncomfortable so I always make sure that there is a drop or two on the lens.

Sometimes when I experience discomfort it's because it's in backwards. Othertimes it's because my eyes might have the "blood shot" look. I would check to see if you were given the right fit for your eyes. I would aslo ask if you culd try a free sample of a few different contact brands so that you could find the right fit for you.

One thing that I do that helps ease discomfort is to wait at least an hour before I put them in in the mornings and take them out atleast 2 hours before bed. This routine has helped the discomfort that I felt when I switched brands (and then back to the origional). How old are your contacts? Sometimes the smallest tear or hole in it can influence problems that you may experience.

 

[Luvndisney]

thanks for all the advice.

I do place them in with drops. That was the only way I could get them in. They are in the right way but they just dry out over the course of the day. Maybe the first hour or so they are fine and I feel like I am wearing nothing. But then they start to feel iritated and dry. Once I place drops in them they feel nonexistent again. Also, when I am outside they seem better - unsure why.

I got fitted for them by my doctor but I think asking him for other samples may be a great idea. Thsi way I can try ones. thanks

 

[karentan]

you could try getting the one day disposable lenses, you can get them over here in the uk, presume you can get them in the US too. they're ok to last all day but if you find they dry out after a few hours you can just put a new pair in. it'd save you having to put drops in every hour.

 

[PookieB]

My cousin had a procedure done when they plugged her tear ducts so she could wear contacts til she could afford Lasik surgery.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/dryeye.htm

 

[Cinderella Fan]

First of all, if your doctor is changing your contacts, then he should be giving you trial pairs. There should be no charge for those. I don't know why he is charging you, or asking you to purchase boxes of contacts.
I have worn contacts for almost 11 years, and glasses snce I was 1 year old. I have never had to pay for a box of contacts until my doctor made sure we had the right strength and type of contact. Sometimes, this takes more than 3 or 4 trial pairs, but this is the way your doctor should be working for you.

You might have chronic dry eyes, talk to your doctor to see. If you do, there is a special contact that he can prescribe for you, if the trial pair works. If you don't, check on the Acuvue Oasys. It allows more oxygen to your eyes, which keeps them from drying out.

Hope this helps, and you are able to find some relief soon!

 

[JandJ]

I wore Bausch & Lomb (?spell?) since I was in elementary school (over 20 years!) and last year my new eye doctor switched me to O2Optix and I really like them. They let in more oxygen then the B&L. I find that if I cry they hurt, I guess it's the salt. My niece couldn't wear any contacts because her eyes dried out so fast. Now she has Acuvu2 and she's very happy with them.

But, your doctor should be giving you "tester lenses" so you can wear them for about a week to see how you like them, and he should not be charging you for the testers. I went through 3 testers before I decided on the ones I wear now and I didn't pay a dime until I actually ordered the lenses.

Good luck!!

 

[heathrow42]

What kind/brand of contacts do you have or have you tried? They do take a while to get used to.. make sure the drops you are using are designed to be used with contact lenses and are the moistrizing/lubricating eye drops (not saline..) a lot of regular drops say, remove contact lenses first. Maybe try different drops. and as stupid as this sounds.. remember to blink! I work in front of a computer all day.. and I realized my eyes get a little dry because I blink less when in front of the computer.

I've been wearing contacts on and off for 14 or so years.. I've always had the soft ones. Every brand and type really are different, the doctor should be able to give you a trial pair (or pairs if they are dailies) so you can see which ones fit and work best for you. It shouldn't cost you anyting extra and should be part of your "contact lens fitting" fee... Don't buy a whole box till you are pretty sure you have found ones you can stick with. ...and I usually go to Len Crafters, so they often have a wide selection of lenses on hand.

Alot depends on the type of lens you get.. are you getting the ones you change twice a year? every 2 months? once a month? one a week? overnights? (these are the driest!) There are newer types of contact lenses that are a lot more breathable, but I think that dailies are the most breathable. A few years ago I switched to Bauch and Lomb softlens dailies. Put them in, in the morning, throw them out at night. They are sooo very light and breathable, I usually forget they are there. I get them at costco, they are significantly cheaper (1/4 the price) then through the doctor's office, and I don't need a case or cleaning solutions. I tired the Focus dailies last year and hated them.. didn't even make it through the box... they were nice, light and breathable but the fit was just wrong, I could blink them out so they scratched and were uncomfortable.

