CHAT Contact lenses

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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After 20 years, I’ve decided to try contact lenses again. It’s primarily because I’ve been so unhappy with multifocal glasses, and particularly with plastic lenses. Anyhoo, this all came about by accident. I went to see the eye doctor because of floaters. He did a complete eye exam, including checking my then-current prescription. I didn’t expect that, since I was just there to talk about floaters.

During our discussion, I mentioned my dissatisfaction with glasses, which naturally led to a contact lens discussion. I told him that I’d had to quit wearing them because my eyes had become too dry. We discussed evolving contact lens technology, including the “wear once” (daily wear) lenses. He thought that those might actually work for me, so I asked if we could pursue it, he ordered a couple different brands for me to try. I settled on the Accuvue “Moist” (get your minds out of the gutter) lenses after trying. A 90 day supply is $150.

My left eye has significant astigmatism, so that side needs a toric lens. The right side is okay. But I have to wear reading glasses for close-up stuff of course. The last time I tried contacts, they became intolerable after 6-8 hours. These new lenses easily last 12-14 hours before they get uncomfortable, and I can make 16 before I really have to remove them.

So we’ll see how it goes. Eye drops for contact wearers with dry eyes have also evolved significantly. I just picked up my 90 day supply yesterday and haven’t worn those yet. I’m on the last two days of my trial set.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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As a side benefit, I can wear my Doomslayer helmet from Doom Eternal Collector’s Edition. People with glasses can’t.

doometernal.jpg
 

Lone_Hawk

Resident Spook
Phttt... you and I are of an age... you will be getting Cataract surgery along with me pretty soon...

Maybe someone here can explain the difference between lasik and cataract surgery besides $10,000?
 

mzkitty

I give up.
I wore them for 30 years or so, and liked them. The ones they have now are probably way better though.

:)
 

rbt

Veteran Member
I had cataract surgery about 10 years ago they put a lens in the eye to replace glasses a couple different lenses to choose from I told them I wanted something I could look through scope it works well. They said I’d have 20/20 when they were done I wasn’t so they did lasik workEd great. Insurance will pay for operation but not lenses.
 

Lone_Hawk

Resident Spook
I had cataract surgery about 10 years ago they put a lens in the eye to replace glasses a couple different lenses to choose from I told them I wanted something I could look through scope it works well. They said I’d have 20/20 when they were done I wasn’t so they did lasik workEd great. Insurance will pay for operation but not lenses.

My cataracts are in my right/scope eye. I guess I will have to tell progressives to run faster if they want a chance. I can't let them get quite so far away before I squeeze.... I am a sporting kinda guy.... wanna be fair ya' know.... If the world hasn't gone completely to shit next year, I will get the surgery done...
 

FaithfulSkeptic

Carrying the mantle of doubt
Tried em once when I was in my 20s. Could never focus up close because, as I found out years later, my right eye has a drift problem that glasses normally correct due to the lens being out away from your eye. Impossible with contacts. If I closed either eye with them on, close up was crystal clear. Both eyes? Nope.
 

Lone_Hawk

Resident Spook
Denise,

I am in one of those moods tonight... sorry for the drift. I was very happy with contacts, as you noted you will need to keep contact solution, a contact case, eye drops, as well as a pair of glasses in your daily kit. Yes, you will have one contact fall in your salad when you forget and rub your eye. But the main thing I loved was peripheral vision and depth perception was greatly improved with contacts!!
 

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Wife wears the daily contact lenses; she has for years now. Her eyes are BAD-yet the contacts serve her just fine. She's also the one lady keeping those magnifying glasses companies afloat (she uses them for close up work). Those reader glasses are all over the house, her car, my cars etc. Her glasses used to be the coke bottle lens type.
I've never tried contact lenses. I'll stick with the trifocals, can't seem to get past the thought of putting something directly on my eye. Eeeewww.........
 

Babs

Veteran Member
I wear daily contact lenses. You just toss them into the garbage at the end of the day. No fussing around with solutions and soaking etc... And, they are the only ones that don't irritate my eyes. Love them.
 

OZARK

Senior Member
I have worn contacts for forty years. I have to wear a Torik lens in my right eye just opposite of you.
I too need readers and have cheap extra pairs in convenient places.

Three weeks ago I was told by my regular eye doctor that my cataract in my right eye has gotten much worse over the past year. I need it out ASAP

I am scheduled for surgery in two weeks on my right eye to be followed by my left I will not need contacts or glasses except to read up close afterwards. Hope it goes well. Insurance is paying for everything but a grand on the bad right eye.

I have no collector helmets
 

WanderLore

Veteran Member
DH had the lens both replaced couple years ago. 2 same day surgeries at the clinic, one week apart. Doc was the surgeon who invented the procedure. Pretty straight forward. Prep took longer, surgery was 10 minutes. Had 20/20 right away. Insurance paid a good bit, we paid I think 2K. Both eyes were 90% occluded with cataracts. Vision with 2 weeks most excellent, no issues at all.
 

Displaced hillbilly

Veteran Member
I wore contacts for about thirty years and my eyes decided they were too dry for them. I now need multi focal lenses. Ugh. I’d be willing to try contacts again if I can see well. Tired of wearing glasses all the time. Would love to wear real sunglasses again instead of just glasses with transitions lenses.
 

