Questions about contact lenses

strange_wings

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Yes... I'm a first time wearer. I put off trying them for years and now I know why!

My eyes are extremely sensitive, so far I've tried out the Acuvue (just the plain Acuvues) and I'm pretty sure they will not work for me. They leave my eyes red, irritated, and sore even though they don't bother me too much when they're in.
I likely need some that allow a higher oxygen transfer to my corneas.

There's also another problem I had when trying some - it was a pair of BTL? BLT? (something like that) and they were supposed to be better for sensitive eyes - they were thinner. I could not get them to stay in! My right eyelid literally pushed the lens off my cornea.


So those who have tried more brands, which ones are comfortable for someone with moderate dry eyes and sensitive eyes and aren't likely to be scooped off my eye when blinking?

I'd like to try getting some free trials to try stuff out is possible, too. Has anyone done this?
 

twstychik

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I wear the Focus night and day contacts. They are made to breathe more so you can wear them for 30 days straight... which I do. The only time I have a problem with blinking them out is in the mornings when my eyes are really dry. I'm willing to bet that wouldn't be a problem if you take them out every night though.

Also, my Dr. gave me a free pair to start with. I've never asked but they might let you have a free pair of a few brands to find a lense that works. If not, most maunfacturers have coupons you can print for a free trial pair which your Dr. can use to recover the cost.
 

vampcow

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I had trouble the the reguar acuvues a well...

So my doc switched me to a different brand called cooper vision which was suppsoed to be the best (they certinaly cost a lot more!) but I found they they kept on falling out of my eyes...so I went to another doc and he gave me Acuvue 2's and they have been wonderful! so great that sometimes I forget I'm wearing them!

Have you considered that maybe the problem isn't the lenses but the solution you use? I had alot of problems with red, dry itchy and even got a few stys in my eyes because I was allergic to the solution I stored them in. I changed solutions and haven;t had any problems.

I agree with twstychik ask your doc for a free pair...I do every time he changes my prescription to make sure its correct before I plunk down the money for a 6 month supply.
 

sneakymom

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I've got daily wear ones. Meaning I put a new pair in every single day. It's turned out to be about as much as I was spending on the 2 week lenses, and solutions. Because all I have now is 1 container of saline that I'll use sometimes if my lenses are giving me issues.

I agree with the other posters about samples. When I've had my yearly appt, my doctor tells me the lenses she'd like me to use, then gives me a sample of them (with the daily wear it was a week sample) so I can see if I like them.
 

whuckleberry

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Your eyes seem more sensitive than mine, but on the issue of falling out I've never had a problem with mine. I use Bausch & Lomb SofLens. I use Opti-Free solution and have never had issues. Hope you find the right lenses!
 

darkmavis

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I'm in my 3rd try at contacts, I first tried them about 13 years ago, couldn't wear them after a few months due to horrible redness and stinging and infections, this was a pair of the non-disposable ones that you take out every night that last a year or however long... then about 6 years ago I decided to try again, they worked for maybe 2 years before infections started again. Those were monthly disposable ones.

Last August I decided to try again. My eye dr. gave me Acuvue Oasys weekly disposables. I can actually wear them for about a month before they get junk building up on them, because I take them out every night. The Oasys seem to really keep their moisture better than I've experienced in the past. They felt thicker at first, maybe the first day or 2, but after that I couldn't feel them at all. Knock on wood, they're still working for me. So that's my recommendation. And your dr. should have free trial pairs, mine did.

In any case, best of luck, and I'd recommend either weekly or daily disposables, less chance of them getting a protein build-up (or germs) and breaking down and losing moisture.
 

cococat

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I wear contacts all the time. At first, it took me a lot of getting used to but it was worth it. When I was recently in they talked about some that you can even wear at night since they let a lot of oxygen, way more than regular contacts. You might be interested in trying those. There are trial pairs available at your eye doc. Your questions would be better answered by your eye doctor, but information gathering is smart too, pays off to do research!

