[Clough]

Hi, All!

Okay. Like so many other people I'm a contact lens wearer and sufferer.

I'm sure that we all have stories to tell about how we've lost them, damaged them, worn them for too long, etc.

I know that I have mine, and would like to share them.

What are some of yours, please? The results of and solutions to the problems would also be good to share! :)

Thanks!

[twinkiedooter]

I wore soft lenses for years 24/7. Then one day I opened my eyes in the morning and it felt like razor blades in my eyes each time I opened and closed my eyes. Went to my eye doctor and was told that I have GPC and that I needed to take out my lenses and leave them out for a few days and try wearing a new set. He also gave me an eye solution to help clear up the GPC problem.

After a few days I put the new set in. In less than one hour I was in excruciating pain just like before. Went back to eye doctor. Was told that I could try again in a week or more or just give up wearing the lenses altogether and save myself a lot of needless headaches. On a scale of 1 to 4 I had GPC at 3 which means that I probably can never wear contact lenses again.

Well, that was about 24 years ago and I haven't bothered since trying to see if I could wear them again or not. I've just given up and wear my glasses now.

Was thinking about having Lasix done but it's so expensive and risky that I'm going to stick with the old glasses for now.

[Clough]

What's GPC, please?

Thanks!

[J_9]

Here you go

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) - Eye Clinic Of Racine - Racine, Wisconsin (WI)

[twinkiedooter]

Thanks J_9. It's actually on the inside of the eyelids and not on the eye itself. It is not contagious though.

[Clough]

Thanks for the link, J_9!

One time, I actually had a hard contact lens fly out of one of my eyes as I was playing the organ for church! I'm pretty sure that it fell into the pedal keyboard.

I never did find the contact lens, though.

[Alty]

Never wore contacts, I couldn't get them in my eye. I have issues with anything touching my eyeball.

I went for laser surgery instead. Talk about touching the eyeball, they actually burned it. I was a nervous wreck even after taking two Ativan.

It was 5 days of pure hell where I wanted to gouge my eyes out, but after that 20/20 vision.

It was worth it. :)

[Clough]

I actually had a needle stuck into the iris of my eye by the optometrist to remove a piece of metal that had gotten lodged into it. I think that having a hard contact in that eye might have prevented metal from getting into the pupil of my eye.

I was was grinding brass handbell parts at the time in order to make repairs to them. Of course, being me, the way that I was then, I wasn't wearing any goggles!

[KISS]

I wore hard lenses. Soft were MUCH more expensive at the time. I was in my teens and had the helm of my father's friend's 30' boat in a canal.

Interesting trip. Saw a dead body on the side of the canal. Navigated under a twin span suspension bridge. It was more impressive going under than over that particular bridge and I lost my contact looking through a pair of binoculars.

When we got to the shipyard, I went into the bilge and found it on the ledge at the side of the bottom of the boat.

[Clough]

Did you clean it up and continue to use it, KISS?

[KISS]

Yep.

BTW: A friend had a metal splinter into the white of his eye when using a milling machine/

[JudyKayTee]

Never wore contacts, I couldn't get them in my eye. I have issues with anything touching my eyeball.

I went for laser surgery instead. Talk about touching the eyeball, they actually burned it. I was a nervous wreck even after taking two Ativan.

It was 5 days of pure hell where I wanted to gouge my eyes out, but after that 20/20 vision.

It was worth it. :)

Laser or lasik? Or are they the same. I'm considering lasik.

[Alty]

Laser or lasik? Or are they the same. I'm considering lasik.

It's sort of the same thing. I couldn't get lasik, I had to get the PRK.

Hubby got the lasik. It's a much nicer procedure. Lasik is where they actually cut a flap, correct it, and then put the flap back. After the procedure you go home, sleep, and wake up with perfect vision, no pain.

PRK is where they actually burn the cornea. Afterwards you'll need to wear protective contacts and your vision will be very unclear for at least 5 days. It's also very painful (not the procedure itself, but the healing). There's also more of a risk of halos with PRK.

Both surgeries use a laser, but the procedures themselves are very different.

Trust me, I would have much preferred the lasik, but it wasn't an option for me. I did get lucky though. Perfect vision, no halos, 20/20. The five days after were pure hell, but so worth it.

If you do get it you probably won't know whether you qualify for lasik until right before the surgery. They do all the tests then put the info into the computer. Because the info isn't put in until right before the surgery, you may be told 5 minutes before you go in that you can't get the lasik. That's what happened to me.

I really would go for it Judy. It's not cheap, but the money you save on glasses and being free of glasses and contacts, it's so worth it. You will need to wear sunglasses for 6 months afterwards no matter which procedure you get. Small price to pay for perfect vision. :)

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Oh Alty, I'm so sorry your experience wasn't too great. Glad the results were worth it. Want to hear a little secret? Part of the blurry vision is because that "eyepatch lens" they give you after surgery has a slight prescription in it. It's to keep the eye strong and working during your healing process. Shhh, don't tell anyone. Hehe. And might I add, you should wear sunglasses outside ALL THE TIME. Especially if you have had surgery on your eyes (any surgery). Sorry 'bout the lecture. :)

[Clough]

Do you wear contact lenses, Momma?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Yeah, I've worn contacts for 14 years and glasses for 18 years.

[Clough]

Any horror stories having to do with you and contact lenses, Momma?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Just one... I got my lenses melted to my eyes from standing too close to a camp fire a few years ago. Other than that, no. I was an Optician for 5 years so I was taught to care for them very well.

[albear]

Not really had a problem with lenses, I only wear them rarely in cases where it would be unwise to wear my glasses e.g. airsofting or paitballing

Only times when I have had a problem is when its been my fault and I've either worn one inside out or left them in for too long and my eyes start to ache. Other than that thought I've not really had a problem, and since in the summer months I'm affected badly by hayfever the lenses lessen that because the pollen can't get to my eyes as such :D so the benefits outweigh the downsides for me

[Clough]

Yep.

BTW: A friend had a metal splinter into the white of his eye when using a milling machine/

How big was the splinter and how did they get it out, KISS?