How I did it: I had been wanting to get contacts for a while, and then one day, my boyfriend went in to get an eye exam while I did some shopping. I met up with him there, and he said, "Hey, why not get your contacts?" So I did.

The doctor was nice, but a little rough putting in the contacts for the first time. Then I had to take the "contacts class" where a girl who didn't even wear contacts tried to show me how to put them in & take them out. It felt like I sat there an hour in frustration trying to put them in correctly, and neither the "teacher" nor my boyfriend were helping, but I finally got them in.

It didn't get much better though as I struggled everyday to put them in, which would usually take me half an hour. When I did manage to get them in in under ten minutes, I couldn't have been happier. But I think all the struggling and constant poking of my eyes made my left eye get dry. About a week after I started wearing them, the left eye would constantly hurt, no matter how much I lubricated it.

So I went back to the doctor for my follow-up & told her (a different doctor) about my situation. She checked me out & said I had dry spots on my cornea that were being irritated by the contacts sitting on top. She put me on a strict "no contacts for five days" regimen & gave me some ultra-juicy eye drops.

I went back in a few days later, and my eye was completely healed, so she let me try a trial pair of Acuvue Oasys (since I now know I'm prone to dryness). I immediately noticed the difference. They were incredibly easy to put in (it took maybe two minutes), and they're so comfortable I forgot I have them in sometimes.

I'm really happy with the decision I made. Sure, the first couple of weeks weren't so great, but it was definitely worth it to do away with cumbersome glasses.

Lessons & tips:

• Research the cost of the contacts you want BEFORE getting the eye exam. Make sure it fits in your budget or that you're willing to try lower-end brands that are less expensive.
• It helps if you're comfortable with and trust your eye doctor. The first doctor I went to was nice, but a little impersonal. The second doctor I saw was incredibly friendly, professional, and easy to talk to.
• Figuring out which method of putting in your contacts fits you best isn't always easy, but don't give up. Your doctor or a medical assistant will show you the correct way to put them in, take them out, and care for them. Most doctors require that you take them in & out before they will let you leave with the contacts.
• Don't struggle to put in your contacts. Doing so can irritate the eye. If you can't get them in after ten to fifteen minutes or your eyes hurt or get really red like you've had a hard crying session, stop and try again later. If you continue to have problems getting them in, try asking your doctor to try a different brand or type of lens.
• Talk to friends and family members who wear or have worn contacts. They'll be able to share their tips and tricks for wearing contacts.

Resources:

• My boyfriend, who's had contacts before.
• My eye doctor, who was really nice & made sure I was comfortable.

Oct 09, 2008, 09:32PM PDT | 0 comments | 3 cheers