I so wish I could get lasik! Someday...
Good luck and hope you find one that works for you.
 

jack31

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I too struggled finding a pair that agreed with my eyes so to speak. I wear acuvue 2's--supposd to change every 2 weeks, but I don't--I know shame shame. I don't even notice them.

Leslie
 

twstychik

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Originally Posted by Jack31

I too struggled finding a pair that agreed with my eyes so to speak. I wear acuvue 2's--supposd to change every 2 weeks, but I don't--I know shame shame. I don't even notice them.

Leslie
I don't change mine as frequently as I should either. I wear the 30 day lenses and probably change them every 2-3 months.
 

pookie-poo

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I've worn contacts for 34 years. I have issues with protein deposits, so I think I've tried every type of contact made.

Right now I wear Bausch & Lomb PureVisionÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Toric lenses (I have astigmatism) and they are the most comfortable lens I think I've ever had. They also make regular (non-toric) PureVisionÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] lenses and PureVisionÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Multi-Focal lenses. They are made of a silicone co-poymer which is extremely oxygen permeable Here's a link:
http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer...on_lenses.aspx

I've never heard of an eye doctor or ophthalmologist who doesn't let you trial contact lenses for free. All lenses set on the eye differently (especially the Toric and the Multi-Focal) and you need to trial them to see if they fit the curvature of your cornea properly.
 

nurseangel

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I can't wear the ones you leave in overnight, though I've tried. I get protein deposits. Plus, my eyes get really red and goopy. Though I wear glasses most of the time now, when I do wear my contacts, I have to take them out at night. But I wish I could wear the others...that wonderful feeling of being able to see the alarm clock in the morning is the best. I had a bad experience with samples once, but it may have been a problem exclusive to my optometrist. I had a coupon for a free pair of colored contacts. They gave me the contacts, but charged me $25.00 for the fitting...even though I was there for regular contacts anyway. To make matters worse, I couldn't see out of the darn things...
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by twstychik

Also, my Dr. gave me a free pair to start with. I've never asked but they might let you have a free pair of a few brands to find a lense that works.
Mine gave me 3 brands to try over a couple of weeks, he didn't tell me which brand was which but he of course had that info I just had numbered lenses.

One of them I really couldn't wear, the others were fine so I do recommend you trial a few if you can.
 
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strange_wings

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I don't believe he keeps that many brands - which is why I can't keep trying them unless I order them. That's what I'm supposed to be showing up Tuesday for, to order more. At this point I don't even know what to tell them since the regular Acuvues, which they think will be fine since I was able to get them in, will not work.


So far suggestions have been:
Focus Night and Day I had considered trying these myself and use them as daily wear.

Acuvue 2, Acuvue Oasys (I had also considered these), and Bausch & Lomb PureVision.

I'll make a list of these and any others suggested over the weekend to compare oxygen transfer, materials, percent of water in the lens, and anything else I can think to compare between them.


I do have a slight astigmatism in my right eye. Between this and my blood volume issues changing my prescription he backed me down from -1.00 to -.75. I was not prescribed any sort of special contact for the astigmatism. I'm hoping that maybe consciously not tipping my head to the left may eventually help (neck problems kind of cause me to)...


I've read some reviews that CIBA Vision lenses tear easily? They make the Air Optix (and Night & Day) which are some others that look good for oxygen transfer and water percentage. I think I've also read they're smaller?


The solution I'm using is some that was given to me, Amo Complete? But the first day I put them in it was straight out of the solution they came packed in, second day I rinsed them with the eye drops I use in my eyes (Thera Tears preservative free single vial drops) thinking it maybe a preservative on them bothering me, then used more drops in my eyes just to make sure they were cleaned out. It didn't make any difference. I will check into that, though, as I'm sure it will probably be a problem eventually.

Also, is it normal to see the edges of the contacts even when they're properly on your eyes?


Whatever I go with, I will not be leaving them in overnight. My eyes get so dry at night that I have problems opening them some mornings, I'm not going to add contacts into that and complicate matters.
But I do need something that can be worn 8-14 hours.

