Air Optix Aqua Multifocal and Eye Strain

Snowflake · #1 (**permalink**) 04-22-2011, 02:23 PM

Sometimes when a person is nearsighted and they try to read or use the computer with their glasses on, it feels uncomfortable and strains their eyes. Does this happen to you, even with your multifocal contact lenses?

tadurkee · #2 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 09:49 PM

Yep, especially when I'm on the computer more than a couple hours my eyes get red and dried out. I have to keep the rewetting drops handy or simply take the lenses out and move the monitor closer to my face.

Ordersixtysix · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

Yep, especially when I'm on the computer more than a couple hours my eyes get red and dried out. I have to keep the rewetting drops handy or simply take the lenses out and move the monitor closer to my face.

What kind of wetting drops do you use, tadurkee?

Xwing · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

Yep, especially when I'm on the computer more than a couple hours my eyes get red and dried out. I have to keep the rewetting drops handy or simply take the lenses out and move the monitor closer to my face.

Your eyes may be feeling red and dried out because people have a tendency to forget to blink when they're staring at a computer monitor--or so I'm told. Try this: every few minutes peel your eyes off the computer screen and look at something several feet away. Look for about 30-60 seconds, being sure to blink as you do so. Try that and see if maybe you can use fewer eye drops.

tadurkee · #5 (**permalink**) 09-23-2011, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ordersixtysix

What kind of wetting drops do you use, tadurkee?

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I don't check these forums very often. Right now I'm using Opti-free and B&L Renew, but somtimes I'll just buy whatever is cheapest. I don't think there's really much difference.

Garfield21 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I don't check these forums very often. Right now I'm using Opti-free and B&L Renew, but somtimes I'll just buy whatever is cheapest. I don't think there's really much difference.

I was curious about your statement that you "don't think there's very much difference" between regular eye drops and special "computer" eye drops, so I did a little comparison.

I found four different brands of eye drops to compare:

Opcon-A Eye Drop (regular eye drop) active ingredient: Naphazoline HCl (0.02675%), Pheniramine maleate (0.315%)

Bausch & Lomb Advanced Eye Relief-Dry Eye (regular eye drop): Naphazoline HCl (0.02675%) Pheniramine maleate (0.315%)

Allergan Refresh Plus Lubricant Eye Drops (regular eye drop): Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium (0.5%)

Now, let's see if an eye drop specially designed for computer users has the same active ingredient as any of the "regular" brands above:

Bausch & Lomb Computer Eye Drops: Lubricant-Glycerin (1.0%). Preserved with Benzalkonium Chloride (0.01%). Also Contains: Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Borate, Boric Acid, Edetate Disodium.

So the main ingredient in the Computer Eye Drops is glycerin, which is a fairly common moisturizer found in hand cream, shaving cream and soap.

So if I'm reading this information properly, Computer Eye Drops have glycerin as the main ingredient, which is a simple lubricant, while the others are medicated. (Except maybe the Allergen Refresh drops?)

So doesn't it seem logical that if your eyes aren't red or sore, they're just dry from staring at the computer screen, all you need is a non-medicated lubricant such as glycerin?

tadurkee · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2011, 05:18 PM

Never seen or heard of "computer eye drops" in my locale (West Michigan, USA), and I shop at a variety of stores that carry rewetting drops for contacts. What country do you live in? Sorry Garfield21, but I think you are way over analyzing the OP's question.

Ynot · #8 (**permalink**) 09-27-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

Never seen or heard of "computer eye drops" in my locale (West Michigan, USA), and I shop at a variety of stores that carry rewetting drops for contacts. What country do you live in? Sorry Garfield21, but I think you are way over analyzing the OP's question.

