Giving Contacts Another Go
Posted November 4th, 2008 @ 05:11pm by Erik J. Barzeski
I'm giving contacts another try. My prescription - or really, my astigmatism - shifted slightly from where it was in 2007 when I was last checked and got new glasses
As it's been about a decade since my last pair of contacts, I have to do the whole "fitting" thing again. I got a new eye exam last Wednesday and today got a single pair of trial lenses. They're written up as follows:
SPH CYL AX BC Right Eye: -1.75 -1.75 50 8.5 Left Eye: -0.75 -2.25 150 8.5
These numbers seem consistent with what the doctor told me: that my vision hadn't changed much, but the astigmatism had shifted a little. The right eye was a bit "worse" and the left eye a bit "better."
Unfortunately, with the contacts in, vision out of my right eye is quite blurred. These are weighted (toric) contacts (due to the astigmatism), so I've flushed a few times and tried to re-set the contact to make sure it is in the proper orientation. Still blurry.
Next appointment: eight days from now. In the meantime I'll have to decide if the vision is good enough to wear at the next hockey game on Sunday.
Donate Life
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 5:39pm #
Good luck with the contacts.
I can't count the number of times I've tried them. No matter what, it always feels like I just walked through a sandstorm, with my eye lids held open with toothpicks.
I'm heading down the Lasik path - scheduled for Jan 2nd '09.
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 9:44pm #
Try closing your eyes and gently massaging them, if that doesn't work blink a few times and try eyedrops (i love systane).
also, ask about other brands. like Kevin I've had some horrendous contacts that felt like what he says, but I tried a couple other brands, and the ones I have now (acuvue oasys for astigmatism) I can't even realize i'm wearing, even if I've worn them past the two weeks (these are 2 week disposables) by accident. I think this comfort preference is really up to the individual, cause I know friends who'll never go with acuvue because they thought it was uncomfortable.
if it doesn't improve, maybe the prescription is not correct?
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 10:44pm #
I also have toric lenses. As mentioned, eye drops help but keep going back until the eye doctor gets them right. It took a lot of trial pairs but he finally got them dialed in for me.
Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 12:59pm #
Ditto the above. Sounds like experiences I've had in the past where a toric lens isn't seating itself properly. I had this problem a couple years ago, and my doctor discovered that the lens company had sent a lens that was out of spec. If it doesn't feel right (by feel, I guess I mean "work"), don't let the doc tell you to just get used to it.