Contact lens advice

[Flowerpower70]

I want to try contact lenses. I have been told by several people, friends and some colleagues who said I look better without glasses as I have "nice eyes" that you can't see when wearing glasses. I have petite features so glasses are hard to find. I have never tried contact lenses and need advice. Can you get infections and are weekly or monthly better. I need them for distance. My friend said dailies rip easily but I don't want to go with monthly as you can get infections if not cleaned properly. I also tend to get watery eyes in the wind. Please does anyone have any recommendations or advice regarding contact lenses

Personally for the first find I would do it via optician and once you get hang of it and know what works you can go ordering them online. Very important not to shower/wash face with them in as you might go blind if a certain parasite start growing between you eyes and the lenses. I just watched a video about this (sorry it sounds cross but really important).

I wear dailies and they don’t rip easily. They’re great! But like pp said, go to an optician and they’ll advise, and give you a few pairs to try

Go to an opticians, such as Specsavers, and they will talk you through all the options. Daily ones are usually recommended because of the infection risk, but they cost more. Both my DDs, who are in their early 20s, have monthlies - as long as you are very careful cleaning/storing them you will be OK.

FWIW I have worn contact lenses for over 40 years (started with hard lenses, then gas permeable, then onto soft monthlies, now dailies because I only wear them occasionally now) and I've never had an infection. Have managed to scratch my cornea a couple of times (with the GPs) which makes your eye sore for a few days, but that's it.

I wear fortnightlies, and it works well for me. They can also be worn as continuous wear weeklies (where you sleep in them), but I really don't like the idea of that!

I started with dailies though, which are good because it gives you the option to choose day by day. They are thinner though, so maybe a bit harder to put in and take out.

Infections are a possibility but I think as long as you're careful with washing your hands, not showering in them, having a day off if your eyes are tired and dry and things like that you should be fine.

Contacts are great. You see better and with good hygiene you shouldn't have any problems.
I couldn't get on with daily disposables as I have an incomplete blink, but they are very straightforward and easy as you don't have to clean them. Friend of mine uses monthly ones that you keep in all the time and then discard.
Talk to your optician - they can advise you better, will take into account your prescription, how you blink, how wet/dry your eyes are.

Also, I know Specsavers offer a free trial so you can have a go before you decide to commit. You get a full teach-in to show you how to insert/remove, and spend a few days getting used to how they feel. Other opticians likely do similar.

I've worn daily contact lenses for 30 years and never had one rip. Couldn't be without them. & I love not having the faff of cleaning them I have tried many brands but I always go back to Acuvue Oasys with Coopervision My Day a close second. Best to check with your optician for a free trial.

I think specsavers are doing a free contact lens trial at the moment. I did one around a month ago. They will discuss what option is best for you. I've just gone for daily's. They do not rip easily. The only issue I've had apart from dropping them a few times whilst trying to insert them, is a couple of them have been inside out inside the solution. Not an issue as such cos you just flip them the correct way round and besides you can tell if it's the wrong way round once it's on your eye. I don't know if it's the same for everyone the first time, but when the opticians first inserted them, my eyes stung like mad. I was also really confused as to why I couldn't see fuck all at first but then my vision became crystal clear. Then you'll go to someone else and they will teach you how to remove them and insert them. It took me many attempts to do both, I still struggle now taking them out but I can't do the pinch method due to having long nails. The best way for my is to just slide the lens down and grip the edge as it hits the pink part of my eye. The easiest way I have found putting them in. Is to pop the lens on the side of my finger right up at the top. Then tip my head forward and with my other hand pull my lower eye lid down. Then place the lens onto the lower part of my eyeball and then just slide it up. More often than not it goes in first time that way although sometimes I do blink just that little bit too soon. Another great tip is lay something dark over the sink or on the floor. It's much easier to spot a dropped contact lens.

Boots also do a free trial with a teach and go through all the safety advice .

if you are wearing them daily - monthly or fortnightly are cheaper .

fit and comfort is important

Depending on whether you think you'd be able to cope (some people struggle to "play" with their eyes) you might want to consider RGP (rigid gas-permeable) lenses. I've worn both soft and RGP lenses and find the RGPs far superior, (especially as I have astigmatism) sharper vision, much easier to handle, less risk of infection, and much cheaper; I pay £150 for a pair and they last me easily for at least two years.

