First time wearing contacts- question?

[jay&erinn]

I've never worn contacts before since I've only needed glasses for distance (driving, etc). I only wear my glasses when absolutely necessary since I don't like how I look in them. Since my vision has gotten a little worse, and I'm sick of being rude when I can't figure out who the person is that is waving at me across the mall, I decided to try contacts. I got them today and have been wearing them for a few hours. I wouldn't say they're driving me crazy, but I can definately feel something in my eyes. It's kind of like a vague itch that isn't so bad that I have to rub my eyes, but would like to. Is that normal? Will I always be so aware of them? If so, I can't imagine wanting to wear them on a regular basis full time. Although it is nice being able to sit at the computer and actually see the TV clearly 10 feet away (it's a small TV)

[Ericka_Jarett]

I have been wearing contacts for about 17 yrs now. My first pair was at 9 since my eyes were changing so much, didn't wear them long then since my eyes changed so quick, meant the contacts weren't helping like the dr hoped.

You really should feel them at all. Try removing it, cleaning it off and reinserting. You could have it in backwards or something could be on the lens causing the discomfort

[Fenway]

When you first get them, it feels like there is an eyelash in your eye. It takes a bit to get used to them. They usually recommend that you only wear them for a few hours when you first get them, and increase the time each day. After a while you don't feel them at all.

I wore them for 10 years, then I had LASIK.

You really should feel them at all. Try removing it, cleaning it off and reinserting. You could have it in backwards or something could be on the lens causing the discomfort

ETA: whenever I did have a problem it was because they were bckwards

[laura]

Ditto Fenway - it is completely normal to "feel" them when you first get them, but it should go away over time. I have worn contacts for ... I don't even know how long, maybe 15 years? and I can't feel them now unless I have something in my eye. That said, they do bother me slightly more in a dryer climate (like when the heat is on in the winter) b/c it just makes my eyes slightly more dry, so that could be part of the problem too (if you are in such a climate).

It could also depend on the contacts you have. I use to have hard contacts and those were a completely different bag than soft. I have daily disposables now and they are by far the least maintenance contacts I have ever had.

[Chimichanga]

I'm assuming they are the soft contact lenses... since I think I am one of like 5 people in the US wearing the rigid ones.

I will echo about cleaning it. From what I've been told, the soft contact lenses are "fabulous" and you can't feel them at all. Even with my rigid contacts; I don't feel them unless something is under them.

[HeatherFL]

If it keeps up, different lenses fit different eyes, and you may need to switch. My eye doctor had switched me from one type of lens to another, and I hated them, so I went back.

Ditto what everyone else said about making sure to rinse them, and that they're not in backwards.

[laura]

Haha - I thought no one wore rigid contacts anymore until one of my dear friends said that is what she wears, so now I just never assume!

[Adaya]

I'm sort of a newbie as I've been wearing contacts for a little over a year. When I first got them, they were very uncomfy and just a pain in the butt right from the beginning. I just new something wasn't right. So I went back and got them checked out, and they ended up not being right for me, and I got some different ones. Boy was that the best thing ever. I didn't feel them at all.

Maybe you can give them more time and if they aren't working for you, go back and see if a different brand or type will work better.

[jennylou]

Yep, ditto to what everyone else said about starting out only for a few hours at a time. And if you do feel something later, it's probably backwards.

[jay&erinn]

Thanks for all of the responses!
I did only wear them for about 2 hours today and will try 4 tomorrow and increase from there. I think I just expected to not feel them at all. Everyone talks about how comfortable they are and no one mentions that it's not necessarily that way at first.

I'm pretty sure they were in properly since I left them in from the optomotrists office and the lady that taught me how to put them in wsa checking to make sure they weren't backwards. That'll be my next challenge- trying to tell if they do get flipped inside out- that's really hard to see the difference.

Try removing it, cleaning it off and reinserting.

HeHe- that's a whole 'nother hour of my life I would have to give up at this point. I never realized how difficult they would be to get in initially. I only work a half day tomorrow so I'm going to wait until I get home and put them in for my 4 hours. I don't need one more thing stressing me out in the morning.

One other question- where's the cheapest place to buy them?