New wearer

usmaak · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2011, 04:56 PM

Hi,

I just got the lenses today, at my eye exam. I have 20/15 distance vision, and my up close vision is really not too bad. My reading prescription is +1.75. I have a very slight astigmatism in both eyes. I talked to my doc about contacts. While he didn't try to talk me out of it, he did say that because of my excellent distance vision, I wasn't an ideal candidate. But he said that if I wanted to give contacts a try, he'd work with me. The only reason that I wanted to try them was just to make things easier. It would be nice not to always have my glasses nearby, just in case there is something that I want to read.

The problem I am having is that nothing is sharp anymore, especially up close. As I type this, I can really barely see it. It is all blurry. Distance is somewhat better, but not what it was before. Before leaving, I let him know that nothing was really sharp, and he said that my eyes just needed time to adjust to the new way of seeing, and that I should give it a couple of weeks.

Is this something that can really be adjusted to? I work as a computer programmer, and that requires me to do a lot of intermediate and up close work. Come Monday, if things haven't gotten much clearer, I'm not going to be able to do this, because I won't be able to see what I'm doing.

I don't understand how everything is so blurry. He said that these lenses have no distance correction in them, and that they have +1.75 up close correction. That's exactly what I had with my glasses, and my glasses are crystal clear.

Thanks

usmaak · #2 (**permalink**) 05-14-2011, 07:45 PM

Day 2. I was able to get the contacts out of my eyes last night with little issue, and put them in this morning with even fewer problems. What I failed to mention in my OP is that yesterday while trying to get my contacts out at the eye doc, I had a panic attack. It is the first one that I've ever had, though I'm familiar with the symptoms because of friends I have that have these. Anyway, for a few minutes, I was unresponsive and I scared the hell out of my wife and the people at the office. They were about to call an ambulance. I don't remember any of this. Then as soon as it began, it was over. Then I took the things out and put them back in, just to prove that I could. I think that the doc was shocked that I wanted to continue after going through that. I always have been a bit freaked out about eye things. But I really hate it when people tell me that I can't do things. That includes me telling me that I can't do things.

I was very discouraged last night. I was sitting at the computer and everything was so blurry. Then a funny thing happened. I yawned. And my eyes watered. And everything came into perfect focus. I mean it was like looking at a computer used to be, before I started losing my up close vision. A couple more experimental yawns showed that I could get perfect intermediate vision out of these things.

So yea, this morning, they were pretty good for a while. I think that my eyes are adapting. Things were clear this morning, though distance is still quite unfocused. I can't read street signs that are more than four or five hundred feet away. I put them in around 9:00 this morning. By 2:00 or so, they were getting all blurry again. I used some rewetting drops and things got better for a bit. I also used some saline solution. Again, got better for a bit. But as I type this, everything is really blurry. If I put my progressives on, things get much more clear. So I don't know if this really has to do with a lack of moisture in my eyes.

I think that even if this turns out really well, I'm going to need a bit of a bump on the up close prescription. I'm just not able to see very clearlly when reading. I understand that I might always have a bit of a problem with really small print. But I'm tallking more about regular print, like in books or magazines.

BettyBoop · #3 (**permalink**) 05-16-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmaak

Day 2. I was able to get the contacts out of my eyes last night with little issue, and put them in this morning with even fewer problems. What I failed to mention in my OP is that yesterday while trying to get my contacts out at the eye doc, I had a panic attack. It is the first one that I've ever had, though I'm familiar with the symptoms because of friends I have that have these. Anyway, for a few minutes, I was unresponsive and I scared the hell out of my wife and the people at the office. They were about to call an ambulance. I don't remember any of this. Then as soon as it began, it was over. Then I took the things out and put them back in, just to prove that I could. I think that the doc was shocked that I wanted to continue after going through that. I always have been a bit freaked out about eye things. But I really hate it when people tell me that I can't do things. That includes me telling me that I can't do things.

I was very discouraged last night. I was sitting at the computer and everything was so blurry. Then a funny thing happened. I yawned. And my eyes watered. And everything came into perfect focus. I mean it was like looking at a computer used to be, before I started losing my up close vision. A couple more experimental yawns showed that I could get perfect intermediate vision out of these things.

So yea, this morning, they were pretty good for a while. I think that my eyes are adapting. Things were clear this morning, though distance is still quite unfocused. I can't read street signs that are more than four or five hundred feet away. I put them in around 9:00 this morning. By 2:00 or so, they were getting all blurry again. I used some rewetting drops and things got better for a bit. I also used some saline solution. Again, got better for a bit. But as I type this, everything is really blurry. If I put my progressives on, things get much more clear. So I don't know if this really has to do with a lack of moisture in my eyes.

