Contact lens solutions - Allstate brand reviews

Dana Foster5 · 2005-05-13T21:22:12+00:00

I wore soft contacts for three years, but I eventually had to ditch them because of some issues. My eye doctor suggested switching to GP lenses—the semi-rigid …

Bradley Smith Member

43 messages
joined Jul 2005

#21 · Jun 14, 2005

jadesailor14 said:Wrong.
Both my daughter and I stick to soft lenses.

Look, if you've found a pair of lenses that actually work for you, don't go changing things up just for the sake of it. There's zero reason to mess with perfection.
As far as I'm concerned, RGP or hard lenses are out of the question.
It’s either glasses or softies for me.
And when it comes to solutions, just go with whatever feels right for your eyes.
I've always had the best luck with Allergan brands. Even back when I was struggling with hard lenses, and honestly, even now.

Flashback for a second—about 25 years ago, the absolute gold standard for cleaning hard lenses was using Kossily baby shampoo. I remember one coworker used to clean hers with Charlie dish soap.

RGP and hard lenses are totally different beasts, and there's a massive gap between "semi-hard" and full-on hard lenses too. When I had to switch from softs back to semi-hard (my prescription jumped way too high after wearing softs for 4 or 5 years), I cycled through maybe five different types before I finally landed on the most expensive ones—the ones that were actually comfortable and actually let oxygen through. It’s wild how much better your vision is with semi-hard lenses. I'd never go back to softs; sure, they're squishy and you barely feel them, but they actually ended up fatiguing my eyes way more in the long run.

As for solution? Johnson & Johnson All in One! No way am I lugging around ten different bottles when I can just have one that does everything.

Joseph Fisher2 Member

31 messages
joined Mar 2019

#22 · Jun 14, 2005

Wait, since when do soft lenses actually increase your prescription?! 😲 Nobody ever told me that part! All they said was my vision would keep changing until I finished growing... and honestly, it’s gone up by 0.5 over the last year and a half—is there really any reason to panic here?

I actually love these soft ones, though I usually take them out before sitting down at my computer or watching TV—they just bother my eyes a bit too much. Probably just getting dry. 😕

Jonathan Harris74 Member

17 messages
joined Feb 2004

#23 · Jun 14, 2005

Joseph Fisher2 said:Yeah, right... since when does wearing soft lenses make your prescription worse?! 😲 Nobody’s ever mentioned that one to me! All I ever heard was that my vision would keep changing as long as I was still growing... and mine actually went up by 0.5 over the last year and a half... should I be freaking out here?!

The soft ones are actually great, honestly. I just end up taking them out whenever I'm sitting in front of the computer or the TV because they bother me a bit too much. Probably just drying out, I guess.😕

How old are you anyway?

I hit a -5 by the time I turned 19 (hey, at least it's -5 and not -6, right?) 🙂 and switching to hard lenses actually helped me stop the prescription from climbing!

I've heard that your vision can shift while you're still growing, but I guess everyone is different!

If your prescription isn't massive, maybe try reading without any lenses or glasses at all—and try doing it from as far away as possible! Apparently, there's some theory that it helps strengthen the eye muscles or some other random stuff like that!

cosmictrucker7 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Jun 2005

#24 · Jun 15, 2005

Contact lenses are semi-rigid, and you were an absolute lifesaver... I ditched the old-school saline drops long ago thanks to your advice, especially after hearing about people using things like Charlie for rinsing.
Thanks. My anxiety has finally settled down. 🙂

Regarding the solution, my first thought was that someone was trying to pull a fast one, but when you're a newbie, everyone tries to take advantage of you. 🙂
I wish I had stumbled upon this thread sooner, but I'm sticking to it from now on. 🙂

My vision is definitely sharper and clearer now (aside from the minor adjustment period), so I highly recommend switching to contacts.

jadesailor14 Regular

314 messages
joined May 2006

#25 · Jun 15, 2005

Jonathan Harris74 said:I always take my glasses off before I jump in the pool, and then I’m basically blind! I’m asking because I have no idea what would work best for me. I read somewhere that there are those disposable contact lenses...

Oh, totally!
You should definitely look into soft daily disposables.
They are absolutely perfect for summer vacations, especially if you aren't the type who wants to lug around bulky cases, solution bottles, and little tweezers.
You just pop a fresh pair in every morning, and then at the end of the day, you just toss them out. It's so easy!
They come individually wrapped, and usually, a single box comes with 30 of them.

Susan Gonzalez4 Member

42 messages
joined Sep 2008

#26 · Jun 15, 2005

I wear soft lenses—nearsighted plus astigmatism. I stick with Allstate for everything: the cleaning, the solution, even the tablets. My prescription is honestly a joke; it just keeps climbing. I’m sitting at -5 right now, and I’m only 26. It’s wild how much my vision shifts while it's still stabilizing.😢

jadesailor14 said:Yep.
You could go with daily disposables instead.
They are perfect for summer trips or if you’re the type who hates lugging around bulky cases, bottles, and cleaning kits.
Just pop a fresh pair in every morning, then toss them at the end of the day. Easy.
They usually come in packs of 30 individual blisters.