Personally, I don't think Garfield21 was "over analyzing" the question. I'm kind of analytical anyway. I'm glad he or she listed the active ingredients of the different eye drops. I'd be upset if I bought some "special computer eye drops" and found out they were the same as "regular" eye drops for half the price. It looks like Garfield21 took a lot of time to look all that up and then copy it here. I appreciate all that effort and agree with his/her conclusion.

akaivyleaf · #9 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 02:16 PM

Hi, this is my first post, and this is my 3rd day EVER wearing contacts. I was prescribed the Air Optix Aqua Multifocal - I think. I have to go back in about a week for my followup and final determination. I would like to wear them continuously for 16-18 hours which is my normal work day (sad I know). My eyes seem dry now, my right eye feels as if there is an eyelash in it yesterday and today so I'm interested in drops now. Is there a certain brand I can use with the contacts in or do I have to take them out first?

Is there a difference between rewetting drops and the brand I was recommended - Systane Contacts Lubricant Eyedrops, which doesnt appear to have glycerin.

I think I can make it the distance during the day if I can just get my right eye to feel "normal".

tadurkee · #10 (**permalink**) 11-12-2011, 06:52 PM

I've been wearing these lenses for just over a year. Unfortunately (for me anyway, hopefully others will chime in with other suggestions), but I have a similar schedule in which I need to wear contacts for anywhere from 16-20 hours a day. The only acceptable (but expensive) method I have found that works is to wear one pair for 8-10 hours then switch to a different set. Yes, I have 2 sets I rotate back and forth each day so that means I am using twice as many many contacts during the 30 days, but that's the only way I can make it work. I hate glasses, in fact my eye doc remarked during my last exam (about a month ago) that I do indeed get better vision with contacts than with glasses. And there have been times when I can't get a full 30 days use out of a pair, more like 25. So I know I'm spending quite a bit on contacts (with no insurance so everything is out-of-pocket), but it's been worth it to get decent vsion without the blurriness, dryness and "gritty" feeling (like you mentioned felt like an eyelash) which I too would be experiencing after about 10 hours in the same pair. And yes, Systane is good albeit expensive. I would try a variety of drops and just see which one you like better. It's all trial and error with theses contacts. Good luck and let us know how things go.

MopJockey · #11 (**permalink**) 11-14-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

I've been wearing these lenses for just over a year. Unfortunately (for me anyway, hopefully others will chime in with other suggestions), but I have a similar schedule in which I need to wear contacts for anywhere from 16-20 hours a day. The only acceptable (but expensive) method I have found that works is to wear one pair for 8-10 hours then switch to a different set. Yes, I have 2 sets I rotate back and forth each day so that means I am using twice as many contacts during the 30 days, but that's the only way I can make it work.

That's a very interesting technique, tadurkee. I've never heard of someone to wear two pairs of contact lenses during the course of a day. You're right, it does sound expensive. Have you tried some different brands to see if any of them can get you through a full shift at work?

tadurkee · #12 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 01:54 AM

Yes have tried several brands. I do need the multifocals and Air Optix has given me the best overall vision. In the past, Accuvue Oasys was great for wearing up to 16 hours or more, but their mutlifocal version did not work for me. Believe me, I really tried to make them work because the comfort level with those lenses is the absolute best I've ever had. And with 36 years of contact wearing experience, I've worn so many brands and types I've lost count. Unfortunately, it's not shift work that keeps me awake for 16-20 hours a day. I'm on-call 24/7 so have to be ready to put in a pair of contacts at a moments notice. But there are times when I am actually working longer than 24 hours straight so it's a necessity that I have fresh lenses available.

akaivyleaf · #13 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 06:08 AM

That is my deal too... On call 24/7 on some occasions. I might need to be in them for long periods of time, as well as have to put them in with short notice. I like the two pair idea, but as I am in the trial phase only have one to work with. I was in them yesterday for 14 hours, and sitting here at this moment don't really look forward to putting the, back in for such a long period today.

Hypnoteyes · #14 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaivyleaf

That is my deal too... On call 24/7 on some occasions. I might need to be in them for long periods of time, as well as have to put them in with short notice. I like the two pair idea, but as I am in the trial phase only have one to work with. I was in them yesterday for 14 hours, and sitting here at this moment don't really look forward to putting them back in for such a long period today.

