I just got new soft contact lenses. The right one just plops in fine, but the left one - well, I just spent 20 minutes trying to put it in, and it stung like the devil when I finally got it there. What could be wrong with it? Considering that my left eye is very weak as it is (I see primarily through the right) is there any reason I couldn’t just ditch the left contact and just wear the right one?
I don’t mean to sound snide, but did you try cleaning it? Sometimes when I put in my contacts it helps if I put a drop of saline solution in it directly before I put it on.
It could also possibly be a bad contact. If you throw away your contacts every month or so, just throw this one away and try a new one. I had a contact one time that distorted everything (really bothersome when you are trying to play sports.)
I get massive headaches trying to wear only one contact lens, I don’t suggest it, and certainly not for any length of time. Too much stress on the eyes trying to compensate can’t possibly be a good thing.
You may be having trouble with the left one just because it is a new type of lens. I know, when I went to the disposable lenses that I had much more trouble than with my old pair, the new lenses seemed much more floppy and hard to deal with. Give it some time and you will get used to the new feel.
It may have stung when you finally got the lens in because you had been fiddling with it for so long. The lens can dry out and get skin oils on it if you play with it too long before inserting it, stings like a bitch. Just make sure to keep rinsing it between attempts.
One last thing, make sure the lens is not inside out, I occasionally insert an inside out lens by accident, the only noticable difference for me is that it itches.
Sometimes, for no apparent reason, one of my eyes will decide that it just does not WANT to wear a contact that morning. The contact will sting like crazy, or I have a hard time putting it in, or whatever.
Usually, I can just pop the offending contact into some saline for another 20-30 minutes or so, and give my eye time to calm down a little bit, and I don’t have problems with it again later. (By the way, I am absolutely religious about following my lens care instructions. Lenses are cleaned and disinfected every night, enzymatically cleaned each week, and I wash my hands carefully before I ever touch my eyes.)
So, maybe your left eye is just having a bad contact day. If this seems to be consistent, though, I would go back to the opticians and ask them about it — mine have usually been very open to my questions about new contacts, and have corrected sizing problems at their own expense. (Unless you bought them mail order? I have no experience with that.)
Like Cheesesteak, I would get a raging headache if I tried to go with one lens in and one lens out. Besides, I’d be afraid of what would happen if my good one drifted out of place, or got an eyelash under it ---- I’d be left virtually blind (-6.0 and -5.75 here…)
Hope it turns out to be just a one time problem for you----
Is it still stinging, or did Mr. Left Lens settle down?
The only other thing I would add is to check for teensy nicks or tears on the edge of the lens. Usually, if there is even a tiny flaw, you cannot even get the thing to stay in your eye. However, if it is still stinging, you may want to check for this.
I know a lot of people cannot wear just one lens, but I do it occasionally with no problems. My eye doctor thinks I’m nuts, because it does cause many people to become nausiated, dizzy, and/or have headaches. You might want to try it at home and see if you are one of these people.
I would caution you not to drive wearing only one lens if you’ve never done it before, but I’m assuming you will be taking the metro! (Then don’t drive the metro, I guess 
)
It’s always tough as a bastard for me to put in my lefty, but the right one goes in relatively easily. No idea why.
It might also be flipped inside out. You should be able to tell pretty easily if you know what to look for though.
What’s wrong with my left contact lens?
Could it be that it’s not right?
Whenever I’ve had this type of problem, on close inspection of the offending lens I have always found a small nick or scratch. It may not have been visible without a magnifying glass, but it was there.
If you’re using disposables, just break out a new one & try it. If it still doesn’t work out, go see the optometrist-there could be something wrong with the prescribed fit, or with your eye itself (!!).
I put the left one in first. I used to have the same bloody problem, it was a fight to get the left one in after I put the right one in. I changed to putting the left one in first and stopped having problems, don’t know why.
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I would see an opthamologist to check and see if your eye is the problem. Sometimes a piece of grit can adhere to the lens and be a problem. The fit could be off in the left eye also. I got a wakeup call one morning after eating buffalo wings the night before and not getting all the sauce off my fingers. Talk about pain. I love my wings super hot to boot. Good luck.
Is your left lens one meant to correct for astigmatism? I’ve found that (especially when new), those tend to be much floppier and prone to flipping inside-out than regular lenses. Also, if you’d been trying to put in your lens for 20 minutes, your eye was probably really irritated. When my eyes are like that, it stings quite a bit for the first few seconds when I put them in.
It could be your eye. Many years ago (over 15 if thats possible) I started wearing soft contacts. I made the very foolish mistake of thinking I could treat my lenses as ‘extended wear’ (this is before that was invented). So I would keep them in overnight and for days at a time.
I still remember walking down the street one sunny day, and one of my eyes finally had enough and i had to rip it out (the lens, not the eye) right then and there.
To make a long story short, I am now completely unable to tolerate a lens in that eye. It hurts from the get-go. Every few years I try again but its the same thing.
I’ve had the eye examined many times but noone has been able to see any visible evidence of damage.
This is the kind of thing (the prospect of somehow ending up with chronic eye pain which is an awful type of pain) that scares me away from ever having laser surgery. I’d rather just endure the glasses.
So anyway, it could just be your eye. I always wanted to blame the lens (tried many kinds) or dirt or whatever but eventually it became clear my problem was my eye.