Do you know if people with astigmatism can wear those too?
And what’s the damage like, roughly?

jadesailor14 Regular

314 messages
joined May 2006

#27 · Jun 15, 2005

Susan Gonzalez4 said:I wear semi-rigid lenses—I'm nearsighted plus have astigmatism. I use all Allstate products, including the cleaning solution, storage, and the tablets. My prescription is just awful; it keeps climbing! I'm at -5 right now, and I'm only 26... so much change while my eyes are still developing.😢

Do you know if people with astigmatism can wear them too?
And about how much do they cost?

Back when soft lenses first hit the scene, doctors mostly insisted that anyone with astigmatism couldn't use them.
Nowadays, they generally say you absolutely can.
I'm 41, and I've been wearing contacts since I was 13! Back then, my hospital actually had to order my first pair from the USA because you couldn't just pick them up at a local shop. I could never get used to hard lenses—not even the semi-rigid ones. Soft lenses work perfectly for me.
Even if those other lenses supposedly stop your prescription from increasing, it doesn't mean much to me if I can't stand keeping them in my eye!
So, for me, it’s either soft lenses or glasses.
My vision kept changing until I was around 31 or 32. Since then, it's stayed steady at -7 with -1.5 astigmatism.
A friend of mine is actually still seeing changes, even though she's 40. She's currently at -5 and deals with astigmatism too.
The tricky part for me is a bit of ocular distortion; it makes everything seem to "pull" to the right. That's why contact lenses are such a lifesaver for me—they mask that distortion beautifully. Glasses make it so much more noticeable. It’s especially annoying when I'm driving at night.
My daughter wears soft lenses as well. She's at -5.5 with -2.5 astigmatism.
From what I've experienced, people with astigmatism can definitely wear soft lenses.

As for those daily disposables, I'm not entirely sure. I'd guess they aren't more than $100.
The last monthly pack of six I picked up at King Cross was $63.

Linda Roberts3 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Jun 2005

#28 · Jun 15, 2005

I’m sitting at a -10 prescription, and honestly, I’ve been wearing soft contact lenses for about eight years now without my vision getting any worse.
I’m 24. I just stick with the all-in-one solution from Johnson & Johnson—I’m definitely not the type of person who wants to deal with a whole pharmacy of extra drops and specialized stuff on my counter, so this multi-purpose liquid is easy. Plus, I rarely run into any actual issues.
My only real gripe is that I can't justify switching to those three-month supplies because my current ones have been acting up a bit over the last couple of months.
Every once in a while, my eyes get a little irritated, but that's usually just because of a draft or some other environmental nonsense; my eyes have always been pretty sensitive, even when I'm just wearing glasses.

Jonathan Harris74 Member

17 messages
joined Feb 2004

#29 · Jun 15, 2005

jadesailor14 said:Yeah.
Soft daily disposables are the way to go.
They’re perfect for summer vacations or if you’re just too lazy to lug around cases, saline solution, and those annoying little tablets.
Just grab a fresh pair every morning, pop them in, and then toss them at the end of the day. Easy.
They come individually wrapped, usually in packs of 30.

Thanks—but does anyone actually know what the damage is on the price for dailies?

The thing is, I’ve been trying to "hack" my own lenses! 🙂 I bought some last year, but I only wore them for maybe two months before putting them away. I left them soaking in the solution, but since I haven't touched them in nearly a year, I was terrified they might be totally shot. Some lady at the shop told me it doesn't matter and that they should be fine to wear!

My issue with them? I hate how they seem to stick to my eyes like glue. And when I finally take them out, everything looks blurry... almost like they peeled off a layer of my eye or something? Is that a thing? Does anyone else get that weird sensation? Honestly, that's the main reason I haven't worn them in ages. 😬

jadesailor14 Regular

314 messages
joined May 2006

#30 · Jun 15, 2005

Jonathan Harris74 said:Thanks! By any chance, do you know how much those daily disposables run for?

So, I basically "rehabilitated" my own lenses! 🙂 I bought them last year, but I only actually wore them for about two months. I kept them soaking in solution, but since I didn't touch them for almost a year, I was honestly terrified they might have gone bad! Luckily, the lady at the shop told me it doesn't matter and that they should be totally fine to wear!

The thing is, I'm not a huge fan of how they feel—they seem to stick to my eyes so intensely! Plus, whenever I take them out, everything looks super blurry, almost like they’ve peeled themselves right off my eyeballs! I haven't worn them in ages because of that sensation. Does anyone else get that feeling? 😬

Like I mentioned above, I'm not entirely sure, but I'd guess they're around $100. It really just depends on the brand and where you pick them up locally.

I actually get that exact same feeling when I take mine out! My eye doctor explained that it happens because they create a bit of a vacuum seal, and your pupils just need a little while to readjust and react normally again.

