I have had glasses for the last 2 years as I am short-sighted. I can go any time for another evaluation and new frames, but I'd rather get contacts.
How do I go about this? I know glasses are expensive but what about contacts? Can someone tell me about going from glasses to contacts? Are they disposable? How long do they last before you have to throw them out? Can anyone wear them?
Basically, any information on contact lenses would be appreciated.
Thanks.

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When the glitter fades in the morning, turn away and you will find my empty eyes....your beauty blinds.

Most people can wear contacts. They make so many different types now that you'd be hardpressed to find someone who can't.
I've worn them since I was 12. They take a little while to get used to, but I love them. It only really sucks when my eyes get dry.
You can get ones that you throw out daily, or ones that you can keep in for a month straight. I get the ones that last about a month, but I have to take them out at night.
There are so many options! Talk to your doctor, they fit you for the right kind during your checkup(I guess that's what you'd call it)

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Contacts really are great. I get the monthly ones too. But there's a secret about them! All contacts are really the same. If you're careful about keeping them clean you can make a daily or weekly pair last a month or so. The companies make a lot more money selling the weekly pairs a little cheaper than monthly ones knowing that you have to buy 4 times as many. My advice is to get contacts but to also get a new pair of glasses or at least keep your old pair. Sometimes your contacts just won't "work." Your eyes will be too watery to keep them in or they'll be really itchy or something and you'll need to have some glasses around. When i got my first set of contacts I didn't bother getting my glasses upgraded and I had some issues when allergy season rolled around.

get both, i wear my contacts all day and usually change to my glasses when i get home.

it's good to have glasses....just in case.

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Yeah, I usually keep my glasses in my purse so when I go out I can take out my contacts for the drive home.

It can also be another cute style thing in your bag of tricks. Glasses some days, contacts others. Glasses are fun with fall/winter sweaters and scarves.

You can get disposable lenses with the option of monthly, bi-weekly or daily. With monthly or bi-weekly you will have to go through the process of cleaning/neutralising.

The most sensible option is to go for daily disposable lenses, it's the most advisable option in terms of hygiene - you wear them for the day & chuck them out, no solutions, no neutralising, and you will save loads of money in the long run. You will need to take them out after 12hours though, to give your eyes a rest. Discuss it with your optometrist though, as none of us here are qualified to say what is best for your eyes!

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*Huggy Ragnarsson Is My Co-Pilot*

"coming up on kittyradio, an erotic thriller featuring Shannon Tweed..."

Some people can wear contacts fine, but other people just aren't suited to them for whatever reason. It's not advisable to get them while you're very young since your eyes are still developing, but I've had monthly disposable lenses since I was twelve anyway. I used to wear them fairly regularly, but I just can't be bothered taking them in and out anymore. That, and it felt weird being able to see everybody so clearly. Idk the world just looks nicer without contact lenses. Glasses are way more comfortable. My eyesight is dire, but I only wear glasses to see the computer screen, TV, school board, etc. So I'm used to everything being blurry when I'm out and about.

But yeh, I would also recommend that you get the daily disposables. With monthly disposables, you have to remember that wearing them all day every day isn't the same as wearing them for a while every other day. So it's awkward keeping track of when they'll wear out. And like Campers said, daily disposables are wayyy more hygienic. Cleaning contact lenses is such a bitch and since they're so small I would lose them frequently. Just ask your optician for a demonstration and he/she will show you how to put them in. This way, you can find out whether contacts are for you or not. It's usually very awkward the first few times, but with practice it should come naturally to you.

Just one small correction: as I've said, the lenses themselves are always the same regardless of how they're marketed. There was a small scandal a few years back about how companies sell contacts for, say $50 per box of monthlies and $25 per box of weeklies. Even though the weeklies are half price, the company still makes twice as much money in one month selling the exact same product.

