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Contact lenses: What a ballache

Went for my contact lens trial today at vision express. Was taken to the back and she put the contact in my eye, gave me a little test and I could see clearly. Then, I had to take them out. My eyes kept watering and I kept blinking when trying to take them out. She kept saying “put more pressure on” but I couldn’t get a grip of them, it wasn’t the problem of touching my eye that annoyed me. After 10 minutes (even though some people say it took them an hour or more to get used to them) she said come back another day. I’m fuming. Was supposed to be going clubbing tomorrow with them but guess I’ll have to go out blind again. Anyone got any tips cause I’m seriously annoyed.

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For taking them out, make sure you have your fingers on the sides on the lense and gently but firmly push your fingers together, it should bulge out and fold. Use your other hand to hold open the eye if you need to. If it irritates you, (though this might be what you were doing already) put your finger firmly in the middle of the lense and look to the opposite side (left eye, look right) so the lense ends up on the white of your eye, it won't irritate it as much then.

For clubbing, would you not be better wearing your glasses rather than wandering around blind? At the very least if you meet somebody you want to make sure they're not a monger.

If it really ends up being a problem you could splash out for the night and day ones so you don't have to take them out every single night, just until you get more used to them.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Frigateer
For taking them out, make sure you have your fingers on the sides on the lense and gently but firmly push your fingers together, it should bulge out and fold. Use your other hand to hold open the eye if you need to. If it irritates you, (though this might be what you were doing already) put your finger firmly in the middle of the lense and look to the opposite side (left eye, look right) so the lense ends up on the white of your eye, it won't irritate it as much then.

For clubbing, would you not be better wearing your glasses rather than wandering around blind? At the very least if you meet somebody you want to make sure they're not a monger.

Thanks for the advise mate, I was trying to do that, but I just couldn’t squeeze anything, it was like nothing was there at all. Even though I tried to get a grip of it, all I got was excess tears lol. I just bought some new glasses, because my last ones broken when I was clubbing so I don’t want to break these ones straight away (they fell and someone stood on them, plus alcohol)
Dont actively try and squeeze the contact lenses, just close your fingers fully and there should be enough friction that the sides of the lense get pulled along
Original post by Frigateer
Dont actively try and squeeze the contact lenses, just close your fingers fully and there should be enough friction that the sides of the lense get pulled along

So just put no force into it, let it happen naturally and pull it along, then pick it out? Sounds simple enough, hopefully it actually works next time I do it, it’s seriously not good exercising too without my glasses, contacts would be great. Do you wear them yourself?
If your contact lenses are giving you a ballache, try putting them on your eyes instead. That'll also help your vision.
Reply 6
Original post by Cfcsonster
Went for my contact lens trial today at vision express. Was taken to the back and she put the contact in my eye, gave me a little test and I could see clearly. Then, I had to take them out. My eyes kept watering and I kept blinking when trying to take them out. She kept saying “put more pressure on” but I couldn’t get a grip of them, it wasn’t the problem of touching my eye that annoyed me. After 10 minutes (even though some people say it took them an hour or more to get used to them) she said come back another day. I’m fuming. Was supposed to be going clubbing tomorrow with them but guess I’ll have to go out blind again. Anyone got any tips cause I’m seriously annoyed.
Wear spectacles instead.
Reply 7
Original post by Cfcsonster
Went for my contact lens trial today at vision express. Was taken to the back and she put the contact in my eye, gave me a little test and I could see clearly. Then, I had to take them out. My eyes kept watering and I kept blinking when trying to take them out. She kept saying “put more pressure on” but I couldn’t get a grip of them, it wasn’t the problem of touching my eye that annoyed me. After 10 minutes (even though some people say it took them an hour or more to get used to them) she said come back another day. I’m fuming. Was supposed to be going clubbing tomorrow with them but guess I’ll have to go out blind again. Anyone got any tips cause I’m seriously annoyed.

I had similar problems when I first started wearing them and it felt like I'd never get used to them. You just need to keep practicing and eventually it will be easy but it will be frustrating initially.
Original post by Notnek
I had similar problems when I first started wearing them and it felt like I'd never get used to them. You just need to keep practicing and eventually it will be easy but it will be frustrating initially.

They literally gave me 10 minutes to practise and said come back another day after that though, I can’t practise if they don’t let me bring them home. Something to do with sueing them I think. And you’re right there it is frustrating initially I was so annoyed.
Original post by Tootles
Wear spectacles instead.


I do, but during exercise and for socialising they aren’t necessarily the best things in the world, or the easiest. I’ve broken them before that way.
Original post by anosmianAcrimony
If your contact lenses are giving you a ballache, try putting them on your eyes instead. That'll also help your vision.