Fly Girl

Veteran Member
I got multi-focal contact lenses last year and LOVE them! I still use cheaters occasionally but I am not dependent upon them like I was. I am blind as a bat and I can see far away and up close enough to only need to drag out the cheaters 50% of the time now instead of all the time.
 

llknp

Senior Member
DH had the lens both replaced couple years ago. 2 same day surgeries at the clinic, one week apart. Doc was the surgeon who invented the procedure. Pretty straight forward. Prep took longer, surgery was 10 minutes. Had 20/20 right away. Insurance paid a good bit, we paid I think 2K. Both eyes were 90% occluded with cataracts. Vision with 2 weeks most excellent, no issues at all.
My wife and I have had cataract surgery done on our eyes. Same as described here. Very easy, no pain and very clear vision. If your vision is occluded, I would highly recommend.
 

Dobbin

Faithful Steed
Yeah, LASIK is a simple resurfacing of the Cornea while Cataract surgery replaces the lens of the eye.

If needed, a follow-up LASIK gives you more accurate vision by resurfacing/re-shaping the affected cornea/lens.
Cataract surgery corrects an accumulated defect in the lens of the eye with a plastic lens. LASIK simply modifies the cornea to act as a "correction lens" to correct for old age presbyopia (stiffening of the eye lens)

Those who have cataract surgery may or may not require glasses afterwards. Owner's parents both had the lens insertion, one required glasses afterwards not requiring before, the other was freed of glasses worn previously for presbyopia.

Its a "crap shoot" for the Ocular surgeon. He chooses a lens based on his experience, the size of the eye, and patient history - but his choice may be wrong.

Owner so far has mild presbyopia and wears glasses, but as of yet he reports only a couple of "defects" in his vision in one eye only.

He says "When I look at stars, I see a dumbell shaped object in one eye, the other looks like a star."

His doctor says yes that is probably a cataract but until it makes an issue with your normal daytime vision or driving at night, don't mess with it.

Dobbin
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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Insurance doesn’t pay that much for contact lenses. They’re considered “cosmetic.”

Here’s what I paid overall:

Eye exam - paid by ins

Dispensing fee - $100 (I paid)

90 day supply of daily wears - $158 (I paid)
 

Cardinal

Chickministrator
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Insurance doesn’t pay that much for contact lenses. They’re considered “cosmetic.”

Here’s what I paid overall:

Eye exam - paid by ins

Dispensing fee - $100 (I paid)

90 day supply of daily wears - $158 (I paid)
I had a separate insurance I was paying for (back when I was working) that paid for the visit and half of my lens supply.
I don't recall which insurance it was, but it cost me something like 11 bux a month.
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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They MIGHT draw the line at dailies. IIRC my eye doc said something to the effect that weeklies were the most my ins would pay for.
 

Jubilee on Earth

Veteran Member
Insurance doesn’t pay that much for contact lenses. They’re considered “cosmetic.”

Here’s what I paid overall:

Eye exam - paid by ins

Dispensing fee - $100 (I paid)

90 day supply of daily wears - $158 (I paid)

Now that you’ve got your script, if you like them, you can probably buy them cheaper online. Sign up for 1 800 Contacts emails. They send out coupons and special sales now and then.
 

Countrybumpkin

Veteran Member
Have wore contacts for 35 years. Am 55 and no problem with dry eyes-yet. Take them out at night, though-doc says it's good for the eye to breathe. Like others-reading glasses everywhere.
 

Hfcomms

EN66iq
I’ve worn the accuvue moist now for years. I pay about $120 for six months and buy them online and without a prescription. My vision never changes so I’ll be darned to have to get roped in going to an optometrist and pay them for the piece of paper.
 

20Gauge

TB Fanatic
Phttt... you and I are of an age... you will be getting Cataract surgery along with me pretty soon...

Maybe someone here can explain the difference between lasik and cataract surgery besides $10,000?
I understood cataract required the removal / replacement of the lens where the lasik was just a lazer zapping and reforming.
 

John Deere Girl

Veteran Member
Contacts are great for me. I'm not a good candidate for lasik, or I would do that. Glasses contribute to my migraines. I wear toric and have had no issues.
 

hardrock

Veteran Member
At my last appointment after cataract surgery, I told the dr. that I should have done the surgery
many years ago. She said the technology wasn't available then and my result would have been different.
If I was young and with the tech available now and could afford it, I would seriously consider having
the lens replaced.
Triad Eye Center in Muskogee gave a better result than I even imagined.
 

onmyown30

Veteran Member
I went to daily contacts because of my eyes feeling so dry. I still prefer and wear my glasses 95% of the time. A 90 day supply of contacts last me a year.

Between astigmatism in both eyes and now getting old and can’t see close up as well anymore too. Glasses are easier. At this time in order to read or see close up all I have to do is take off my glasses with contacts I can’t see close up well. I wish I wasn’t so blind sometimes :(
 

TheGatherer

Senior Member
I had cataract surgery about a year ago and being nearsighted I didn't need glasses to read but needed them to see distance... I told my surgeon I needed to be able to focus on the front sight he said no problem... yea but the front sight would have to be on a Pennsylvania long rifle (close to 3.5-4.0 feet) seeing the dashboard on the truck is Okay.. I could have gotten 'multi-focal' inserts but they were $5800 that's with my insurance, and that wasn't an option at that time... so, I use Accuvue multi-focal contacts for close work and 'drug store' readers when not wearing contacts to work close.. I can't believe how great it is to have better than 20 20 vision at distance, especially driving across country and back last Jan/Feb.. Working outside 'getting sweaty' and being able to wear normal sunglasses or a motorcycle helmet it's really worth it... Good Show Dennis...
 
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