I think that even if this turns out really well, I'm going to need a bit of a bump on the up close prescription. I'm just not able to see very clearly when reading. I understand that I might always have a bit of a problem with really small print. But I'm talking more about regular print, like in books or magazines.

Welcome to Lens 101, usmaak. That panic attack sounds like it was pretty scary. I'm glad you decided to press on.
The common thread I seem to see here is that your contacts are blurry until you wet them, either with drops or by yawning. You might just have dry eyes and those eye drops will probably help. You may get used to the new lenses and be fine, or you might want to ask you eye doctor for something that holds moisture in your eyes a little better. Don't give up yet. You're well in your way to contact lens bliss.

Foxyboxer · #4 (**permalink**) 05-19-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmaak

Day 2. I was able to get the contacts out of my eyes last night with little issue, and put them in this morning with even fewer problems. What I failed to mention in my OP is that yesterday while trying to get my contacts out at the eye doc, I had a panic attack. It is the first one that I've ever had, though I'm familiar with the symptoms because of friends I have that have these. Anyway, for a few minutes, I was unresponsive and I scared the hell out of my wife and the people at the office. They were about to call an ambulance. I don't remember any of this. Then as soon as it began, it was over. Then I took the things out and put them back in, just to prove that I could. I think that the doc was shocked that I wanted to continue after going through that. I always have been a bit freaked out about eye things. But I really hate it when people tell me that I can't do things. That includes me telling me that I can't do things.

I was very discouraged last night. I was sitting at the computer and everything was so blurry. Then a funny thing happened. I yawned. And my eyes watered. And everything came into perfect focus. I mean it was like looking at a computer used to be, before I started losing my up close vision. A couple more experimental yawns showed that I could get perfect intermediate vision out of these things.

So yea, this morning, they were pretty good for a while. I think that my eyes are adapting. Things were clear this morning, though distance is still quite unfocused. I can't read street signs that are more than four or five hundred feet away. I put them in around 9:00 this morning. By 2:00 or so, they were getting all blurry again. I used some rewetting drops and things got better for a bit. I also used some saline solution. Again, got better for a bit. But as I type this, everything is really blurry. If I put my progressives on, things get much more clear. So I don't know if this really has to do with a lack of moisture in my eyes.

I think that even if this turns out really well, I'm going to need a bit of a bump on the up close prescription. I'm just not able to see very clearly when reading. I understand that I might always have a bit of a problem with really small print. But I'm talking more about regular print, like in books or magazines.

I'm sorry to read about that panic attack you had. I've had similar experiences, but in my case it's simply an almost overwhelming sense of dread, but I've never even had anyone see me during one of my episodes and ask "Are you okay" so I must look normal from the outside.

I hope you don't have another episode like that, and I hope your contact lenses can be adjusted so you can see even when you try to read. That doesn't seem like too much to ask.

CLSC · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2011, 09:27 PM

Sorry this is OT (off topic) but I know what you mean when you say that even though you're having a "panic attack" you look normal from the outside.

Wonder if part of the fear during a panic attack is that we will lose "outward appearing control" ?

Hogwartz · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLSC

Sorry this is OT (off topic) but I know what you mean when you say that even though you're having a "panic attack" you look normal from the outside.

Wonder if part of the fear during a panic attack is that we will lose "outward appearing control" ?

Speaking as someone who has had anxiety attacks in the past, I think if someone were to approach me and say "Hey, you don't look too good, are you okay?" that would make me want to panic all the more.
Possibly a worse scenario would be for someone look at me like I was hallucinating and say "What's your problem?"

Foxyboxer · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmaak

Day 2. I was able to get the contacts out of my eyes last night with little issue, and put them in this morning with even fewer problems. What I failed to mention in my OP is that yesterday while trying to get my contacts out at the eye doc, I had a panic attack. It is the first one that I've ever had, though I'm familiar with the symptoms because of friends I have that have these. Anyway, for a few minutes, I was unresponsive and I scared the hell out of my wife and the people at the office. They were about to call an ambulance. I don't remember any of this. Then as soon as it began, it was over. Then I took the things out and put them back in, just to prove that I could. I think that the doc was shocked that I wanted to continue after going through that. I always have been a bit freaked out about eye things. But I really hate it when people tell me that I can't do things. That includes me telling me that I can't do things.

I was very discouraged last night. I was sitting at the computer and everything was so blurry. Then a funny thing happened. I yawned. And my eyes watered. And everything came into perfect focus. I mean it was like looking at a computer used to be, before I started losing my up close vision. A couple more experimental yawns showed that I could get perfect intermediate vision out of these things.

