What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Contact Lens and/or Glasses - Need Advice (1 Viewer)

I am curious how much astigmatism there is.  Frankly if it is only a little, then some good multifocal CLs would serve you sooo much better than monovision.  Monovision is no bueno, but for some reason some docs just like to still prescribe it since they don't like to deal with a more complex fit with multifocals.

 
I am curious how much astigmatism there is.  Frankly if it is only a little, then some good multifocal CLs would serve you sooo much better than monovision.  Monovision is no bueno, but for some reason some docs just like to still prescribe it since they don't like to deal with a more complex fit with multifocals.
I don't know how to quantify the astigmatism.  I guess the glasses Rx would have spelled that out?  Regarding monovision, do you know if most patients adjust quickly or does it typically take a while?

I know nothing about multifocals.  I'll google it.  Not sure if the optometrist discussed them or not.  I did express a strong preference for extended wear (yeah, I know), so maybe that kinda ruled out multifocals or something.

 
Nope,  Multifocals have a lot of extended wear options.  If he didn't mention it, then it makes it harder because he probably does not do them, which tells us a few things.

 
Nope,  Multifocals have a lot of extended wear options.  If he didn't mention it, then it makes it harder because he probably does not do them, which tells us a few things.
Well, might tell you a few things but not me.  You saying I should see another optometrist?

 
So, I'm finally biting the bullet and seeing the opthamologist on Friday.

Mid 40's and having trouble seeing things up close and while my arms are still long enough to read and can still utilize the computer with out problem, I notice that I don't enjoy reading or have the same retainment as I used to have. And doing any "fine" work up close is out of the question.

I have no trouble seeing far away stuff, so at least that is a plus

So bottom line I know that I'm going to need to correct my vision. Not a big fan of the "reading" glasses and having to carry them around all the time, and being that i'm outside alot with doing stuff with the kids, I'm not sure that I want an inside pair of glasses, and a pair of subscription sunglasses.

That being said, contacts are an option I would believe, so if I go this route, which are the best and why? Monthly, daily, ????? Which ones???

So what are the pros and cons of glasses, and the pros and cons of the different types of contacts.

Thanks.
If you're looking for something cost-effective, I'd definitely recommend monthly or biweekly lenses over dailies.  You'll probably end up in a multifocal lens and they tend to run a little higher.  Personally I think the Coopervision Biofinity line of lenses is the best on the market, but Acuvue is very good too.  A lot of people like Air Optix Multifocals as well, so your mileage may vary.  If nothing else I'd stay the hell away from anything Bausch & Lomb makes.  If you're made of money you can do daily multi-focal lenses, but a year's worth of those (8 90-packs) would run upwards of $900-1k if you get them in a brick and mortar retail store.

Speaking of that, don't buy your stuff in a brick and mortar retail store.  Once you've paid for the c/l evaluation, had your contact Rx finalized and so forth, I'd take your Rx somewhere online and just purchase there.  Contactlens.com has pretty good prices.

 
Ren Ho3k said:
If you're looking for something cost-effective, I'd definitely recommend monthly or biweekly lenses over dailies.  You'll probably end up in a multifocal lens and they tend to run a little higher.  Personally I think the Coopervision Biofinity line of lenses is the best on the market, but Acuvue is very good too.  A lot of people like Air Optix Multifocals as well, so your mileage may vary.  If nothing else I'd stay the hell away from anything Bausch & Lomb makes.  If you're made of money you can do daily multi-focal lenses, but a year's worth of those (8 90-packs) would run upwards of $900-1k if you get them in a brick and mortar retail store.

Speaking of that, don't buy your stuff in a brick and mortar retail store.  Once you've paid for the c/l evaluation, had your contact Rx finalized and so forth, I'd take your Rx somewhere online and just purchase there.  Contactlens.com has pretty good prices.
Not necessarily at all.  I know that after rebate, my office is almost always cheaper than other places.  You cannot generalize brands as to what they do either.  Lenses work so differently for different people.  Essentially, a lot of bad general advice in your post.  Might be 100% true for you, but bad advice to throw out as fact for the population.

 
VandyMan said:
Well, might tell you a few things but not me.  You saying I should see another optometrist?
Call the office and say it just does not work and you would like to consider multifocal CLs and see what response you get.

