I’ve recently become the proud owner of contact lenses. I’ve worn them for the whole day, but not recently (about 2 weeks). Today is the first day I’m wearing a new pair. I put them in about 2 hours ago, and was fine: my eyes watered a bit when I first put them in, but they always do so.
Right now, though, my eyes are really irritated. I’ve been drenching myself with rewetting drops (same type as always), to no avail. This is why I haven’t been wearing them for the entire day recently - my eyes are getting irritated. Is there some trick that I don’t know about to keep this from happening?
FWIW - I’ve been using perscription allergy eyedrops: Azelastine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution, .05%, in case there’s any of the medical types out there who that means anything to. I want to start to wear the lenses to school, which would mean about nine hours on end with them in. They’re soft lenses, not the older type.
I was told you start with 2 days at 2 hrs then 2 days at 4 hrs etc etc and build up your eye’s tolerance to them that way. If they are as bad as you say they are then take them out straight away and start again as above
Swagman is right – your eye needs to gradually build up its oxygen deprivation tolerance. You may also need thinner lenses. The first year I had contacts, I used Acuvue 2, which felt OK initially, but which I couldn’t wear for more than 2 days in a row without taking a day off. I now wear Proclear compatibles (I think?) which are a godsend – they are infinitely more comfortable.
I use Acuvue daily disposables and it took me several weeks until I could wear them for a day without my eyes screaming for relief. I cheat like I suspect many people do and wear them for about 3 days (taking them out at night and giving them a rub). I tried the Acuvue ones you are supposed to wear for two weeks with cleaning but they were too gunked up at the end. Either way costs about the same.
I don’t know what brand you’re using, but I found this for Optivar:
Patients should be advised not to wear a contact lens if their eye is red. OPTIVAR™ should not be used to treat contact lens related irritation. The preservative in OPTIVAR™, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Patients who wear soft contact lenses and whose eyes are not red, should be instructed to wait at least ten minutes after instilling OPTIVAR™ before they insert their contact lenses.
Anithistamines in general can dry eyes for some people and make contacts difficult to wear.
I’d suggest talking to your eye doctor about the drops you’re using and the problems you’re having.
** cstamets **, I’m using Renu drops, which (I believe), are specifically designed for contacts. They came with the contact solution, so I figure as much.
And I just called the doc, and the next possible appointment is a week from now. :mad: I suppose I’ll just make do with my spectacles 'til then.
Just a quick question - if you have already worn the same type of lenses for a whole day successfully in the past (sounds from the OP that you have disposables), could it be that you have the lenses on inside out? On those occasions when I don’t pay enough attention and put a lens in the wrong way, it’s irritating as heck until I pop it out and put it back in the right way. Before you put the lens in, check it while it’s balanced on your fingertip. In side view, does the edge continue the curve of the rest of the lens? If it doesn’t, and the edge looks a little flattened, then the lens is inside out.
It could also be that your allergy medicine should not be put in your eyes while you’re wearing contacts. IIRC you’re not even supposed to put Visine in over contacts, only rewetting drops. It would be a good idea to check with your eye doctor about possible interactions.