Wow, you're on call for whole week sometimes, day and night? Do you have trouble getting them in your eyes? Could you possibly sleep in them so you don't have to keep putting them in?

akaivyleaf · #15 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 06:26 PM

This is just my 6th day wearing contacts, and so far I have had substantial downtime from wearing them, in that I have been able to sleep through the night and go back to my glasses. For instance yesteryear day I put them in/on at 6:00am and was able to remove them at 9:00pm and went back to my glasses until 1:00am. Unfortunately I was out of the door, with contacts on at 6:00am and I am still going. I like though the idea of having another pair to switch to rather than putting on my glasses. If I was to get up in the middle of the night, I think, since I am a newbie to contacts, I would just go back to glasses. I want my eyes to rest at least 6-8hours from them and isn't that the proper soak time for the lenses?

tadurkee · #16 (**permalink**) 11-15-2011, 07:20 PM

Most cleaning solutions are 6 hours, however there is a newer one called "Biotrue" by Bausch+Lomb that only requires a 4 hour soak time. But if you are switching between 2 pairs, and are wearing one pair for 8 or 10 or however many hours, then your other pair will have been soaking already for that same amount of time. Today, for example, I woke up at 7AM and put on a pair that had been soaking since yesterday afternoon. Normally I do not sleep in my lenses, although I have been known to occasionally fall asleep on the couch with my lenses in for a few hours. (Yeah, being on call 24/7 will do that!) But anyway, back to today. For some reason, by 1PM my lenses were already feeling dry, so I took them out, squirted a drop of "Clear Eyes" (I also use Systane, mostly at night) in each eye, waited a couple minutes, then put in my other pair, which had been soaking since 3AM. I don't think you will hurt or otherwise damage your eyes from continuous wearing of contacts. As long as they have been properly cleaned and you aren't trying to get more than 30 days use out of them, you shouldn't have a problem.

OV-102 · #17 (**permalink**) 11-16-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

I don't think you will hurt or otherwise damage your eyes from continuous wearing of contacts. As long as they have been properly cleaned and you aren't trying to get more than 30 days use out of them, you shouldn't have a problem.

I hope that's true, tadurkey.
Have you asked your eye doctor how he or she feels about your wearing contact lenses around the clock, even if it's not just one pair? Some people can't wear their contact lenses all day and all night. I just want to remind everyone here on Lens 101 to check with your eye doctor before changing your wearing schedule.

tadurkee · #18 (**permalink**) 11-16-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OV-102

I hope that's true, tadurkey.
Have you asked your eye doctor how he or she feels about your wearing contact lenses around the clock, even if it's not just one pair? Some people can't wear their contact lenses all day and all night. I just want to remind everyone here on Lens 101 to check with your eye doctor before changing your wearing schedule.

Good advice, and I was simply giving my opinion based on 36 years of contacts experience. (I don't think my eye doc was even born yet when I started wearing them in 1975!)

LittleElvis · #19 (**permalink**) 11-17-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

Good advice, and I was simply giving my opinion based on 36 years of contacts experience. (I don't think my eye doc was even born yet when I started wearing them in 1975!)

Isn't that strange when you start to notice how young doctors and other professionals are? How about all those children playing sports on TV? Some of my favorite childhood baseball players are announcers and managers now.

Garfield21 · #20 (**permalink**) 11-23-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadurkee

Good advice, and I was simply giving my opinion based on 36 years of contacts experience. (I don't think my eye doc was even born yet when I started wearing them in 1975!)

I would think that experience overrides education in this situation, as it does in many. However, I hope that when I say that it doesn't cause readers to go out and try some crazy experiments for the sake of "experience."

Xwing · #21 (**permalink**) 12-01-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garfield21

I would think that experience overrides education in this situation, as it does in many. However, I hope that when I say that it doesn't cause readers to go out and try some crazy experiments for the sake of "experience."

Hey, hey, what's the helmet for?