Good luck!
--heather

 

[allisonswonderland]

Acuvue 2 for me also!

 

[TInk218]

I had used Acuvu2's for the longest time and I was having the same dry eye problem. I used to rewetting drops and all of that but my Dr. changed me to Acuvue Oaysis (sp?) and i LOVE them. They are the best contact I have ever worn.

 

[Luvndisney]

ok thank you everyone!! this helps alot. I actually using dailies which were suppose to allow my eye to breath better because the first pair were even drier. So maybe the new oasys ones are for me. Either way I will do some research and find out why he is charging me!

 

[JonetteA]

I had hard contacts until last year. With everything going on with the wedding I invested in the Lasik. I didn't want to have a big problem on our wedding day and sometimes I did with the hard ones.

 

[butterfuleyes]

I used Acuvue 2 and am allergic to everything. They were fine. Your dr. should know what to give you for dry eyes. I just got LASIK and love it!! Of course, that's something you get if you have the funds. I waited over a year to get it.

 

[Chickkypoo]

I used to not be able to stand wearing contacts. I found they dried out to easy, and I had a hard time putting them in. This time I bought CIBA Vision's Night & Day contacts, and I love them. I can wear them up to a month without changing them, and I don't even realize I have them in most of the time, they're so comfortable. My eyedoctor originally had me try a different pair that allowed a lot of oxygen in, but I found they felt a lot thicker in my eye, and I could really feel them when I was wearing them.

 

[FutureMrsC]

I've been in that boat before. I wore contacts 4 years ago and had to stop wearing them because I got tired of putting drops in every 30 minutes. Go figure on that one...

Like you, I decided to try contacts again for the wedding. My doctor gave me several trial pairs, and I decided that the Acuvue Hydraclear were wonderful for me. I can go all day without using drops most of the time... unless the pollen count is really high (but even then it's mostly once, maybe twice a day).

Best of luck to you!

Oh... and Acuvue has a free trial coupon on their webpage, just in case your Dr wont give them to you for free. If you fill the perscription at Walmart, there are rebates as well.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I have incredibly dry eyes that are easily irritated. Being a chalk-loving teacher, they get irritated often. My dr. wanted to RX me Oasys also, but Oasys doesn't make them in my strength (I have a strong RX) so he ended up with Acuvue Advance. They are made from a combination of materials, whereas Oasys is a silicone gel that is oxygen-permeable. The Acuvue Advance is partially made up of this gel, so it is more "breathable" (thus less drying) than regular contacts but not as much as Oasys.

I also use Refresh drops (the kind that are packaged individually) They are insanely expensive, but are the best I've found.

I also never sleep in my contacts, and try to wear glasses at night as often as I can. I also usually wear glasses on Sunday, so at least one day a week, my eyes can "recover".

 

[KerTggr]

Another thing could be that you are allergic to the solution used for that particular lens or the drops/cleanser you use. It's pretty rare (of course that means I have to have it ), but it can be the difference between night & day when you find one that works. Your doctor should be able to test your reaction to each lens/solution and let you know which is right for you.

I ended up with Acuvue's 1-day and they work well for be. I have to use Clearview drops when they do get dry though as this is better for me than even some salines.

Additionally, I agree with the other posters- your dr should be giving you about a week's worth of trials to test out before having you pay for any of them. Oh! And, depending on which state you live in, and your dr's prices for contacts, you can get the info passed to Costco or Walmart and get your daily's for much cheaper! Just something else to consider once you get there.

 

[FutureMrsC]

I just learned that if you're on birth control it makes your eyes drier somehow. I'm not exactly sure how or why, but that's what I heard. Thought I'd mention that!

 

[princessblueeyzes]

Acuvue 2 for me also!

same for me too- I have used Acuvue for years now and love them.