Issues with lentils

Honestly, I’m curious if anyone else deals with this. After wearing contacts for a few months, my eyes just don't look white anymore. I’ve been using artificial tears, which helps a bit, but those red capillaries are still there 😕—especially when I wake up, or after a long 15-hour day.
I currently use Complete solution with my Aquafina lenses; they're decent, though the solution stings a little upon insertion. Artificial tears take the edge off that irritation, but does anyone have a recommendation for a better solution than Complete?

Your take is fine, but don't overdo the contact lenses. Cut down your daily hours and get more sleep. Your eyes are going to be exhausted if you're wearing them all day while staring at a computer screen or hanging out in smoky places.
Mix it up with glasses once in a while to give your eyes a break.
I've been wearing soft contacts for five years now and haven't run into any major issues. I just switch to glasses every so often.
I personally use saline solution instead of those artificial tears; it works better. A lot of my colleagues use it too, and nobody complains.

I’m currently using Aquafina and I couldn't be happier with the results. It seems like quite a few people on this forum have had issues with Complete. For me, eye redness only becomes an issue when I spend too much time staring at a screen.

I’m using those Aquafina lenses too, and honestly—they drive me crazy. Every time I put them in, my eyes start stinging, and after just four or five hours, they feel incredibly dry. I’ve been using the Complete solution—nothing fancy, just the standard stuff—but it doesn't help much. Once I finally get LASIK, I am getting rid of this junk for good!

So you're actually going through with the laser surgery? I'm curious about what the prices look like these days—is it typically covered by insurance, or is it out of pocket? My prescription isn't even that bad, but hey, if it's an option, why not?

I personally stick to saline solution for storage and use 😁 Jar for my cleaning routine, so my specific regimen might not be much help to you... but if I can offer one piece of advice, please don't push through the discomfort; stop wearing those lenses for so long if they're irritating you. Try cutting back to about 10 or 12 hours a day, then gradually increase the duration once your eyes actually start to adjust.

Also, if you find yourself staring at an active light source—say, a TV screen or a computer monitor—don't sit there in a pitch-black room; just turn a light on.

placidstag17 said:Man, you're going for laser? What kind of prices are we talking about—is that covered by insurance or what? My prescription isn't even that crazy, but hey, if it's an option, why not?!

I'll look into laser once I actually have the cash to spare—probably in about a decade... lol. But yeah, regarding the cost, I heard it runs about $3,000 per eye. How bad is your prescription?

fadedtrucker19 said:I personally use saline solution to store my lenses—and I use a new 😁 Jar for cleaning—so my advice might not be much help to you... but seriously, don't wear them for such long stretches if they're bothering you; try cutting back to 10-12 hours at first, then slowly increase the time once your eyes get used to it.

And if you're staring at a screen—like a TV or a computer monitor—don't sit there in a pitch-black room; turn a light on.

Storing lenses in saline? Are you kidding me? That stuff is strictly for rinsing!

fadedtrucker19 said:I personally use saline solution to store my lenses, and I use a fresh 😁 Jar for cleaning, so my advice might not be much help to you!

Are we talking about hard contacts?

You definitely shouldn't put soft lenses through that kind of treatment!

I'm sitting at -1.75 in both eyes... nothing crazy, I suppose, but man, I'd love to be done with it. Without my contacts, I’m basically a squirrel in a fog bank—everything is just a blur. Standard stuff, though; things tend to get a bit messy when you pull the lenses out.
Honestly, that whole laser surgery thing feels like way too much for me. Thanks anyway.

placidstag17 said:My prescription is -1.75 in both eyes... it's not huge or anything, but man, I would LOVE to just be done with it. When I take my contacts out, I'm basically blind—everything is just a blur. But hey, that's normal, right? Since my eyes get all swollen under the lenses...
Man, getting laser surgery feels like way too much for me right now. Thanks anyway.

Look, it’s really not that bad—just wait until you're old enough to start hunching over!😬 Yeah, surgery is a massive undertaking, but that's just how it is...

Please, I really want to switch to contacts!

What’s the actual process? Like, how does this work? Obviously, I need to go see an eye doctor (any recommendations?)

Thanks

Arthur Turner17 said:Please, I really want to switch to contacts!

What’s the actual process? Does it work like this—go to an eye doctor first? (Any recommendations?)

Thanks

There's a contact lens clinic in Brooklyn, run by Dr. Smith.

Just call and book an exam; they'll walk you through the rest. In short: they'll determine your prescription, suggest where to buy the lenses (you don't have to listen to them if you find a better deal elsewhere; I think they have a partnership with the Ann optical shop in Brooklyn, though I bought mine while traveling in Austria) and then there's the brief adjustment period. After a few days of putting them in, taking them out, and cleaning them, it just becomes routine. 😉

Dr. Smith is a genius in my eyes. Ask him anything... he's patient and knows his stuff. 👍

Thanks
So whose lenses are actually worth it? Where did you pick yours up in Austria? Is it actually cheaper over there?

What’s the price range even looking like? What kind of budget am I supposed to set aside here? And how long do these things actually last before they're trash?
I have zero clue. 😢

Price depends on whether you opt for annual, semi-annual, quarterly, monthly, or even soft versus rigid options. Talk it over with your doctor.
I used to wear those annual lenses—you know, the ones you clean weekly to strip protein buildup? If I recall correctly. They didn't last long enough for my liking, so I switched to monthlies. Honestly, I can't for the life of me remember the exact prices right now. I usually grab a pack of 12 for the left eye and 6 for the right (different prescriptions and astigmatism on the left), and since they've been lasting me quite a while, my memory of the cost has gone totally blank. I'll dig through my house to find an old receipt and let you know.
I buy them in a town near the border; I have a friend there who picks them up for me. It’s cheaper, though I don't know by how much because the specific price escapes me 😬
The lenses are Johnson & Johnson, and I'm happy with them. I used Bausch & Lomb before, but Johnson & Johnson works better for me.

So, do you go with soft or hard lenses? Any recommendations on which one to pick?

I stuck with RGP lenses for about two years before a corneal inflammation flared up—doctors blame the lenses, though I doubt they're the only culprit—so I switched to soft ones.
Soft lenses are way easier to pop in and out, much more comfortable, too... but then again, some doctors used to swear by RGPs just to keep the eye "active." Back in high school when I first started wearing them, the explanation I got was basically, "keep the eye working so it doesn't get lazy." 😁
Supposedly RGPs allow better oxygen flow, but honestly, that’s just the same old line they fed me years ago.
Your best bet is to get the latest word from your doctor. 🙂 Personally, I'm all about the soft lenses just for the comfort factor.

I’ve been wearing RGP lenses for three years now, and honestly, they've been nothing but great. My prescription is pretty messy with cylinders, so soft lenses just aren't an option for me. I guess I'm actually glad about that, since RGPs let more oxygen through and supposedly stop my vision from getting worse so fast. My eye doctor told me I tolerate them perfectly; when he first fitted me, I didn't even have any tearing or irritation. I haven't touched glasses since I got the lenses, though I really should go get some new lenses made for my updated prescription. That always seems to stay on the back burner, so for now, I just wear my contacts all day. If they bother me at night—which rarely happens, but it does once in a while—then I just take them out and see without them.
Anyway, I highly recommend lenses; they're way better than any pair of glasses!

Ugh! I just couldn't make them work for me—no matter how hard I tried. I stuck with them for about six months, but eventually, I hit a wall and had to switch over to soft lenses.