Thanks for all the suggestions!
 

junebugbear07

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Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

I've worn contacts for 34 years. I have issues with protein deposits, so I think I've tried every type of contact made.

Right now I wear Bausch & Lomb PureVisionÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Toric lenses (I have astigmatism) and they are the most comfortable lens I think I've ever had. They also make regular (non-toric) PureVisionÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] lenses and PureVisionÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Multi-Focal lenses. They are made of a silicone co-poymer which is extremely oxygen permeable Here's a link:
http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer...on_lenses.aspx

I've never heard of an eye doctor or ophthalmologist who doesn't let you trial contact lenses for free. All lenses set on the eye differently (especially the Toric and the Multi-Focal) and you need to trial them to see if they fit the curvature of your cornea properly.
I used to have those (the purevision)! Until the supplier quit sending them to my eye doctor. I liked them. But I now have the Acuvue Oasis that are supposed to keep your eyes hydrated and are soft lens. I have really dry eyes and even get these red bumps underneath my eyelids which irritate my contacts (doc told me it would but i wanted contacts lol) I alsouse eye drops that are ok with contacts every once and awhile. They last for like a few months but im bad and dont switch them as often. Good Luck!
 

twstychik

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Originally Posted by missymotus

Mine gave me 3 brands to try over a couple of weeks, he didn't tell me which brand was which but he of course had that info I just had numbered lenses.

One of them I really couldn't wear, the others were fine so I do recommend you trial a few if you can.
I think the only reason my Dr. didn't give me more than one pair is because I knew which ones I wanted to try. DH wears the same kind.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I've read some reviews that CIBA Vision lenses tear easily? They make the Air Optix (and Night & Day) which are some others that look good for oxygen transfer and water percentage. I think I've also read they're smaller?



Also, is it normal to see the edges of the contacts even when they're properly on your eyes?
I've been wearing the Night & Days for over 2 years now and have never torn a lense. As for being smaller, there are 3 measurements in a lense. One is the power, one is the curve and the last is the diameter so you can order them bigger or smaller if needed. Of course, my prescription is for 13.6 but I order 13.8 (cheaper and more available) and the difference of .2 mm is like the width of a hair.

I just looked in the mirror and I can see the outside edges of my lenses but not the top/bottoms. If you can see the entire lense with out "pulling" you eye open then they might be too small.

Good luck! I hpe you can find something comfortable.
 
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strange_wings

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Originally Posted by twstychik

I just looked in the mirror and I can see the outside edges of my lenses but not the top/bottoms. If you can see the entire lense with out "pulling" you eye open then they might be too small.

Good luck! I hpe you can find something comfortable.
Well of course I can see them in the mirror, because I know I have them in. No one else could tell unless they were close and knew.
What I meant by my question, though, is am I supposed to be able to see the edges of the lens in my peripheral vision? There's a blurry line on the right and left that's fairly noticeable. Is that normal and just something that I will have to learn to ignore, similar to seeing the edges of one's glasses when wearing them? Or is it because the lens needs to be a little larger?

I hope I can find something, too. For now I only want something for more casual use - something to wear when going out. Such as at concerts. People headbanging around you is dangerous if you're wearing glasses, they can get snagged and torn off...
 

pookie-poo

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With the exception of the hard lenses 30+ years ago, all of my soft lenses have been larger than the iris of my eye, so I've never had a problem with seeing the edge of the lens.

Several years ago, I tried a lens solution called "Opti-Free", which was one of those all-in-one types of solutions. I was sensitive to something in it, and it caused a bad case of corneal edema, with blurred vision and eye pain. I was told to discontinue it, and used Muro 128 hypertonic saline eyedrops for a week or two. After the edema resolved, I switched to AO Sept (now called Clear Care) which is a hydrogen peroxide based cleaning/soaking solution. One of the great benefits is that it fights protein deposits better than any other solution on the market. I love it. It keeps my contacts very clean and comfortable, and I can often get 6 weeks wear out of my 4 week lenses. I hope they never take it off the market!!!