I needed a laugh hahaha, nice one pal will keep notice 😂
Original post by Cfcsonster
So just put no force into it, let it happen naturally and pull it along, then pick it out? Sounds simple enough, hopefully it actually works next time I do it, it’s seriously not good exercising too without my glasses, contacts would be great. Do you wear them yourself?



That's it. Imagine if you're pulling a hair off a table, just slide your fingers together and it will pop out. Eventually your eyes will get used to them so putting them in and taking them out won't be such a hassle.

Yeah, I've been wearing them for about 9 years now so I'm well used to them. I hate wearing my glasses, especially when I go out. They never feel comfortable or secure on my face (although tbf, they're cheap ones I bought online).
Reply 12
Took me about six hours to get mine in the first time, when I was 11 or 12... I was allowed to just sit there in a quiet corner of the shop until I did it.

Maybe try an independent optician? They might be more accommodating and provide better advice than Vision Express.
Original post by Frigateer
That's it. Imagine if you're pulling a hair off a table, just slide your fingers together and it will pop out. Eventually your eyes will get used to them so putting them in and taking them out won't be such a hassle.

Yeah, I've been wearing them for about 9 years now so I'm well used to them. I hate wearing my glasses, especially when I go out. They never feel comfortable or secure on my face (although tbf, they're cheap ones I bought online).

Sweet, nice one. I agree with you there, they are just not for going out in are they? They are just there like a pest. Shame that I have to wait until Tuesday for my next appointment :/ hopefully I can do it this time. The biggest shock for me was how cold they are when they go in. It’s freezing haha.
Original post by Neilos
Took me about six hours to get mine in the first time, when I was 11 or 12... I was allowed to just sit there in a quiet corner of the shop until I did it.

Maybe try an independent optician? They might be more accommodating and provide better advice than Vision Express.

Oh man, 6 hours??? I wish I had that time. If it doesn’t work next time and they give me next to no time again then I will do. I’ve seen people saying they have struggled for days so how am I supposed to do in in 10 minutes and with days apart too. Sounds a bit dumb to me.
Original post by Cfcsonster
I do, but during exercise and for socialising they aren’t necessarily the best things in the world, or the easiest. I’ve broken them before that way.
Exercising, that makes some sense, though it's still not sensible to wear anything like that in your eyes if they're likely to be jiggled about. Socializing though, that's just vain. Also you're not going to get glasses broken through socializing.
Original post by Tootles
Exercising, that makes some sense, though it's still not sensible to wear anything like that in your eyes if they're likely to be jiggled about. Socializing though, that's just vain. Also you're not going to get glasses broken through socializing.

My last pair of glasses broke at the club and I didn’t have insurance on. Plus you get searched and also hot clubs mean they steam up. They are essentially useless in there, Ive not got the worst eyesight
Original post by Cfcsonster
My last pair of glasses broke at the club and I didn’t have insurance on. Plus you get searched and also hot clubs mean they steam up. They are essentially useless in there, Ive not got the worst eyesight
So don't go in the club then. Or go in the club. You sound pretty thick anyway tbh, so do what you want.
Original post by Tootles
So don't go in the club then. Or go in the club. You sound pretty thick anyway tbh, so do what you want.

Huh, don’t go in the club and wait outside whilst my friends enjoy themselves? Will do mate thanks for the heads up.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Cfcsonster
Sweet, nice one. I agree with you there, they are just not for going out in are they? They are just there like a pest. Shame that I have to wait until Tuesday for my next appointment :/ hopefully I can do it this time. The
biggest shock for me was how cold they are when they go in. It’s freezing haha.

Be relaxed when you practive taking them out. There are a lot of "techniques" to take contacts out, if something doesn't work, try another one. Watch videos on youtube, then go to the appointment and try that there.
It took me a long time to put them in and take them out the first time, and the first year I wore them it took me a long time to put them in in the morning or before practive/nights out (sometimes I were even late because I couldnt get the demn thing in...
It is easier with practice, don't worry.

Original post by Cfcsonster
My last pair of glasses broke at the club and I didn’t have insurance on. Plus you get searched and also hot clubs mean they steam up. They are essentially useless in there, Ive not got the worst eyesight

The chance of them breaking again in a club is about 0.... just take them with you, wear them if you feel you need them. Trust me, it is more fun being able to see to check on girls/guys. I'm much less fun for my friends if I go out without glasses or contacts... "look at that guy there..." -I can't see him if I can't touch him (if something is more than 50cm from me it's blurry.

You will be able to put the contacts in eventually. Don't worry. :smile:

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