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Original poster

Glasses or Contace lenses...Which do you wear and why ????

58 replies

nutcracker · 22/02/2004 19:51

I have been wearing glasses since i was 13 and i'm really fed up of them now. Every time i have a new pair, it's only a matter of days before one of the kids knock them and i have to go get them put back into shape.
I have tried contact lenses, but i was pregnant at the time, and then on the pill, both of which i've been told can effect your sensitivity toi them.
I am fine putting them in and taking them out, even managed to do it when extremely drunk
The biggest problem i have with contacts is that i just cannot get used to how i look without my glasses. It's stupid i know, but i just think i look really weird without them, ugly even.
So i'd like to know which you wear and why ?????

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 19:57

Oh bugger, that should say Contact lenses

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hmb · 22/02/2004 19:57

I have worn contacts for over 20 years, and I wouldn never do without them. My glasses are very, very thick ( 1 cm!) and they shrink my eyes a lot!

The pill thing is not so relevant now. the effect on the curve of the eye is due to the ostrogen in them, and there is much less oestrogen used than when the pill came out. The effect on the eye was based on the old type pills. I wore contacts in all of my pregnancies with no effects at all.

All a matter of choice I suppse, go with what suits you and makes you feel most comfortable.

Tissy · 22/02/2004 19:58

Now only wear glasses...

Used to have contacts, but couldn't sleep in them, even the soft ones, so had to take them out when tired. When I had dd, used to snatch sleep whenever I could, so wouldn't bother with the lenses just in case some sleep was imminent. Before I knew it, I hadn't worn them for months. Can't be bothered to arrange optician's appointment now, so have stuck to glasses. Dh doesn't seem to mind...

If you want a pair of indestructable specs, look at Air Titanium. They're not cheap, but I've had my current pair at least 6 years, and they've been subjected to no end of abuse, and are still in good shape.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:01

The contacts seem to make my eyes feel dry, should that be happening do you think ??

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Slinky · 22/02/2004 20:03

Another contacts fan! Been wearing them for 16 years without any problems at all! My eyes are naturally dry so I use soft contacts that have a higher water content.

Continued wearing through my 3 pregnancies and am a Pill user as well.

There are so many types of Soft contact lenses out there that you may have to try out various ones before you find a suitable type.

Do have a pair of glasses as well, but can't remember when I last wore them.

fisil · 22/02/2004 20:03

Always wore lenses, then had to stop 4 days before I knew I was pg - it was my first symptom! I just could not wear contacts throughout my pregnancy. As I told this to so many people, I decided not to go back to them until I'd had all the pregnancies I intended to have - otherwise it would be fairly obvious next time I was up the duff.

I was on the pill all the time I wore lenses (well, apart from just before becoming pg) and that made no difference.

As soon as this one pops out I hope to go back to lenses. It is just so much easier through the day. But I think some people are better suited to lenses than others (and I'm not convinced I will be able to go back to them)

Slinky · 22/02/2004 20:04

Nutcracker

You should mention this to your optician - perhaps you need some that have a higher water content.

spacemonkey · 22/02/2004 20:04

I wear contact lenses - they're the sort you wear 24/7 for a month, then throw away. They don't suit everyone, but I have found them life-changing. My optician said they're better than daily disposables because you leave them in all the time, there's less likelihood of infection. Sometimes I give my eyes a rest by wearing my specs for a few days in between sets of lenses. I prefer contacts because I don't like the way I look in glasses and because it's like having perfect all-round vision again. I'm on the contact lens scheme with specsavers - £25 a month and they send your lenses through the post and give you regular checkups.

I think they're great

Slinky · 22/02/2004 20:05

Forgot to mention - mine are "monthly" disposables - take them out at night though.

hmb · 22/02/2004 20:06

I still need my glasses so that I can find my contact bottle in the morning

spacemonkey · 22/02/2004 20:06

i forgot to mention, i tried daily and monthly disposables that you take out at night and found them a right hassle - i was always scared of falling asleep in them!

littlerach · 22/02/2004 20:08

I wear monthly disposables, have done for almost 10 yrs.
My eyes do get dry, as I suffer from hayfever too, and have a long haired cat!!
Best to sp0eak to your optician though.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:10

The trial ones i had were monthly disposables, the very soft, jelly like ones.
I'm also not sure that i can see as well in my contacts as i can in my glasses.
I think i'll have to go back and start all over again. I had the trial pair in april 02, and still wher them very occasionally.
I am with specsavers too.

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spacemonkey · 22/02/2004 20:10

My optician was very very thorough and tried me with different brands etc until he was happy I was using the right lenses. I virtually moved into specsavers at that time. I would definitely recommend them, I don't know if they vary from branch to branch but my local one is absolutely superb!

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:16

Sm - I have only just started using spec savers for my glasses, and although the glasses are fine, i didn't think that they were very thorough, and weren't very friendly either. Having said that the team that do the contact lenses aren't too bad.

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spacemonkey · 22/02/2004 20:17

I reckon I'm just lucky then to have a good specsavers nutty. I'd go somewhere else if I thought they weren't thorough enough.

Tinker · 22/02/2004 20:17

What age can you wear contacts from? My daughter is nearly 7 and so too young atm but has already started asking about contacts. When would be about right do any of you think?

suedonim · 22/02/2004 20:19

16yo dd started wearing contacts just over a year ago. I had no idea until we came back to the UK that you can't just buy them over the counter like we did in Indonesia and was very shocked to have pay 30gbp for a special prescription! However, she loves her contacts, wearing her glasses on Sundays, to have a rest. She takes the lenses out at night and throws them away after one month. She's on a monthly scheme as well.

Otoh, my sister wouldn't dream of doing away with glasses, which she has worn since she was 8, I think. They are part of her personality, so I can guess where you're coming from, Nutcracker.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:21

One of my friends kids have very poor eyesight due to an inherited condition and always had to wear very think glasses. I think they were about 11 or 12 when they eventually started wearing contact lenses.

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Hulababy · 22/02/2004 20:21

I wear contact lens. I get daily ones from Specsavers now and have had no problems since using dailies. I do have a pair of glasses too but rarely wear them. I just don't get on with glasses but and don't find them confortable.

I started with contacts about 12 years ago.I first got monthly ones but last summer had huge problems from them I got an eye ulcer which was incrediably painful and rendered me sighhtless in one eye for a few days. I ended up with over a week off work, with eye drops and pain killers. It was caused bu contact lens wearing. There are several bacteria you can pick up from them if you are not careful with cleaning them. That is why I changed to dailies - makes the cleaning aspect less of an issue - and I always thought I was good with mine.

bunny2 · 22/02/2004 20:28

I use Focus Dailies, they are fab, hate myself in glasses. I buy them in bulk on the net, cheaper than the shops.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:28

Do you mind if i ask you how much you pay for dailys Hulababy

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lydialemon · 22/02/2004 20:28

I wore glasses from when I was 10 until I was 23, then I got monthly disposable ones and I've been using them for nearly 10 years now. I hated wearing glasses, they always gave me a headache and I always felt frumpy in them. My vision is not as good in contact lenses - I have an astigmatism in one eye which the lenses don't correct - but the most I can wear my glasses for is when I get up and last thing at night.

I got really dry eyes when I was pregnant, and my optician gave me some excellent eye drops to use with them.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:29

Bunny2 - How do you buy them on the net ??? How do they know what perscription you need ??

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Tinker · 22/02/2004 20:35

lydialemon (great name btw ) my daughter has an astigmatism as well so that's interesting. Still got some way to go then until she's old enough.