Here's a couple of nice things about the Purevision lenses.....they are a little (for lack of a better word) thicker (or maybe firmer is a better word) than other contact lenses. They don't fold over when you put them on your finger to place in your eye. Also, in the 3 or more years that I've been wearing them, I've never torn one...great plus!!! Another great plus....they have itty-bitty numbers engraved on the edges...and for me, the numbers are different on the right lens, than the left lens.....I can always check the number if I think I put the wrong lens in the wrong eye. Woohooo!!!! Bonus!!!
 
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strange_wings

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^ Well, the lenses are larger than my cornea. So maybe it's just that I'm weird and can see that? I generally have really good peripheral vision (except when my orthostatic issues are getting really bad) and rely on it a lot even if it's blurry. If I see the slightest bit of movement out of the corner of my eye it has me turning to look. Which is why seeing the contact is messing with me, I think something is there.
Also, despite the astigmatism, both my eyes are -.75, which apparently will make buying them a little easier.

That solution sounds very interesting. I need to go in and get a birthday gift in a little bit, so I'll see if Kmart carries it.


I have a very shaky left hand and sometimes my right isn't all that steady, so super delicate lenses do make me nervous. I'll put "durable" on the list of pros for the Purevision.
 

ut0pia

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I wore focus before and they were too hard for me and were irritating my eyes. Now I wear ones called proclear. I've pretty much taken it upon myself to find the right brand and I order them without asking a doctor because every time a dr. prescribes contacts for me they are not comfortable...The proclear ones I found by myself and they work so well for me. In Europe where I come from doctors don't prescribe the brand, people can choose the brand, dr. just write prescription with the right numbers...So I trust those doctors and besides I had my last eye exam there under socialized healthcare (much cheaper) lol..
Here they are:
http://www.1800contacts.com/lens/proclear.htm

I've had no problems with these drying out or doing any of the usual annoying stuff. I also have sensitive eyes and with previous brands, after I take my contacts off at night I always felt this irritation that kept me from falling asleep, kind of like my eyes kept itching..Not with these...
 

pookie-poo

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I wonder if the contacts that you've tried are actually fitted correctly? If your doctor needs to adjust the diameter and base curve, he might be able to fix the problem with seeing the edge of the lens.

Here's a quote from a link about fitting contacts:
http://laico.org/v2020resource/files..._Apr_jun04.pdf

Fitting procedures

Soft contact lenses are usually fitted as large as
the corneal diameter to maintain good centration and
stability.
Fitting steps include:
1. Record the ‘K’ reading and convert it to
millimeters (mm).
2. Measure the corneal diameter in mm
3. Diameter: The initial lens diameter selected should
be 1.0 – 2.0 mm larger than the corneal diameter.
4. Power: Determine the spherical power first,
convert the refraction prescription into minus
cylinder and use spherical equivalent method. Add
to the sphere to determine the lens power and
compensate this for vertex distance.
5. Base curve: Select the base curve which is 0.4 -
0.6 mm flatter than the flattest ‘K’ for smaller
lenses and 0.6 - 1.0 mm flatter for larger lenses.
6. Fit the contact lens to the respected eye and leave
the patient to wait for 15-20 minutes to settle the
lens well.

Fitting Evaluation
1. Acceptable fitting should show about 0.5 - 1 mm
lag as the eye is turned upon to the side.
Movements have best been detected by asking
the patient to look up and blink. When the lens
moves more than 1 mm with each blink, then it is
fitted as too flat. If it moves less than 0.5 mm it
is steeper and will limit the tear exchange.

I know that when trying out new brands, I have had lenses that have been fitted too flat, and they move a lot when I blink or move my eyes. Changing the base curve is how that problem has been remedied. Each brand of lens sets on the eye differently, so each brand would probably need a different base curve. (As a reference - my Accuvue Advance BC was 8.6, my Purevision BC is 8.7.)
 
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