I usually stick to bi-weekly lenses. Right now, I'm using monthly ones simply because my specific prescription wasn't available in the other types. I just wear them as long as they stay comfortable—basically until they start getting blurry, scratchy, or just feel "off."
I've had some pairs that I absolutely hated after just a few days, and others that lasted way longer than they were supposed to. My absolute record? A pair of bi-weeklies that actually lasted me five whole months!

Jonathan Harris74 Member

17 messages
joined Feb 2004

#31 · Jun 15, 2005

jadesailor14 said:Like I said above. I don't know the exact number, maybe around $100? But honestly, it really just depends on the brand and where you pick them up.

Ugh, missed that reply! Way too late! 🙂

I'm thinking two-week or monthly ones would be perfect for me. 🙂

Thanks a ton for all the help! 👍

gentlecanyon92 Active Member

162 messages
joined Mar 2005

#32 · Jun 17, 2005

😕 First time I've ever heard of these tablets 😁

Nobody’s ever offered them to me, and I've managed just fine for the last 8 years without them... I've been using Allstate for a few years now and haven't had any issues..
I've worn soft contact lenses for the full 8 years, swapping them out every couple of years (whenever my prescription changes), letting them soak overnight in solution, and cleaning them with solution beforehand... the end...
Honestly, if I'm feeling lazy, I can even fall asleep in my contacts without any trouble..

Susan Gonzalez4 Member

42 messages
joined Sep 2008

#33 · Jun 18, 2005

gentlecanyon92 said:😕 First time I’ve even heard of those tablets 😁

Nobody ever pitched them to me, and honestly, I’ve been fine for eight years without them... I've just been using Allstate for the last few years and haven't had a single issue.
I've worn soft contact lenses for all eight years. I swap them out every couple of years if my prescription changes, let them soak overnight in solution, and give them a quick clean with some solution before that... simple as that.
And look, if I'm feeling lazy, I can even nap with my contacts in if I really don't feel like taking them out.

Must be nice. I actually tried showering with my contacts in this year—but my eyes start stinging the second any water hits them 😎. Maybe it’s an issue with how we women do our eye makeup 😕
plus, whenever something gets stuck in my eye, it drives me absolutely insane until I can get it out. 😁

Melissa Price6 Active Member

81 messages
joined Jan 2008

#34 · Jun 18, 2005

Susan Gonzalez4 said:I’m so jealous! I actually thought I’d be able to handle showering while wearing my contacts this year, but nope—my eyes just sting like crazy even if a little bit of water gets in there during a shower😎 , so maybe it's just an issue with the eye makeup we women wear😕
plus, whenever anything ever gets stuck in them, I literally lose my mind until I can get it out.😁

Honestly, just go grab some artificial tears—the Refresh Contacts kind🙂
they work with all different types of lenses.
Whenever something feels off or irritating, I just pop the lens out and clean it right in my palm.
😎

Susan Gonzalez4 Member

42 messages
joined Sep 2008

#35 · Jun 18, 2005

Melissa Price6 said:Grab some rewetting drops for your contacts🙂
They work for basically any lens type.
Whenever something feels off, I just pop mine out and rinse them right in my palm.
😎

I actually have some😉 , but honestly? I’m a total wimp about it—it usually makes things worse. If even a tiny speck of dust or a stray hair gets in there, I lose it. Then it’s the whole ordeal of taking them out, scrubbing them, and putting them back in. I'm just high-maintenance like that.🙂

gentlecanyon92 Active Member

162 messages
joined Mar 2005

#36 · Jun 18, 2005

As for me, I always rinse my contacts in water after cleaning them... and I give them another rinse right before putting them in.

And makeup? That's a whole different headache. You should NEVER shower with both makeup and contacts on. Personally, even if just a tiny bit of eyeliner or eyeshadow drifts into my eye while I'm applying it, my eyes start watering like crazy and it's incredibly irritating. So, you have to take them out, wash them, and put them back in—which obviously means ruining your makeup in the process. 🙂

Melissa Price6 Active Member

81 messages
joined Jan 2008

#37 · Jun 18, 2005

Wait, really?😁
I mean, I’m over here using my lashes to shower, wash my face, and even scrub my hair... I even use them to take off my makeup! And honestly, nothing has ever gone wrong 😁

Susan James42 Active Member

62 messages
joined Sep 2005

#38 · Jun 19, 2005

gentlecanyon92 says:
As for me, after I clean my contacts, I always rinse them in water... I even rinse them before putting them in my eyes.

Oh, I absolutely cannot believe this! In water!? 😲
I am seriously in disbelief right now!

Melissa Price6 Active Member

81 messages
joined Jan 2008

#39 · Jun 19, 2005

Are you talking about lens solution or just regular tap water? Because if I try using plain old water, my eyes end up feeling like a total desert...😁

gentlecanyon92 Active Member

162 messages
joined Mar 2005

#40 · Jun 19, 2005

plain water 😉

that’s how I was taught, that’s how I act 😳 🙂

Contact lens solutions - Allstate brand reviews

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