Preparing for contact lenses?

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  1. EffieFlowers's Avatar
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    Preparing for contact lenses?
    It's got to that stage where my eyes are so bad that I have to wear glasses full time. I really want contacts but I'm really quite bad when it comes to my eyes, it's the one thing that really goes through me...Can you give any tips on how to get over this? How do you actually put them in and remove them?
  2. Vohamanah's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    (Original post by EffieFlowers)
    It's got to that stage where my eyes are so bad that I have to wear glasses full time. I really want contacts but I'm really quite bad when it comes to my eyes, it's the one thing that really goes through me...Can you give any tips on how to get over this? How do you actually put them in and remove them?
    Your optician should be able to give you a tutorial. My boyfriend gives people tutorials and he assures me that its quite easy, and anyone can do it.

    I'm really squeamish about them as well though, I can't get over the idea of something touching my eyeball :/
  3. PhoenixFortune's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    Your optician usually teaches you how to do it when you go in to get them, so that you leave knowing what to do. For a few days you feel as if you have an eyelash stuck in your eyes, but you start to get used to it after a while.
  4. Foghorn Leghorn's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    You optician will show you how to put them in and out, can't really explain to someone on the internet. A good tip is when first putting them in put them on the white of your eye instead of your cornea because your cornea is very sensitive. At least until you get used to it. Also sometime you need to press down a little on the lense or lift your eye lid on top of the lense because air gets trapped and when you blink it will just fall out again. Apart from that, it's pretty easy.


    Also consider getting constant wear lenses that way you don't need to take them out everynight and your eyes won't get all dry and sore. I have monthly wear ones and just take them out once a month.
    Last edited by Foghorn Leghorn; 22-07-2012 at 14:00.
  5. jLou711's Avatar
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    • Location: London
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    just focus at a point in the mirror, didn't take me too long to get used to it :]

    i use a brand called daysoft n they're only like £12 for a month
  6. TheSownRose's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    Go to your optometrist and they will undertake a contact lens fitting, where they'll try some lenses on you and find the best option for you. In order to do these, they'll obviously have to put some lenses on; don't worry about it, it won't hurt and your optometrist will have plenty of experience with nervous patients, but it is unnatural at first to have something coming towards your eye without you trying to stop it.

    When you go to collect the lenses that you'll use at home, you'll be taught how to put them in and take them out, and how to clean them if appropriate. You won't just be left to figure it out yourself.


    My one big tip is make sure you breathe properly. I had to have contact lenses put in as part of my university course. I hate things near my face, and I hyperventilated instead of breathed, which promptly led to fainting.
    Last edited by TheSownRose; 22-07-2012 at 14:31.
  7. BexiG's Avatar
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    Your optician will teach you how to put them in and out and you'll have to show to can do it in front of them as well. I've had to wear glasses since I was 10 and have been using contact lens since I was 16 and I'm now 28. Only had one problem once when I was 18, when 1 eye got infection (my fault for not cleaning the lens properly lol). Mainly use daily disposables now.

    Contact lens can be fiddly at the best of times. Put them in before you do your makeup (if you wear any) and take them out before removing makeup.


    This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
  8. Kathy89's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    As TheSownRose your optometrist will fit you a lens and teach you how to wear it.

    All I can say is you have to practice a bit how to put a lens even before puting a real lens.
    1)Try to hold your eyelids and get as close as possible with your finger to your eye (do not touch it but bring your finger as close as possible).
    2) Learn to blink every 10 seconds. If you wear contacts your eyes will get dry and by blinking you will keep them moist.

    These tips will help you getting used to contacts faster.
  9. TheSownRose's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    (Original post by LeaX)
    It's really not that bad. I guess good practice would be to start touching your cornea and then maybe try touching your iris? But make sure you have clean hands and short nails. When you put them in it just feels like you're putting cool water in your eyes, it's quite refreshing. :P When I went for a trial at Specsavers the optician put them in my eyes for me for the first time and I couldn't even feel them in there.
    I seriously wouldn't want people to be touching their corneas with bare hands* and I seriously seriously wouldn't want people to be punching through the cornea in order to touch the iris. :lolwut:

    Not to mention that both of those activities would be painful. The cornea is sensitive, the sclera (white bit) is not.

    *
    I don't even put a lens directly on to the cornea or teach people to put them on to the cornea; I prefer to put the lens onto the sclera and then have the person turn to look at the lens, therefore transfer the lens onto the cornea.
    Last edited by TheSownRose; 04-08-2012 at 23:47.
  10. LeaX's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    (Original post by TheSownRose)
    I seriously wouldn't want people to be touching their corneas with bare hands* and I seriously seriously wouldn't want people to be punching through the cornea in order to touch the iris. :lolwut:

    Not to mention that both of those activities would be painful. The cornea is sensitive, the sclera (white bit) is not.

    *
    I don't even put a lens directly on to the cornea or teach people to put them on to the cornea; I prefer to put the lens onto the sclera and then have the person turn to look at the lens, therefore transfer the lens onto the cornea.
    Sorry, I'm not that good with the anatomy of the eye. I was taught to put the lense directly onto the cornea at Specsavers.
  11. ThatGuyPsy's Avatar
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    • Location: Cambridge
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    It's a pain to get them in/out initially but after a few weeks you'll overcome the natural reactions of flinching and your eyes watering.
  12. Bobo1234's Avatar
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    Re: Preparing for contact lenses?
    When I first wanted to wear them my biggest problem was having the optician put them in the first time (took her like 20 mins of my eyelids shutting before she could get the lens in and my eyes watering all over the place, looked like I'd been in floods of tears by the time she was done) xD Apparently Specsavers insists the optician does it first time, and I can't stand other people poking my eyes, although I'm fine doing it myself. In terms of putting them in yourself, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting them in (reduces chance of infection + anything irritating being on your fingers which might make your eyes sore/itchy), dry them with paper towels if possible as fabric towels tend to get pieces of dust/fluff stuck to them which then sticks to your fingers when you dry them. And make sure you hold your eyelids far enough apart, so your eyelashes don't get in the way! As for the squemish part, I can only say you'll probably get over it in time.
  13. 19Arif91's Avatar
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    Hey guys I would like some advice on getting contact lenses... I used to wear monthly disposables but after wearing them for about 6 months the blood vessels were becoming more apparent than ever... Almost like bloodshot eyes it wasn't a very good sight.. So I decided to get daily disposables as I've heard daily disposables are much more healthier for the eyes.. I got the best the brand there is acuvue trueye which provides 98% oxygen to the eyes or so they say... These worked for me for a week or so but after a week when I wore them after the 6 hour mark my eyes would become really red.... Does anyone know of any lenses that provide full day comfort 12-14 hours wear... Btw It doesn't do what it says in the box and I don't mind wearing monthly or daily but preferably monthly as I'm financially unstable lol


    This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
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