So yea, this morning, they were pretty good for a while. I think that my eyes are adapting. Things were clear this morning, though distance is still quite unfocused. I can't read street signs that are more than four or five hundred feet away. I put them in around 9:00 this morning. By 2:00 or so, they were getting all blurry again. I used some rewetting drops and things got better for a bit. I also used some saline solution. Again, got better for a bit. But as I type this, everything is really blurry. If I put my progressives on, things get much more clear. So I don't know if this really has to do with a lack of moisture in my eyes.

I think that even if this turns out really well, I'm going to need a bit of a bump on the up close prescription. I'm just not able to see very clearlly when reading. I understand that I might always have a bit of a problem with really small print. But I'm tallking more about regular print, like in books or magazines.

How's it going, usmaak? Day 2 was five months ago, how are you getting on?

BettyBoop · #8 (**permalink**) 11-08-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxyboxer

How's it going, usmaak? Day 2 was five months ago, how are you getting on?

Oh, dear. Another poster who says they're going to try someone's suggestion and report back, and then we never hear back from them again. I wonder how that happens? Doesn't everyone check Lens 101 regularly like I do? If you don't might I suggest it? Check back every two or three days or so and see if your questions have been answered and then see if you can answer someone else's question.

Hogwartz · #9 (**permalink**) 11-22-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyBoop

Check back every two or three days or so and see if your questions have been answered and then see if you can answer someone else's question.

That's a good idea, BettyBoop. Just sign in and click on "User CP" and you'll see all the posts that you've written. Hopefully they'll be part of a back-and-forth dialogue like this.

Foxyboxer · #10 (**permalink**) 12-20-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyBoop

Oh, dear. Another poster who says they're going to try someone's suggestion and report back, and then we never hear back from them again. I wonder how that happens? Doesn't everyone check Lens 101 regularly like I do? If you don't might I suggest it? Check back every two or three days or so and see if your questions have been answered and then see if you can answer someone else's question.

I wish people would follow up better on this site. It seems like it's pretty rare for someone to say "I'll tell you how it works out" and then actually do it. Follow up is very important, friends.

Hogwartz · #11 (**permalink**) 01-05-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxyboxer

I wish people would follow up better on this site. It seems like it's pretty rare for someone to say "I'll tell you how it works out" and then actually do it. Follow up is very important, friends.

I agree. If only there was some way to remind people that they said they'd be back.

BettyBoop · #12 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogwartz

I agree. If only there was some way to remind people that they said they'd be back.

That's a good idea. Maybe the Webmaster can see about sending out emails to people to let them know that someone responded to their posting. Is that something you would like to see here? I have absolutely to power to make that happen, but maybe someone who has the power will see this and respond. What do you think?

CLSC · #13 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyBoop

That's a good idea. Maybe the Webmaster can see about sending out emails to people to let them know that someone responded to their posting. Is that something you would like to see here? I have absolutely to power to make that happen, but maybe someone who has the power will see this and respond. What do you think?

I've been on other forums and they did exactly that. The User had an option to allow Emails to his/her Email if there was a reply to a post. I get Emails, come to think of it. Maybe others just don't subscribe?

(But I would come back to this Forum whether or not I got messages that new posts were up)

ElizabethSydey · #14 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLSC

I've been on other forums and they did exactly that. The User had an option to allow Emails to his/her Email if there was a reply to a post. I get Emails, come to think of it. Maybe others just don't subscribe?

(But I would come back to this Forum whether or not I got messages that new posts were up)

Do you get emails from Lens 101?

I'm glad you like it here. I do too.

Joeyrosschandler · #15 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLSC

(But I would come back to this Forum whether or not I got messages that new posts were up)

Me too. There's always something new on this site when I check in.

Foxyboxer · #16 (**permalink**) 01-27-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLSC

I've been on other forums and they did exactly that. The User had an option to allow Emails to his/her Email if there was a reply to a post. I get Emails, come to think of it. Maybe others just don't subscribe?

(But I would come back to this Forum whether or not I got messages that new posts were up)

How often do you check in here, CLSC? I seem to see your name most of the time when I visit here.

BettyBoop · #17 (**permalink**) 02-08-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLSC

I've been on other forums and they did exactly that. The User had an option to allow Emails to his/her Email if there was a reply to a post. I get Emails, come to think of it. Maybe others just don't subscribe?

(But I would come back to this Forum whether or not I got messages that new posts were up)

I think Lens 101 should do that.