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Original poster

Contact lenses - can someone help?

75 replies

31weeksgone · 20/07/2019 20:42

So I’ve got short sighted eyesight, -2.75 and -3 in my eyes and I’ve also got astigmatism in both eyes. This is my FOURTH different type of contact lense I’m trialling and I still can’t see properly. 😣

I’ve told the opticians this but they insist the prescription is right and the angle (?) is right too.

To those of you who are short sighted, can you see as far with your contacts as you can your glasses? Because I can’t see to drive in these, they’re blurry if I shut one eye, they’re a pain to put in and out. Someone tells me it gets easier or better please, or any tips or tricks please? I’m with boots opticians at the moment.

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 20/07/2019 20:44

Swap to Vision Express and go for daily disposables, (toric) which are far thinner and more likely to stay in place. The amount of checks they did on my eyes was insane.

Bobbiepin · 20/07/2019 20:45

I used to use the day and night ones, was absolutely fine for 10 years (sleep in them and everything) until one day my eyes couldn't tolerate them and went back to glasses. FWIW I'm -6.5 and -7 and have an astigmatism in one eye. I could see better in contacts than in glasses.

BoronationStreet · 20/07/2019 20:45

It sounds like you definitely do not have the right contacts OP. Contacts should not feel like you have anything in your eyes...and they should make you able to see properly.

It seems you are 0 for 2 so I would consider a different optician. It's definitely not normal to have those problems.

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General health
PeriComoToes · 20/07/2019 20:46

I'm -7 in both eyes and wear contact lenses. Can see very well. Been wearing mine for 25 years (not the same pair). I go to Specsavers and have soft lenses.

bestbefore · 20/07/2019 20:46

I have a similar prescription and astigmatism too, and am with boots - have been for years - am on their own make platinum ones and can see perfectly with mine...

Bobbiepin · 20/07/2019 20:46

Also find an independent opticians, not a big chain like boots etc. Service is a million times better

PeriComoToes · 20/07/2019 20:47

I have monthlies and it's the Specsavers own brand

Sparky888 · 20/07/2019 20:48

I have daily disposables, higher prescription toric than you. Not blurry. Better than my glasses. Sounds like you need a different optician x

celtiethree · 20/07/2019 20:51

Acuvue toric daily disposables have worked well for me.

Original poster
31weeksgone · 20/07/2019 20:55

I’ve got the toric daily disposables but something’s got to be not right, as everything is so blurry where as in my glasses it’s clean and crisp vision as it should be. I think I’m going to go and have another trial somewhere else like vision express as the boots opticians is insisting that this 4th set I’m trying are 100% right for my eyes, I feel like I’m going crazy but I definitely can’t see right with them in. I’ll try another opticians!

OP posts:
Original poster
31weeksgone · 20/07/2019 20:58

Yeah thanks everyone, something clearly isn’t right then, so frustrating to keep going back and being told they’re ok when they very clearly aren’t. I don’t know anyone irl that wears contacts to ask if this was normal or not. Thanks all Cake

OP posts:
Amelia910 · 20/07/2019 20:58

I'm with specsavers have acuvue moist daily disposables. I too have a stigmatism and my prescription is -3.50 and -4.00 and I can see just as well if not better than with my glasses. Something definitely isn't right with yours x

BIWI · 20/07/2019 21:01

From the day I put my first lenses in, aged 27, I have had fantastic vision - even now I'm an old gimmer and need monovision (with one lens for short and the other for long sight). I'm now 59.

So go to another optician. Something is clearly not right here!

Chewbecca · 20/07/2019 21:03

I have acuvue moist for astigmatism - have you tried them? I tried loads & found these the best.

terraform · 20/07/2019 21:11

I got not contacts but glasses from Boots and went back 3 times about them, I kept getting fobbed off and told they were fine when they obviously weren't and the lenses were distorting my vision and giving me headaches. I eventually got a refund and went to Specsavers who were fine. FIL also had problems with Boots.

redeyetonowheregood · 20/07/2019 21:12

Perfect vision with lenses for almost 30 years now. I go to a local independent optician now, much better service and seem more knowledgeable.

ExpletiveDelighted · 20/07/2019 21:13

Like BIWI, I have a middle aged prescription of one eye for close work and one for distance and astigmatism in one eye, much stronger prescription than yours (-10) and perfect vision and comfort, been wearing lenses for 35 years now.

Iggly · 20/07/2019 21:13

How are they when you put them on in the opticians?

Are you putting them in the right way around? Not inside out.

FelixFelicis6 · 20/07/2019 21:15

That’s definitely not right, and I’m annoyed for you that they keep fobbing you off Angry of course you bloody know if you can’t see properly!

I go to a very well respected independent opticians and they have always been great. Maybe ask around?

Original poster
31weeksgone · 20/07/2019 21:19

I’ve got the acuvue yellow and red box dailies ones, it’s the 4th type I’ve tried and they’ve changed the angle I think it’s called or strength of the astigmatism bit but it’s still blurry. They also changed the prescription too so I think they’ve got the prescription wrong, I think I’m actually going to go to specsavers and get an eye test to compare their results as my glasses from boots are giving me headaches too but I thought that was just my eyes adjusting.

They’re defo in the right way, although sometimes it takes a while to tell, and even when the optician herself put them in they were blurry. They didn’t even check with this 4th set they just gave them to me and told me to practice at home, because they’d taught me how to put in and out the wrong 3 pairs Sad

So yes - I’m going back at the end of the trial and will be going elsewhere, if everyone else can see perfectly these clearly aren’t the right pair for me.

OP posts:
Wombleish · 20/07/2019 21:22

@BIWI @ExpletiveDelighted I use reading glasses with my contacts, as they're a bit too strong without; can you read easily using different lens for near and far sight and see sharply enough for distance too?

BIWI · 20/07/2019 21:24

Yes absolutely! I hate, hate, hate wearing glasses so will do everything I can to avoid them.

Jesslequest · 20/07/2019 21:25

Controversial maybe but have you considered having your eyes lazered?
I took the plunge 10 years ago after struggling with contacts for fifteen years( wish I’d done it sooner!) I tried all sorts of lenses daily disposable, gas permeable, Toric lenses, I couldn’t cross the road without my lenses in , see faces , let alone read or function in the real world, i had astigmatisms in both eyes as well .
Ten years on it is seriously the best money I have ever spent on anything, it may not be for everyone but definitely worth considering .

Original poster
31weeksgone · 20/07/2019 21:28

@jesslequest I don’t think I could bring myself to do it, I’m too squeamish about my eyes but I’m glad it’s an option for those who want too.

I think that’s why I’m so frustrated, I love wearing my glasses and only wanted contacts for half the week or so for my job (need to use safety glasses and microscopes) and now it all just seems like a massive bloody hassle when everyone said it would be so easy! Fingers crossed I manage to sort it out so it’s easy for me.

OP posts:
Roussette · 20/07/2019 21:34

Laser surgery. Seriously. You are identical to my DD. She had it and it was the best thing she did.

She would've been far more squeamish than you she is such a baby... when she was having it done, I was in the other room with a glass screen watching and she was drumming her feet on the bed just like when she was little. She was 25 at the time! It took less than a minute each eye and she hasn't needed anything for 5 years now! She climbs mountains and stuff and couldn't cope with glasses and lenses anymore. Do think about it, isn't a couple of minutes squeamish worth it?