Need some info on getting contacts

[MNT568]

I have been wearing glasses full time for the past 3 years, they are driving me nuts. I am thinking about getting contacts. I know this sounds silly but I know nothing about contacts. I currently have 2 sets of glasses, one for walking around and one for reading. How will this work with contacts? Would I still need a pair of reading glasses over the contacts? How expensive are they? Can you wear contacts in the pool? The disposable ones - do you wear them once and then throw them out or are they good for a certain amount of days? Some times I get styes, will this affect the contacts - will I even be able to wear contacts with styes?

Any info or advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mickeyboat]

I would definitely recommend seeing an eye doctor that specializes in contacts.

Every person's vision is different, so contact use varies from person to person, as does contact cost.

I don't believe you can wear them in the pool (I don't). There are some contacts that are worn daily, some monthly, some longer than that. It all depends on your prescription.

As for styes, mention that to your doctor. I don't think you would be prohibited from wearing contacts because of styes, but you would be introducing a lot more bacteria to your eye area while wearing contacts, which could cause more styes.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[MM27]

I've worn contacts since I was a freshman in high school. I go in the pool with them and snorkel with them as well. It's kind of hard to do those things in glasses. I take mine out every night to clean them and the only thing that really bothers me with them is the chalk dust when I write on the chalkboard too much at school.

My mother has bifocal contacts. I have no idea how they work, but she likes them.

 

[lemondog]

I have worn contacts since I was 14. I wear them in the pool all the time. Same goes for the lake, ocean, etc. Mine are 2-week disposables, but I do take them out every night...sleeping in them is still not good for your eyes. I could not live without contacts...I HATE wearing glasses, they drive me crazy too!

I do wear them with styes, but NOT when my allergies are bad, or definitely not with pinkeye or other infections (which I get every once in awhile thanks to my job working with preschoolers).

 

[golfgal]

I also wear my contacts in the pool, etc. It is GREAT going swimming and being able to see. Mine are monthly disposables meaning you take them out each night, clean them and throw them away after a month of use. Extended wear contacts are the ones you can supposedly sleep in but I would NEVER use those after seeing what happened to a friend's DD with those. There are also daily disposables that are really good for people with bad allergies. DS13 has bad allergies and he doesn't use the dailies now but we will probably switch to those with his next refill.

 

[mudman]

I actually just got back from the eye doctor.

I have been wearing my contacts while bathing and swimming for years, but my new eye Dr. does NOT want me to wear them in the shower or pool any longer.

Apparantly people who do are at a higher risk for a cornea infection. He said many people take this risk, however, afeter seeing people suffer with this hard to treat infection it's just not worth the risk. Some people even end up needing cornea transplantation if the infection is really bad.

As to the cost of purchasing contacts. I usually purchase mine at BJ's to save a few bucks.

hope this is helpful.

 

[MNT568]

Thanks for all the info! I have an eye appointment on Friday. I am going to try and get them. We leave for Disney 3 weeks from Wednesday and I would love to be all set with contacts by then. I am getting sick of switching from regular glasses to sunglasses. One of these days I am going drop a pair and break them!

 

[Nala56]

I have been wearing contacts for a long time, or should say one contact. I do mono vision. I wore a contact in my right eye for distance and nothing in my left eye. If I wore both at same time I needed reading glasses which defeated the purpose. The mono vision worked very well for a long time. It does take a while for your brain to adjust to using different eyes for different vision.

Fast forward, I'm now getting older and cannot read up close anymore. I was just fitted with bi-focal contacts. I really, really like them. I can see distance and see close up.

Good luck with appointment! And have fun at DW

 

[RitaE]

I can't see more than 3 feet in front of my face. If I didn't wear my contacts in the pool, I'd be an aquatic Mr. Magoo.