I refuse to wear them because I just can't bring myself to stick something in my eyes like that. I've been lucky enough up to now because my prescription has always been around -0.50 for years...however, recently it went up to -0.75 in one eye and -1.00 in the other. My optometrist said that I really should start wearing my glasses all the time (not just when driving), but I really don't want to. It's not vanity or anything like that, I just hate the feeling of something sitting on my face.

As for laser eye surgery, aside from the $$, he said that I should really wait until I'm in my late 40's to have it as that's when I'll need reading glasses (I'm 32 now, so I'm pissed off that I have to start wearing glasses for the next 15 years! )

I was completely unaware of that, thanks!

Prude, I will admit, when you very first wear contacts, it takes time to get past the concept of "oh shit, I'm placing an object INTO my eye" but once you get past it, it will feel completely natural.

I wear my contacts when out & about, but when I'm indoors, out they come and on goes the glasses (unless I'm camming but that's way TMI for a thread such as this). It gives my eyes a rest. I couldn't wear glasses all the time, despite my pair being ultra lightweight, I still feel the weight on my face and I hate not having full peripheral vision when I'm outdoors.

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*Huggy Ragnarsson Is My Co-Pilot*

"coming up on kittyradio, an erotic thriller featuring Shannon Tweed..."

I am unlucky and contacts build calcium spots within days. I have tried them a few times and they were damaging my eyes. Mostly I use my glasses for distance so I don't mind them.

Yeah, you sort of have to destroy your blink reflex. My friends get a little grossed out when I say, "shit, I have an eyelash in my eye" and then just stick my finger in there and get it out.

Yeah apparently contacts mean you lose your corneal reflex (which is something doctors do to see how ill you are) but mine is still there and I've been wearing contacts since I was 11.

Word of warning, I had the cheapest, three monthy lenses there were and I wore the hell out of them until I got corneal oedema from lack of oxygen....yum! Spent a couple of weeks in glasses and now I have really permeable lenses that I can wear for ages (even though I don't) and my eyes are fine!

I just bought 8 boxes of contacts online! My eyes are the same prescription so I totally can be like oh man I need new contacts and then go get some out of my new 8 BOXES!!! 8 x 6 contacts = 48 CONTACTS. I <3 seeing!

i've worn them for exactly a year now and I love them ! I can't imagine how I'd go back using only glasses. Mines are 2 week ones but I keep them really clean and they last a month or so. Keeping them clean is a little tricky esp if you wear eye makeup. So when you take them out you have to be really careful. And also before you take them out take off ALL of your mascara and eyeliner with eye makeup remover. And also since I rim the inner rims upper and lower, I use a Q-Tip to take allllllll the eyeliner off I fucking hate when eyeliner smudges get on them . It's annoying but yeah it works.

as far as I know anyone can wear lenses, but just in case you should consult professional. If you do not have any eye-related alergies or something like that, you most probably will be able to use them. By the way lenses are great way to improve your style. here's an article on that:
Colored Lenses: for the Perfect Image I don't wear glasses, yet I'm thinking of purchasing lenses only to make my eyes more noticable "]]]

when it comes to knowing when to throw them out, follow the manufacture's directions. Many optometrists will tell you all kinds of bullshit so you'll buy new lenses way too soon.

for me, when they feel uncomfortable, i trash them. i've had some for 5 yrs, but don't wear them every day. i use a new case every other month or so.

i love my contacts. i llike to match them to my outfits. i have five pairs atm. i have to wear daily wear because the patterned (cat eye, wild fire, ect) contacts i have don't come in disposable, that i know of.

Grunge Dust, i didn't know you can line your inner rims w/o getting an infection. this is good news, i love how that looks.

i take my lenses out before removing the make up. i wear a lot, esp. mascara. i don't want to get make up in my eye, esp. with a contact in it.

Yeah, you can keep contacts as long as they're not past expiration date.

Thanks for replying, everyone.

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When the glitter fades in the morning, turn away and you will find my empty eyes....your beauty blinds.