Contact Lenses Options

[MDSS]

Does anyone else on here wear contact lenses? I picked up my first pair from the opticians today (monthly wear). I find they're much better for reading music compared to glasses.

[Fran*Piano]

I've worn contact lenses since year eight, and I think they're absolutely fab! I do agree about them being far far easier for music than glasses, although I've learnt to switch between the two (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I love the feeling of coming home and taking them out too though, as convient as they are-it's like putting your slippers on, my mam always says! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I don't know if you've ever worn them before, but I was honestly surprised at how fast I got used to them-I was quite happy with taking them out and putting them in after just a few days! Good luck with them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[MDSS]

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I absolutely love them. Just need to get used to putting them in (taking them out is not a problem).

[Fran*Piano]

I had the same problem, but it gets sooo much easier, far quicker than I expected! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cyrilla]

Had them since I was 16!

I worked in my dad's office all summer to pay for them - they cost £77 and that was a fortune then. I'd had glasses since the age of 8 and every year the lenses got thicker and thicker and I HATED them. Getting contacts was one of the best things I ever did.

And I've never had a pair of glasses since (much to the displeasure of my optician) - just can't bear the thought of wearing glasses ever again.

When I went for my check-up recently I mentioned that I noticed I wasn't seeing very well out of one eye when I did a crossword - and he said, 'Oh, that's because that's your lens for distance vision'. I had no idea - one lens is for distance, one for close work - and the brain nicely slots the two together so you can see perfectly for both with the one pair of lenses!

Great stuff...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[FluteFairy]

I wear monthly toric contact lenses...and I find them fab too! Putting them in did take a bit of getting used to - because mine are toric (for astigmatism) they have a larger diameter than standard lenses so it's lucky I have huge eyes I guess! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I like the freedom they give from glasses, especially for going out at night and son on! Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Fran*Piano]

I wear monthly toric contact lenses...and I find them fab too! Putting them in did take a bit of getting used to - because mine are toric (for astigmatism) they have a larger diameter than standard lenses so it's lucky I have huge eyes I guess! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I like the freedom they give from glasses, especially for going out at night and son on! Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I tried toric lenses a little while ago, but they were too big for my eyes! They were just really uncomfortable-I must just have little eyes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[FluteFairy]

Originally I wanted standard lenses but, rather embarrassingly, I couldn't see very well with them and the optician actually asked me if they had fallen out...! I think I get better vision with contacts than glasses actually, so it was well worth persevering (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Fran*Piano]

Originally I wanted standard lenses but, rather embarrassingly, I couldn't see very well with them and the optician actually asked me if they had fallen out...! I think I get better vision with contacts than glasses actually, so it was well worth persevering (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Oh goodness me, that does sound a tad embarassing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I agree though, my vision is far better with lenses than glasses too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[JoannaB]

I'm so jealous of you all. I hate my glasses but I can't see the music with contacts in and the optician's just said that it's the best he can do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Mad Tom]

For the short-sighted contact lenses are much better for most things UNTIL you reach the age where you start to lose the ability to focus on things close up. I wore them for years, but in my late 40's I returned to wearing specs', for the convenience of being able to slide them down my nose (or lift them completely) to read the fine print on labels, thread needles etc.

[eldatom]

For the short-sighted contact lenses are much better for most things UNTIL you reach the age where you start to lose the ability to focus on things close up. I wore them for years, but in my late 40's I returned to wearing specs', for the convenience of being able to slide them down my nose (or lift them completely) to read the fine print on labels, thread needles etc.

Hmm I know what you mean, not that I was able to get on with contact lenses, but when I had them in I was stumped for reading etc! I can remember being in a restaurant and had to get my friend to read the menu as I couldn't read a thing. At least with glasses you can take them off.

I must admit I long to have laser but the same problem will occur, I would need to put on glasses for all the close stuff and I expect that would include the piano and reading music, at the moment I wear intermediate glasses for these.

Was terrible at work today as I left my intermediate glasses at home, sitting by the piano. A last minute practice before going to work, on my way I was thinking wouldn't it be awful if I forgot my glasses - hmm, got to work and found that I didn't have them. Had to push the monitor away as far as I could and then hang my glasses off my nose to read what I needed to do!

It was terrible, got a really bad headache!

[FluteFairy]

I'm so jealous of you all. I hate my glasses but I can't see the music with contacts in and the optician's just said that it's the best he can do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Can I ask what your prescription is? Would it be possible to have contact lenses for distance and normal vision but then wear a pair of reading glasses on top for close work? I do that - I wear contact lenses for short-sightedness but then when I am doing school work/near work I wear a pair of "reading glasses" as well to relieve eyestrain, to help prevent my prescription increasing any further. Apparently this is a hotly debated issue, but my optician seemed to think there was no harm in trying. Maybe it would be possible for you to do something similar, so then at least you could reduce the amount of time you wear glasses for? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[JoannaB]

I'm so jealous of you all. I hate my glasses but I can't see the music with contacts in and the optician's just said that it's the best he can do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Can I ask what your prescription is? Would it be possible to have contact lenses for distance and normal vision but then wear a pair of reading glasses on top for close work? I do that - I wear contact lenses for short-sightedness but then when I am studying (A levels) I wear a pair of "reading glasses" as well to try to reduce the rate at which I am getting more short sighted. Maybe it would be possible for you to do something similar, so then at least you could reduce the amount of time you wear glasses for? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm short sighted - can read a book comfortably without glasses. The big problem that they can't correct properly though is my astigmatism, They tried toric lenses but they weren't exact and after half an hour reading music I have a headache. My glasses make my vision perfect for all distances.

[Arundodonuts]

For the short-sighted contact lenses are much better for most things UNTIL you reach the age where you start to lose the ability to focus on things close up. I wore them for years, but in my late 40's I returned to wearing specs', for the convenience of being able to slide them down my nose (or lift them completely) to read the fine print on labels, thread needles etc.

Sounds very familiar. I used to use lenses for sport (walking, climbing and skiing) but could never get on with them indoors. My eyes seemed to dry out very quickly. I'm now on pretty hefty varifocal specs and lenses don't seem to cut the mustard. I have recently tried some one day disposables for outdoors which would be ideal for sport and camping. Pop 'em in in the morning, chuck 'em out at night. The jury's out but since the topic has been raised, I think I have 1 sample pair left. I may use them this weekend.