Has anybody squeamish been able to get used to contact lenses?

[WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz]

I know nobody likes things going in their eye but I am particularly squeamish about it.

I'm also fed up with being tied to glasses and spending my life cleaning them.

Has anybody like me been able to cope with contacts? I feel like I will struggle more with getting them out than putting them in, and I have an image of me at the optician's getting all panicked because I can't remove a lense 😳

I did. Even thinking about it now makes me feel icky and close my eyes tight … but managed to wear contacts for the best part of 10 years with no issues. Had a fantastic optician who was really patient and helpful.

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to manage when I started.

But here I am, still using contact lenses forty years later …

(I was nevertheless very relieved that someone else offered to accompany my parent to their cataract surgery ten years ago.)

I did. For a few days I groaned and wailed getting the lenses in and out , then it was fine. Hard were easier than soft.

I could never contemplate hard lenses!

Can you cope with putting in eye drops? The sensation of the lens going onto the eyeball is similar, just a quick cold drip and then you blink and it's over. I am very squeamish but have managed contacts and have even had cataract surgery without much fuss. (A lovely nurse held my hand.)

Thanks all, this gives me a lot of hope.

I didn't even know there were hard or soft options. I'm bracing myself to book an appointment and get a trial.

I’ve been wearing them since I was almost 19, I’m now 50. Before I tried them I was the sort of person whose eyes would water if anyone even talked about eyes! I really struggled at first but I was determined to do it, I didn’t want to be tied to glasses at university. I can honestly say it’s been one of the most beneficial things I’ve ever done in my life. I find my contacts really freeing, & my sight always feels sharper when I move between specs & lenses.

When I started it was one pair a year & weekly protein removal, with very basic prescriptions - specs would be 3 different complex strengths per lens, correct astigmatism etc & lenses were virtually weak, medium & strong! I’ve had daily disposable Torics (for astigmatism) for years now. I’m just waiting for the price of varifocal contacts to come down in the same way!

I’ve been getting my lenses from a national chain for 32 years. At 30 years they told me I was their longest customer & I told them they should at least have given me a bunch of flowers 😀

Go for it @WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz - don’t expect to nail it immediately, just persevere & you’ll have a good chance of being fine. Good luck.

They definitely get much easier with time and when they’re just part of your routine. Being able to wear sunglasses and do my makeup without needing to be 5cm from a mirror was good motivation too! It’s nice to take them out in the evening but I much prefer contacts for daytime.

My daughter is super sensitive about her eyes, she had two contact lenses trials. The first one she felt the lady was impatient with her and she couldn't easily get the hang of putting them in her eyes. She gave up for a while. Then she had another trial with a more patient lady and now she wears them pretty much everyday. She likes the options it gives her. She can wear cheap sunglasses, I don't think she swims with them in, she can see when she puts her make up on, she can cook without her lenses steaming up, when she wears her glasses she's forever cleaning them. The only downside is the cost and you can't fall asleep overnight with them in, you can but it hurts in the morning. Also her eyes get dry in the evening if she's had them in too long. She is glad she perceived, I didn't think she'd ever get to that point. .
She can pop them in whilst a passenger in the car etc now, you'll get faster and more used to them. You'll be glad you did I'm sure.
Good luck. 😊

Ahhh so even with monthlies, you need to take them out each day? Dammit, I am naive 😂

This is actually a confusing question, @WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz.

For the first ten years or so of wearing my monthly lenses they were meant to be removed at night. Then I was told I could sleep in my upgraded lenses - and that it was more hygienic not to keep putting them in and out. In the last decade I’ve been told firstly that I should take them out often, to rest my eyes and to clean the lenses. And then secondly that I shouldn’t be sleeping in them at all. And the opticians looked at me as if I was being wilfully stupid because I’d been doing those things for years. (Thankfully I’ve never actually suffered any ill effects at all.)

Now I’m about to trial daily disposables.

@WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz

I’m really squeamish and can’t even watch operations on TV….yet I’ve been wearing soft lenses for 40 years!

Recently I’ve switched from Oasis monthly lenses to a daily brand (which I buy online) called One.

The ‘One’ lenses are 80% water and super comfortable, but you still throw them in the bin when you go to bed.

I have an eye test at Specsavers for contact lenses (and for spectacles - I wear these only if I’m tired, or for say an emergency in case of an eye infection).

They have to give you your prescription even if you choose to buy elsewhere but I’m buying mine from Lenstore and I receive them by post the next day.

yes - getting them in was ok - got really panicky first couple of times taking them out - cried real tears - but fine after that

I just can't. I worked in healthcare for years and could do anything for anyone unless it involved their eyes. I've got a donor card and my family all know very specifically that no one is to touch my corneas. I was diagnosed with dry eye last year and I nearly vomit twice daily putting eye drops in....

I was the same about needing two sessions to get the hang of it so don’t be put off if you don’t get it straight away.

Good luck op!

I’ve been wearing contact lens for 53 years and I’m now 74.
Started with hard lenses which I prefer but have to use soft daily lenses now.
You do honestly get used to them.

Yes I did. Always swore I'd never be able to get used to them but I did ! And now I'm gutted as I have dry eyes so unable to wear them any more.

It does get easier!
When I first had contacts it used to take me about 30 minutes every morning to put them in (yes, seriously) as I just couldn’t get the hang of it and was squeamish. But I wanted to persevere as I really hated glasses!

After a few weeks I got it down to about 15 minutes, a month later 5 minutes and nowadays it takes me about 2 seconds per eye to get them in.

Vision express were really good with my trial. The lady was so patient helping me and honestly it’s just practise. Practise practise practise and then you won’t even think about it and it just becomes part of your routine in the morning like brushing your teeth.
Good luck.

I am having troubles too. Had a trial with spec savers - could not get the contacts in until I watched this technique
But now I have anxiety about taking them out and scared if I leave them in any longer than an hour my eyes will get dry. Have only been able to tolerate having them in for an hour and just want to get them out as they feel gritty and uncomfortable. I need glasses for far and short sight and when I watched the TV my sight was blurred but close up things were sharper - does it take time for the brain to adjust?