Anyone else struggle with contacts?

[Getdownfromtherethisinstant]

I wore contacts for a bit around ten years ago. At that time I could only afford monthlies and I didn't get on with them. I found them drying and irritating and eventually gave up. I'm doing a free trial this week with follow up appt tomorrow. I opted for dailies this time, and apparently they've come on a lot in the last decade so I had high hopes, but I just haven't got on with them at all. They're irritating, make my eyes dry, they stick to the inside of my upper lids. Even when they're not bothering me I can still feel them and can't ever forget they're there. Is this common or am I doing something fundamentally wrong? Obviously I wash/dry my hands thoroughly etc.

[Arcticbunny]

There are so many options available that you should try another lens. Your optician should be able to advise you. They should not be giving you that amount of trouble. Hopefully you'll be fitted with a more suitable lens however there is a small minority of people who don't get on with contacts.

[MissBattleaxe]

I've been using contact lenses for the first time and I found them much harder than I expected. Putting them in takes me half an hour of swearing!

[BeaLola]

I agree with above poster. I have worn daily disposals for approx 8 years and had sift annuals before then. I would try another brand. Mine are really comfy and tbh I forget I have them in. No problems at all. I do know people who have persevered and tried different ranges and got there eventually.

[thingamajig]

Have you considered laser eye surgery - I didn't get on with all sorts of contacts and had it 8 years ago now. Much much better, for me.

[ChablisLover]

Sounds like you should try another brand

I have dry eyes and the only brand I get on with is Johnson and Johnson acuvue tru eye or acuvue moist.
I changed opticiAns and we tried a new type and I barely had them in seconds and they had to come out. We then concluded we'd stick with the tru eye lens. More expensive than other types but good. I would say if I have been wearing them for a while (a full day) they can get uncomfortable at night so I either take them out or change them.
My eyes are so very dry.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Try another brand. DH has been told he can't wear contact lenses, as he doesn't produce enough tears...

[ZaraW]

I have very dry eyes as well, I couldn't wear soft lenses and was prescribed gas permeable and they were comfortable.

[Getdownfromtherethisinstant]

Thanks all. I'm limited in choices as I have astigmatism so will see what they suggest.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

I've worn soft contacts for about 20 years and my eyes have grown progressively more dry - I'm 42 now. I've gone from monthlies, to fortnightly lenses, to weeklies to dailies over the years, and now need a silicon lens with a v high water content. As previous posters suggest, trial and error is key. Can your optician give you a bunch of lenses to try at home? I pay quite a bit for mine compared to friends (£40 a month) but for me it's definitely worth it in terms of comfort. If it helps I am around -5 in each eye and have astigmatism.

[sansucre]

I've worn contacts since I was 11, I'm now 40. I've always worn hard lenses (gas permeable), not soft and have never had any kind of issue with them even though I suffer from hay fever in the summer which can make my eyes a little tacky/prone to conjunctivitis. Putting them in is the first thing I do in the morning and taking them out if the last thing I do at night. I sometimes wear glasses on a Sunday.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend hard lenses even though opticians seem reluctant to suggest them. I guess they're not a money spinner in the same way soft lenses are - I buy one pair a year after my annual eye test.

What I would suggest is you stay away from the big chain opticians, go find someone local and small who has been an optician for years.

Good luck OP!

[ActiviaYoghurt]

I am on dailies at the mo, have been for about 15 years, some brands I can not bear. Focus Dailies is current brand, I am in a scheme with a high street store but on minimum supply and I buy a couple of boxes from contactlenses.co.uk.

I am a strong prescription (-7.25) and recently tried "Easy Vision" from Specsavers due to needing that prescription, I literally had to take them out after an hour.

[Amarena]

I've work contacts for over 20 years. Due to my prescription and my astigmatism I have bi annual lenses, so I only receive two pairs a year and they each 'last' for that amount of time.

As I'm nearing the end of the lense life they start to become uncomfortable and I get build up of protein on them too. I tried to switch to some monthly lenses but they weren't suitable, my eyes were too dry for them.

Now my current provider is discontinuing the lenses so I need to find another brand and am going to switch optician - potap - I'm in Surrey, is your recommendation anywhere nearby?

TIA

[Getdownfromtherethisinstant]

Interesting responses. My follow up was cancelled as the optician had a family emergency but luckily they'd accidentally ordered another box so i can give them another go and have follow up next week instead. It's specsavers, explained the issues I was having and they're going to do a refit.

I'm in Surrey as well if your recommendation is anywhere nearby?

[FrugalFashionista]

I gave up on them more than ten years ago. I have dry astigmatic eyes and contacts were so uncomfortable plus I was never totally happy with the vision correction. The final straw was when a daily lens broke while I was still wearing it. I got a corneal scratch, had to go to the ER to have it fished out, and a piece materialized a week later

I've grown to love glasses, frames are great these days. I am a pale blonde and sometimes feel that my face is a bit bland, frames really add definition. Right now I have a marbled tortoiseshell pair and a wooden pair, and am thinking of getting a pair of pink perspex prescription sunglasses.

[Floisme]

I'm like FrugalFashionista - I had a long struggle before I fiinally gave up on contacts and now I wonder why I put up with them for so long. By all means follow the advice on here but if it doesn't work out for you, glasses are great too! I particularly agree with Frugal about adding definition to your face. They also distract from a multitude of sins