After 35 years of wearing glasses and never once trying contacts, I decided yesterday to see how they’d be. I’d gotten an eye exam and the doctor was encouraging, so I had him put them in. Because I wear progressive lenses, he put a distance contact lens in the right eye and an intermediate vision lens in the left.
They seemed pretty good. One bothered me just a bit, but all-in-all i was pleased with how they felt. I didn’t think my vision was a sharp as it is with glasses, but maybe I’d get used to it I thought. Progressive lenses were not easy to adjust to at first either. It was great fun to walk around the Costco next door and then drive home without glasses (also without sunglasses as my only pair is prescription).
I was distressed later though, when I tried to read my iPhone and found it nearly impossible. The doctor had mentioned I might want to get a close lens instead of the intermediate one in my left eye, or wear reading glasses. Despite my age, I don’t need glasses to read or even to use the computers; I wear glasses to watch TV or drive. And I read more than I watch TV or drive, so I’d prefer not to need glasses to read. I began to question the whole decision to get contacts, but I knew it was too soon to make up my mind. I could try another prescription.
When it came time to take the lenses out for the night — as I was told to do during the first week — the left contact came out without too much trouble. But, to make a long story short, the right contact is still in my eye some 19 hours and many, many tries later.
I just can’t seem to get it. My mother must have taught me not to let people poke me in the eye, because I have a reflex that closes the eye even though I swear I am holding it open. (I can see that the lens is still there.)
Now my eye is irritated by all the activity and I want that damn thing out of there. And I can’t see clearly at any distance and any typos are because of that.
I wear contacts 12 – 14 hours a day. This time of the year can be really bad for wearing them due to the dry air. Get yourself some contact compatable eye drops.
Actually, that’s a good point that I should have told you on the phone earlier. This time of year is one of the hardest on the eyes; they dry out quickly. I’ve actually been wearing my glasses, rather than my contacts, for the past week because of this.
I finally got it. The walnut pick came in handy.
Before I got Lasik (!!!!) I wore contacts for around 18 years. Here’s a hint that will work to get it out if you decide to brave it again. Using your index finger, press and pull the outside corner of the eye (right up at the lash line) towards your ear, eye wide open and then blink. This will change the shape of your eye enough that it will dislodge the suction (for lack of a better word) and the blink should cause it to fold slightly and lift from your eye. Try variations of this until you master the close-your-eye reflex enough to stick your finger in there and move it.
Best of luck.
A toothpick would have been better… but I’m glad you got it out. Those things are annoying as hell. I’m stuck with glasses for good.