The downside is getting used to them can take up to a week. It's often said opticians recommend soft lenses for two reasons (a) ease of fitting, and (b) their profit margins. How true that is I don't know.

https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/hard-contact-lenses

NB: Edited to add link.

OP you just need to book a contact lens fitting with your optician and they’ll recommend the best type for your eyes and prescription.
you’ll then be taught how to put them in and take them out and get a few pairs to take away and try. Sometimes, you need to try a couple of different types to see which is best for you.

the main thing to remember with contact lenses is that if you don’t wear or look after them correctly or if they don’t fit your particular eye correctly you can end up with a corneal infection, which can cause vision loss.

@DancingFerret profit margin is actually better on RGP as they’re not available on the internet.
they are pretty straightforward to fit, but very few people persevere and now that the very high oxygen permeable soft lenses are available, there are few health reasons to fit them. You do get sharper vision, but long term, they do cause eye lid dropping..

I have the fortnightly ones too. I've worn them for 30 years now and can count on one hand the times they've ripped. Also, I think I've only ever had one eye infection and I blamed that on my old mascara. They are the best thing ever.

I've got small features too and found glasses hard to find. I've had my current pair for about 15 years as I can't be faffed trying to find another pair that suit me or are small enough. I just get the lenses changed if and when they need it. But I wear my contacts every day and glasses in the evenings.

I've been wearing monthlies for over a decade and I've never had an infection despite definitely half arsing the "official" cleaning routine on a very regular basis. If your hands are clean and you replace the container regularly you'll be fine.

I ripped one once rubbing my eye with it in, I'd recommend not doing that! I suppose with dailies it doesn't matter so much if they rip as you've got a fresh pair for tomorrow anyway.

As others have said an optician will make a recommendation and let you try some out before you commit properly.

First stop as many have said is an optician, they will do a free trial to see if you are suitable for lenses and what type. Asda/Boots/Specsaver etc

If you do decide to have a trial, make sure you are scrupulosity on the ball with hygiene and never ever wear them either in the shower or a swimming pool.

I have worn lenses of all types for 45 years + and never had any problems at all.

I prefer the Johnson & Johnson Acuvue oasis 2 weekly, but never sleep in them. Sadly they are discontinuing my lens power for my astigmatism so have stocked up.

On a side note if anyone else uses them to correct a astigmatism you can check on line to see what powers are being discontinued

I have worn lenses for over 30 years and have never had any infection or trouble. I have worn monthly disposables for about 20 years. They are a game changer.

Another who has been wearing them for 40 years, 20 in rigid gas permeables (I’d never go back to those for a multitude of reasons) and 20 in soft monthlies, I’ve only ever had one of these rip and only ever had one infection. Go and talk to your optician. Contact lenses are one of the best things I spend money on, I detest wearing glasses.

I've worn monthlies since I was 13 (27 years). No issues. It doesn't take much to clean them, and DO NOT sleep in them, even if they say you can.

@DancingFerret many opticians won't prescribe gas permeables any more. Mine says there is only a handful of people in her practice who use them, and they are all "old-timers" who haven't got around to switching to soft. They are not offered to new people.

@HotHotChilli that's useful info.....I have astigmatism. Where can I check? Although mine are Specsavers own brand which I buy online.

Hi OP we are a family of contact lens wearers myself and my 2DC wear dailies - they have myopia management ones especially for children and mine correct my astigmatism.
DH wears monthly ones after switching from RPG over 20 years ago. He also has astigmatism.
No dramas , no infections we all far prefer the freedom / field of visions to glasses.
My DC have never ripped a lens even when getting used to to putting them and removing themselves !
Go for it but as others say you need a good optician to help you .

Not true. RGP lenses are very much still prescribed - to people of all ages, not just to "old timers" as you so rudely put it. It would appear your Specsavers optician has profit firmly in mind with her deliberately misleading statement.

https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/Public/Consumer/Types_of_contact_lenses.aspx#:~:text=Rigid%20gas%20permeable%20(RGP)%20lenses,wear%20than%20soft%20contact%20lenses.

Thanks for your kind advice, really appreciated. Thanks for your time and response. Very helpful. 😊

Thanks for your kind advice, really appreciated. Thanks for your time and response. Very helpful. 😊

Thanks for your kind advice, really appreciated. Thanks for your time and response. Very helpful. 😊

Thanks for your kind advice, really appreciated. Thanks for your time and response. Very helpful. 😊

Thanks for your kind advice, really appreciated. Thanks for your time and response. Very helpful. 😊