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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:
hmb · 22/02/2004 20:38

I have an astigmatism and wear gas permiable lenses and they correct for my astigmatism.

You can wear soft 'Toric' lenses that do it as well, I think.

Hulababy · 22/02/2004 20:41

DH seems to think they cost between £25-£30 a month for 30 lenses a month. They are delivered through the post every 3 months though. It was quite a big jump in proce to go to these from monthly disposables but have been worth it; anything to avoid those ulcers again

Hulababy · 22/02/2004 20:42

nutcracker - the specsaver website has an option for buying online too; not sure how it works though.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 20:43

Thanx Hula, will check that out later

OP posts:
bunny2 · 22/02/2004 20:45

Nutcracker, you need a prescription that is less than 12 months old (one specifically for contacts I think). I got a £10 test in a High St optician and asked them to fax it to the supplier (I'll try and find their website in a mo). Then I ordered and paid by phone and got the lenses a few days later. HTH

bunny2 · 22/02/2004 20:47

Here it is Club Optique contact lenses

GillW · 22/02/2004 21:06

We also get contacts over the net: try postoptics , or getlenses .

Galaxy · 22/02/2004 21:18

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AussieSim · 22/02/2004 21:35

Glasses since I was 20 - contact lenses for v v special occasions - like my own wedding. Too lazy/uncaring of youthful appearance, to bother with contact lenses. Getting them in and out is OK, but they don't take very long to feel uncomfortable. I have been accused of hiding behind my glasses, but I think I look good in glasses (and hats). I have all different kinds of frames for depending what I feel like. Lately though my DS has taken a liking to pulling off my glasses and I've been thinking about taking another shot at contacts, but ...

Hulababy · 22/02/2004 21:36

AussieSim - if your lenses are getting uncomfortable quickly you should think of trying another type. I can wear mine all day without feeling them at all.

Eowyn · 22/02/2004 21:41

Galaxy, me too, blue national health glasses from age 7. Got contact lenses at 14 & 1st boyfriend a month later. Need I say more...
I hate myself in glasses but having had gas permeable lenses for years quite happily, was persuaded by dh to try soft lenses just cos eyes were often red, currently have monthly disposables which cost me £25 a month, are very comfortable but that is way more than I can really afford. But no choice vanity-wise.

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 21:44

Well thanks everyone. I think i will go and have another test and take it from there.
Galaxy - Do you mind if i ask how much you payed for your laser surgery. I would love to have normal vision.

OP posts:
Furball · 22/02/2004 21:48

I needed glasses from the age of 17 and started wearing contacts at about 22. I changed onto Focus Dailies about 8 years ago as I'd heard of bugs and things that could lurk in your contact lens pot and I had got really lapse with cleaning them. Since DS 2 1/2 years ago I seem to wear my glasses all the time and only now really wear my lens for going out somewhere special. Funny thing is my glasses must hide the bags under my eyes, as every time I wear my lens all I get is "Gosh! Are you OK you look really tired" - Great.

JennH · 22/02/2004 22:05

i wear glasses, and i have since i was 11. I am very very short sighted. I wear glasses and not contacts because glasses are easier, and cheaper and mainly because i have a scar under my eye that is quite large and glasses hide it

I like my glasses and i think they suit me!

Caroline5 · 22/02/2004 22:29

I've worn glasses and contact lenses since about age 20. I'm short sighted and have quite bad astigmatism in both eyes, so have to wear soft toric lenses (they sit in a set position in your eye) - they don't seem to cost me more than normal ones at Specsavers.

Recently, though, the optician cheerfully told me I was getting too old for contacts (36?!) and that I should wear glasses mainly, esp at work and with computers! Haven't had any infections but am getting extra blood vessels growing across the eye. So have bought some nicer glasses (which dd2 will soon destroy if she has her way!)

Original poster
nutcracker · 22/02/2004 22:33

To old Caroline ! My mom is 53 and still wears hers nearly every day.

OP posts:
zippy539 · 22/02/2004 23:08

OMG! You can be TOO OLD for contact lenses!!! That's terrible news. I wear specs for daily dossing about and monthly disposables for working/going out/trying to be presentable (my specs are squint and held together with cellotape thanks to ds and dd grabbing at them..). I try to restrict my contact lense wearing because I am so bloody lazy at cleaning them properly and ALWAYS forget to take them out if I've been out on the ran dan - frequently wake up with them cemented to my dehyrated eyeballs...

I've got an astigmatism in one eye too, and just got my lenses adjusted to cope with that - I've now got some kind of rotating lense which is supposed to compensate - added about three quid onto my monthly bill but I think it is making a difference, esp when on computer.

Paula71 · 22/02/2004 23:23

Specs, because I couldn't get the contact lens in! Not due to difficulty but trying to put a bit of plastic onto my eye was giving me the heebeejeebees!

Wish I could get over it and wear contacts! I'd love enough money to get my eyes lazered but God knows how I'd do that as, obviously, your eye is open at the time !!!!!

slug · 23/02/2004 10:35

I usually wear daily disposable when at work, and nothing or glasses when at home. I have to have contacts as regular migraines leave my face very sensitive, and wearing glasses can be very painful.

Twinkie · 23/02/2004 10:53

Thanks be to god that I have perfect eye sight - after listening to DP whinge all night as he reckons his contact lens has got lost somewhere down the back of his eyeball!! (He usually wears glasses (as have most of my DPs/DH/X2b) but as we were going swimming wore hs lenses!!).

Nutcracker - bet you just are really used to you with glasses on - I think DP looks strange with his on - as if his eyes are too closes together - but think is just because am used to him with his glasses on (and fancy him more with his galsses on!)!! (He won't wear them in bed though - humph!!)

Galaxy · 23/02/2004 11:01

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Eowyn · 23/02/2004 21:33

Re being to old for contact lenses...?? that is horrific. But my mum still wears hers every day & she's 65. She has bifocal ones, they have outer & inner rings varying strength or something.

Slinky · 23/02/2004 21:40

I'd heard that it was advised to stop wearing contacts lenses when you got older (think I read it on another parenting site!), so when I had my last check up a few months back, I asked him.

There is NO need to give up lenses at any time - my optician has pension-age patients still happily using them. He also said it is possible to get vari/bi-focal contant lenses if need be in later life.

He said some menopausal women MAY have problems due to hormones and dry eyes, and they can be dealt with, but also confirmed that you don't have to give up lenses at all!

tallulah · 24/02/2004 18:46

I've had glasses since 11 & worn them full time since 16. Did have contacts about 16 years ago but they were the old hard ones & I was working in a pub, so had to give up. Since then I can't be bothered!

nutcracker, I feel odd without glasses too & don't recognise myself! I look sort of empty!!

I have some daily disposables for ballet, but I have huge problems getting them out (the beauty of hard lenses is you just push on your lids & blink!). I have an astigmatism & they don't correct it, so my sight is only good enough for general activities.

Also had several in a row with 2 lenses stuck together in a packet, which was scary... 1 got left in because I didn't know it was then until the eye got pus, another I couldn't see & took it out to find it was doubled.

DD has had contacts (monthly disposables) since she was 15 & has no problems at all.

Luckymum · 24/02/2004 18:52

Nutcracker.....I know just where you're coming from! I have worn glasses full time since I was 16. At about 18 I started wearing contacts but also had problems during pregnancy then with 3 kids under 5 it was just too much hassle. Just this week I've been trying some daily disposables and I can't get used to how I look....it doesn't help that I can see all my wrinkles so much clearer and that none of them are hidden by my specs