Thanks for all your answers to my last question about contacts. I have a few more that I'm hoping someone can help me out with. Ok today I got my trial pair and learned how to put them in and take them out, I wore them for about 4 hours like the doc said and they didn't bother me much except for trying to adjust to the 20/20 vision. So towards the end of the 4 hrs my eyes felt irritated and a little watery and slightly like they were trapped under something. Is this normal and will it go away once my eyes get used to them?
They are toric lenses, i was told my astigmatism is bad enough that I need them. Also I felt a little sick and almost nauseous the whole time just trying to adjust to the new vision, did anyone else feel that way when they first put them on? I was ecstatic to see perfectly without glasses, but I'm hoping that feeling is just because I need to adjust.
My last question is a little vain I guess, I noticed fine lines around my eyes much more with the contacts in and didn't look as good to myself as i do without. I can see lines without them in when I look up close, but obviously they don't appear as bad. I'm just not used to seeing every little detail. It's like watching a blue-ray where you can see all their flaws.
Also they made my eyes look even bigger and kinda glassy and they're already big enough. Is this normal and did you ever have these problems? It's bothering me if that's how I look to everyone else and I'm just figuring it out now Lol. I hope I'm being paranoid, maybe I have to try them with make-up on. Any answers that can help me out are appreciated.
It takes a little while to get used to them, in 2 wks you'll be a pro and love them.
You can SEE better, it freaked me out to look at lots of my friends and my husband and saw much more details in their faces and eyes than I had in a long time, I didnt know I was THAT bad till I knew ;)
I've worn contacts since I was 12. There is usually somewhat of an adjustment period when I get a new correction. Everything you are feeling is normal and will go away in time (well, not the fine lines around the eyes, but the other stuff).
Anyway, I have an astigmatism and I wore toric lenses for years. Eventually they got so bad- awful dry eyes, constantly having to blink because they were slipping, etc, that my doctor switched me to a somewhat new technology. I now wear Duette lenses. They are a gas permeable in the center and a soft lense around the outside. I have NEVER EVER seen as well as I see with these lenses!! They are phenomenal! It took some getting used to- the gas permeable especially- but I will never go back to torics. I know that doesn't pertain to your question, but if you end up having "fit" issues with your current lenses, you should mention these to your doctor.
Here is their site: http://www.synergeyes.com/duette.htm
I know I sound like an ad for them (I'm not), but I see SO well, that I try to tell everyone with an astigmatism about them :)
You were "there" at the end of your wearing time. I would want to claw my eyes out if I had worn them for 4 hours for the first time. If it's STILL doing that in a week, then it's the lenses, and not the wearing time.
If you don't adjust to the new vision, if you still feel naseous and a little sick after a week, go back and tell them you want to try non-toric lenses. And yes, those toric lenses will make your eyes look even bigger and kind of glassy - you are right about that. Remember, those lenses are larger than regular lenses.
Sorry about all the wrinkles. Just hope that people around you don't have good eyesight!
Give it a week, and if you still experience these problems, try non-toric. Like I said, that eye doctor told ME that I needed toric lenses. She was wrong.
Dawn
It takes 72 hours for the brain to adjust.
((Actually... You can wear goggles the flip everything upside down, and in 3 days, like magic, the world would flip right side up! Take the goggles off and the world would be upside down again! 3 more days and then your brain will flip the image again.))
First switching lenses is annoying as all get out. But it only takes a couple days of wake to sleep wearing, and shazam! Your brain will filter out the annoying bits.
Yes, the way they felt is normal and yes, you'll get used to them. And.....those fine lines are there whether or not you see them. You see them more now because your vision is now 20/20. Getting used to them so that you aren't so aware is part of adjusting to 20/20 vision. Other people are not seeing them like you are now because they are used to them. Going back to glasses will not change the fact that they are there.
Sounds like you've made a good start wearing contact lenses.
I feel kinda weird (almost woosy for a moment) when I have been wearing my contacts for the day, and then take them out and put on my glasses. There is a depth perception thing that seems to go on. Takes a moment, but then it goes away. Kinda like when you have been wearing your glasses all day and then suddenly "become aware" of the frame just outside of your vision... and you hyper focus on it and sortof have the non-corrected vision within your peripheral vision as a result... and it is weird and headache inducing almost.
I'm not sure I've ever experienced it the other way (from wearing contacts) though. There is no peripheral vision that isn't corrected.
But the 4 hours, yes. That is pretty normal for first time use. By the end of the week you should be able to keep them in much longer without discomfort.
As for the wrinkles... I used to hate wearing my glasses instead of my contacts because I couldn't see to put on my makeup. Well, not unless I really shoved my face right into the little mirror on a stand. Still annoying. But now, I kinda like wearing my glasses instead of my contacts... because no matter how much I "mess up" putting on my makeup, or even if I go without a little bit of it, my frames add some oomph to my face, and I don't NEED as much makeup. They kinda hide the details of my eye makeup (and the wrinkles too I think).
But you'll get over the vanity. :) When you finally get comfortable with full time usage, you will love not having to deal with glasses. No steaming up when you walk outside, or look in the oven, or pour the pasta in the strainer... No nose mark. You can lie back (or on your side!) to watch TV or read a book and not get mashed behind the ear... It can be heavenly to be wearing contacts.
Give it some time. The first day is always the most uncomfortable. By the end of the week, you'll be an old hand at it. :)
Your vision will be a little off anytime you switch between contacts and glasses. I hadn't worn glasses in 9 years and when I got a new pair this year, I would get nauseous and dizzy, especially if I moved my head too quickly. It got better, but that first day was rough. I still prefer my contacts and wear them almost all the time.
I guess I've never paid attention to how the contacts make my eyes look. I just like the fact that I can wear sunglasses during the day, lay down and still be able to see without the glasses jabbing into my head, and not have the indentions in my temple and nose from the glasses. I don't think you look that much different, it is probably just more noticeable to you. We are our own worst critics!
When I first started wearing contacts I kind of kept my eyes open wider than normal. Eventually, when I got used to them I went back to my normal self. You'll get used to them.
M
I can totally empathize with you. I'm 38 and wearing glasses/contacts for the first time ever. I also have astigmatism. The nausea and dizzy feeling happened to me too with both the contacts and glasses. Give them a week and if you still feel that way, go back and talk to your eye Dr. I found that the first toric contacts I tried were not right (slipped up and down). After 3 tries I finally got one I can tolerate, but still struggle with dry eye. I'm told daily disposable contacts are the most comfortable to wear. I have 2 week disposables and they are OK.
I did have an "off balance" feeling develop when I got new glasses. Turns out my RX was completely wrong! Once they got the RX correct, I adjusted in a couple weeks and now actually like my glasses. The world did look tilted and weird for 7-10 days though even with the correct eyeglass RX. Hang in there. Older brains like mine adjust much slower than a teenager's. Best wishes!
