Any tips to help me tolerate contact lenses?

[pharmachameleon]

I started wearing contact lenses about a year ago as I work in a hospital and my glasses were fogging up when I was wearing a mask. I need them for reading and a bit of distance.
I am really struggling to tolerate my contacts. My eyes are red and gritty and I can only really keep them in for about 6 hours then I feel like they're burning my eyes. My optician says my eyes are a bit dry but nothing to worry about. My contacts already are the comfort ones but she suggested another brand that have the most oxygen permeability-I unfortunately found these even worse so I'm back to my original ones.
I put drops in regularly and tried the ointment at night but stopped the ointment as it blinds me!
Any tips to try and tolerate the buggers?
I currently use Vision Express Eyexpert Pure (1 day toric for astigmatism).

You could try a different brand. I use Acuvue Oasys for astigmatism and find them comfortable. They are pricy but my optician who I really trust says they are the best for me.
Back in the day when I could only wear rigid gas permeable, my eyes would be red in about half an hour.
I think some opticians offer free trials.

Thanks. I'm sceptical that will work though. I already have the comfort ones and when I tried the highest percentage oxygen brand from Vision Express I found them even worse. I imagine I would need to change optician to try a third brand?not sure.
I would go to another optician for another brand if I thought it might help but I wonder if most dailies are similar. Don't know.

Not helpful but I had the same and had my eyes lasered. Life changing.

Do you wear monthly or daily

I wear daily contact lenses. I would love to get t eyes lasered but not sure if it's recommended at my age (late 49s)

Sorry meant to say late 40s

Acuvue moist is the brand I use, everyday for over 20 years. I've tried other brands and they're all uncomfortable.

My other tips are:

Never sleep with them on, even a short nap. If you have a nap, take them out and put on a fresh pair after the nap (just take the financial hit of using two pairs that day)

Limit to 8h a day if possible

Don't put them in straight after a shower as tap water is still in your eyes

Don't wash your hands in hot water before putting them in - the heat of your fingers deforms them

Try to have 1-2 days a month without wearing any

I wear Acuvue Oasys, I've been using this brand since 1997, think they were previously called Johnson & Johnson. I've been wearing the 2 weekly lenses for the last few years. Definitely worth maybe trying this brand out x

I'd try a better quality brand such as Acuvue suggested above. I found in the past that some of the cheaper brands don't seem to be as good. It's worth trying different brands to see if one suits you better. I use Clariti 1 Day (which are brilliant) but have also found Acuvue good in the past.

I would second trying Acuvue Moist, I wore their daily torics for years (monthly multifocals now), they are really comfortable
and I think they are the thinnest lens you can get.

I have the Acuvue 1 day moist for presbyopia and I gave no issues with them. I did try another brand but I didn't like them as much. I get mine from Boots and get other Boots discounts as part of the scheme.

Me too....been wearing for years ..never had a problem

Thanks everyone. I'll call my optician tomorrow and see if they do Accuvue. @Mummymummy89 thanks for all the tips.

You could consider lens replacement surgery rather than laser surgery, assuming either us financially possible for you. I haven’t had it done but am currently saving for it. Same age as you.

I use Hycosan Extra eye drops and use the drops before I put my contact lenses in. This has made my eyes so much more comfortable with the lenses in, it's been a game changer really.

Apparently using an eye mask that you put in the microwave and putting your drops in before sleep helps dry eyes.

I've been wearing the equivalent of Acuvue oasys for about 20 years, no discomfort even when wearing 16 hours a day / 7 days a week, definitely worth trying monthlies or fortnightlies.

I used to wear specsavers own brand monthly disposables for several years until they became as you describe. After being fobbed off at one eye check by the more senior optician, I found myself back again with the more junior staff member who looked under my eyelids and found evidence of an allergic reaction which I had developed. After a period of recovery I switched to acuvue daily disposables and haven't looked back. I think it was silicone in the own brand ones that caused the trouble but I forget exactly as it is a while ago now.

If you are shortsighted, you could try OrthoK. They are worn at night and then removed in the morning. You then have corrected vision throughout the day. Expensive but brilliant.

I have severe astigmatism and use Bausch and Lomb gas permeable toric lenses with very few issues.

@Wheresmytrainers I would love these but think I'm too old 😭

I use Hycosan Extra too but it didn't seem any better than cheap hypromellose drops.
Also I tried the heated eye mask and it felt nice but started to give me broken veins around my eyes so I stopped!
And I haven't heard of lens replacement-off to Google!

I too wear Acuvue Oasys -I get prescription ,then buy them online .I have astigmatism in left eye .One lense is short sighted , one longsighted as my glasses were variofocal -work 12hr shifts , get home and often forget to take them out until bedtime .

Another vote for Acuvue Oasys - I wear 2-weekly. Also the Hycosan drops.

Have you tried changing the fluid you use? Biotrue is the only one that doesn’t make my eyes itch (very pricey though, it’s cheapest on Amazon).

@FlemishHorse I don't use a fluid-I wear a new pair every day.
I've had a look online and I think my optician (Vision Express) do Acuvue so I'm definitely going to give them a try. Thanks all

Try precision one dailies from Alcon as they are pretty good and not as exp as avuevue
Total one dailes are also great from alcon but pricier.