Contact lenses then and now

[bibblebub]

I tried wearing contact lenses in the early 1980s but it turned out that I couldn't have them in for more than about 8 hours at a time because my eyes weren't quite moist enough. Very inconvenient when it came to work especially and so, after just a couple of months, I went back to wearing glasses.

Now I'm considering trying them again and so was wondering if there are any ABers who used to have similar problems wearing contacts (not necessarily that long ago) but now wear them all the time? Have they really improved over the years as much as the opticians advertise?

And when it comes to daily lenses - can one really wear them ALL day, from first thing in the morning until the end of the evening? Is it necessary to take a break e.g. one day a week, or can you just continue wearing them day after day? Is there much difference between the cheaper lenses and those more expensive?

I know that one can ask these questions of an optician but I'd just like some independent experience before I set foot in a shop.

Thanks in advance.

[Nosha123]

I have used Focus Dailies.. and when worn all day long - find my eyes get a bit dry and itchy towards the evening... so I only tend to wear them for an evening out.

However - I have heard that Acuvue MOIST are the best ones to go for... they are available as dailies.. so not cleaning to worry about - and they have extra moisture built into them so your eyes dont dry out...

Some opticians offer free trials. See if you can find one near you that will offer a trial for free!

And if you decide they are for you - you dont need to take a break from using them.. you can even get some brands that you sleep in!!!

The daily disposables are more expensive - but you are paying for the convenience of not having to clean them! The technology has moved on an awful lot since the 80's too!

[bibblebub]

thanks for the info

[Clanad]

I've worn soft contact lenses ever since they became available, many years ago. They have continually improved as to comfort. I use the AcuVue monthly lenses. If ind that if cleaned thoroughly at night and rinsed then stored in Alcon Optifree (I'm in the U.S.) with one drop of Opti-Free Supra Clens Daily Protein Remover each night they're good for at least 45 days if not two months.

In dry weather conditions or when flying long hauls (I'm a commercial pilot) in dehumidified conditions, I carry a small bottle of Rewetting Drops... just in case. I've had good luck and wouldn't walk near a Lasix eye surgery...

[lslowry]

I had contact lenses for 20 years until my eyes kept going dry and having difficulty focusing. It could have been my age, so i went back to glasses. Not very convenient when it rains, but it's more comfortable.

[bibblebub]

And thanks to you also.

I wouldn't consider the laser treatment because, after years of being stable, my eyes have started getting worse in the past couple of years, which I assume would make any such treatment pointless.

[bibblebub]

Thanks, lslowry, my eyes seem to gone the other way and have become increasingly prone to watering over the last decade - a bit of a wind blowing or slightly cold air temperature and the tear-drops flow so much that in winter they become Niagara Falls.

[Clanad]

Well... you should at least have your eyes examined for cataracts which are fairly common when your birthdays become more numerous... you know, seems to be more than one or two a year...

[bibblebub]

but i still only have one birthday a year...

[york310]

The best contact lenses for those with drier eyes are the newer silicon hydrogel ones which are made of a lower water content material which dries out less and maintains a high amount of oxygen permeability to keep the cornea healthy. These are available in daily disposable format such as the acuvue trueye; 2 weekly such as the acuvue advance and oasys; and monthly such as the air optix and biofinity lenses.

As mentioned above many places do free trials and you'll only know if you get on with them by trying them. Some lenses may not be suitable depending on your prescription and whether or not you need different prescriptions for distance and near and whether you need lenses to correct astigmatism.

Good luck.

[bibblebub]

thank you