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Original poster

Question for contact lens wearers

35 replies

Kathyparr · 22/08/2023 22:05

I've just started a trial of two different types of daily lenses. My question is are you meant to feel them in your eyes? One type are definitely better compared to the other but even after just two hours my eyes feel dry and gritty. Should I try another brand or is this normal? Not sure I could wear them all day as they are.

OP posts:
Hepherlous · 22/08/2023 22:06

I wear accuvue moist (dailies) and can't feel them in my eyes at all.

Inca22 · 22/08/2023 22:07

I can't feel mine in either and I've been wearing them since I was a teenager. I'd go back to your opticians and ask them to check it out and maybe suggest an alternative brand/fit.

WeWereInParis · 22/08/2023 22:12

I have two week ones (that I take out each night) and even towards the end of the two weeks I can't feel them. If I wear them for longer than two weeks, which has happened why I've forgotten to take spares on holiday etc, then yes they feel dry. But day to day when I wear them properly I can't feel them

Indiacalling · 22/08/2023 22:12

Also wear Acuvue daily lenses and don’t feel them at all. If they are gritty when I put them in, I take out and rinse with saline solution. Usually they are then fine. If I am very tired at the end of a day, they can get dry, so I take them out to give my eyes a rest. But normally, not even aware of them.

Cookerhood · 22/08/2023 22:14

Not normal. I can't feel mine at all, to the point where I keep them in much too long.

HappyAsASandboy · 22/08/2023 22:15

I have worn lenses for 26 years and can't feel them. Sometimes they feel a bit odd or stingy when I first put them in, but a few minutes later I can't feel them at all.

mickgravey · 22/08/2023 22:16

I can't feel mine for the first few hours then they go a little bit dry sometimes .

Retrievemysanity · 22/08/2023 22:16

I can’t feel mine either. I wear the ones you change every 2 weeks and have worn them since a teenager (now in 40’s). DH has the daily disposables as he finds his eyes get dry and gritty quickly with lenses.

3isthemagicnumberrr · 22/08/2023 22:16

I can’t feel mine. I trialled some super thick, supposedly better ones and could feel them.

Overdemanding · 22/08/2023 22:17

I can't feel mine, but I do think they take a bit of getting used to, that's why you start off wearing them for short periods.

Smidge001 · 22/08/2023 22:17

If you've only just started to wear them, give it a few days of trying. I was told to just wear them for an hour the first couple of days, then build up slowly over the course of the week.

AliMonkey · 22/08/2023 22:17

Not normal to feel them in your eyes (other than sometimes straight after putting them in or if been in a long time), but certainly I did feel them when I first tried them, it took a couple of weeks before I didn't, so if it's only been a few days it might be worth persisting a bit longer, at least with the most comfortable pair.

cocksstrideintheevening · 22/08/2023 22:19

No you're not meant to feel them. Are you sure you don't have them in back to front?

Branleuse · 22/08/2023 22:19

Are you sure they're not inside out? I'd go to the optician and ask them to check the fit.

YouMustBeHotYourPantsAreOnFire · 22/08/2023 22:19

As a new wearer you may be able to feel them initially and it may help to build the time up slowly.

EvenlyDetermined · 22/08/2023 22:20

TBH I can't remember how long it took me to get used to them when I first had them (best part of 40 years ago now) but generally I can't feel them at all unless they are dirty or got (or I've managed to turn one inside out)

SE13Mummy · 22/08/2023 22:21

My teenaged DD wears them and when she still wore her glasses more than her contacts, she often complained her eyes felt dry/gritty. Once she committed to the lenses, that feeling went away. It seemed her eyes just needed to get used to them.

Original poster
Kathyparr · 22/08/2023 22:24

Thanks everyone. I've managed 2-3 hours so far before I just want them out but only tried three times and not on consecutive days. I only want them for playing sport. I might try again and persist for a bit longer. Pretty sure they're not inside out. They're in the same shape as when they come out the container. That would be embarrassing if I go back to the optician and I've done that.

OP posts:
AreSomeGoldfishJustDicks · 22/08/2023 22:24

Watching with interest as I must have tried 20 different brands and I just can't get on with them. After 1 hour, if I'm lucky, they start to get dry and I can't focus properly.
Drives me crazy as I hate wearing glasses.

TobiasForgesContactLense · 22/08/2023 22:24

You need to gradually build up the time. At first your eyes will feel strange after a couple of hours but you should be able to manage 4 hours then 6 soon. Eventually you should be able to wear dailies for up to 12 hours.

biffyboom · 22/08/2023 22:24

I have dry eyes and need to use eye drops after a few hours of wearing my lenses, no matter what brand I've used (wearing lenses for 26 years).
Your optician should have mentioned if you do and recommended some drops to suit you.
If it's the actual lenses you can feel and not just dryness, then you need to go back to your optician for a different brand or a refit.

Original poster
Kathyparr · 22/08/2023 22:26

@SE13Mummy maybe I do need to commit, I definitely wear my glasses more as they're comfortable.

My eyes are definitely dry, even a bit dry once I've taken them out.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 22/08/2023 22:29

You shouldn't feel them, no.

However, go back to your optician as there are great drops & compresses that can help with dry eyes.

xyz111 · 22/08/2023 22:42

Kathyparr · 22/08/2023 22:24

Thanks everyone. I've managed 2-3 hours so far before I just want them out but only tried three times and not on consecutive days. I only want them for playing sport. I might try again and persist for a bit longer. Pretty sure they're not inside out. They're in the same shape as when they come out the container. That would be embarrassing if I go back to the optician and I've done that.

Most lenses have something like 123 written on them so you can see if they're inside out. But worth checking. Try not to handle them too much when you get them out the packaging, make sure your hands are completely clean. Sometimes they do take some getting used to, but you'll love them instead of wearing glasses. I ended up going 1 step further and getting laser eye surgery. Best thing ever. And with how much I was paying for contacts, it paid for itself in 2 years

LadyRoughDiamond · 22/08/2023 22:46

Been wearing lenses for 33 years and have never felt them, so I’d say there’s either something wrong with the lenses (lens type, fitting), some sort of sensitivity/reaction (dry eyes? Tried artificial tears drops?) or something in your eyes.

Are you wearing makeup? Mascara with fibres (lash lengthening) can be problematic.

It could be a case of trial and error - try different types and persevere for a while before you make a decision.