 
Call the office and say it just does not work and you would like to consider multifocal CLs and see what response you get.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your input on this.  I'm going to call them.  Is it worth giving it (monovisioin) a few more days to see if I adjust, or is it something where if I haven't "adapted" after 24 hours it probably isn't going to work at all?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your input on this.  I'm going to call them.  Is it worth giving it (monovisioin) a few more days to see if I adjust, or is it something where if I haven't "adapted" after 24 hours it probably isn't going to work at all?
To be fair, it can take a few days, and honestly, when I fit a patient into multifocals, I tell them we will see them in 2 weeks and set up a follow up.  I tell them they might be frustrated the first few days, but I will see them in 2 weeks, because the brain can learn and do so much better.  I am just not a fan of monovision at all.  If something better exists, why not use it?

 
If you are able to get laser eye surgery then do it.  One of the best decisions I've ever made.

 
Ren Ho3k said:
If you're looking for something cost-effective, I'd definitely recommend monthly or biweekly lenses over dailies.  You'll probably end up in a multifocal lens and they tend to run a little higher.  Personally I think the Coopervision Biofinity line of lenses is the best on the market, but Acuvue is very good too.  A lot of people like Air Optix Multifocals as well, so your mileage may vary.  If nothing else I'd stay the hell away from anything Bausch & Lomb makes.  If you're made of money you can do daily multi-focal lenses, but a year's worth of those (8 90-packs) would run upwards of $900-1k if you get them in a brick and mortar retail store.

Speaking of that, don't buy your stuff in a brick and mortar retail store.  Once you've paid for the c/l evaluation, had your contact Rx finalized and so forth, I'd take your Rx somewhere online and just purchase there.  Contactlens.com has pretty good prices.
I'm not broke but 900/yr is more than I'd want to spend on contacts.

As for where to buy them, I do compare prices (including the local place) but they haven't been anywhere close to the prices online, at least not on the Air Optix Night & Day I've used forever.  It looks like I'll be moving to different lenses now, so prices may be more competitive.  We'll see.  My priority right now is just finding lenses that work.

 
Anyone know the cost difference between "regular" daily wear contacts and ones you can sleep in? My teenager constantly falls asleep on the couch with his contacts on.  :rant:

 
Anyone know the cost difference between "regular" daily wear contacts and ones you can sleep in? My teenager constantly falls asleep on the couch with his contacts on.  :rant:
Its not much difference over the course of a year in price.  I tried the weeklies and didn't like the feel as much.  They are thicker or something, hard to describe the feeling.

 I sleep in my dailies all the time and haven't had any issues over the last 5 years.  And by all the time I mean every night.  I try to change my dailies at least every couple days just cause they start to get foggy after two or three days of continuous wear but I haven't had any eye health issues from it.

 
Anyone know the cost difference between "regular" daily wear contacts and ones you can sleep in? My teenager constantly falls asleep on the couch with his contacts on.  :rant:
Generally, the extended wear CLs like Air Optix Night & Day and such are about $60/box and there is a great rebate right now for $60.  Order at the right place and you even get 2 free pair of Rx colored lenses. 

 
:blackdot:

And a big thank you to mad cow for all of the advice in this thread. I'm 43 and a contact wearer since I was 12 or 13 (first rigid gas permeable and then eventually switching over to soft 2 week) and going through the same aging issues as a lot of others here. I've been meaning to get to the eye doc for a bit and was just about to schedule a visit. It's really helpful to know more about my options before going in.

I don't like the idea of monovision at all. The thought of it reminds me of those days at school when I had lost a contact (only had one pair of RGP contacts at a time) and had to exist with only one in for a few days.  It worked and everything, but the first day would be a headache and looking down at the floor while walking would make me seriously dizzy. I'm sure it wouldn't be that extreme, but still. 

Reading a menu tonight was harder than it should have been. I swear they turn the lights down lower in restaurants these days (maybe I should start going to dinner early!)  and my kids talk quieter and make me ask them to repeat themselves all the time and damnit, I wish those people would get off my lawn. 

 
Update:  day 3 of the monovision experiment.  Still kinda sucks.  Most things are ok, not terrible, but reading a computer is awful.  This is obviously a compromise kinda solution, but the gain (ability to read tiny print without reading glasses) seems almost negligible compared to the constant frustration of diminished mid-range and long-range vision.  I'm giving it the old college try, but pretty sure next week I'll be switching to standard (distance) contacts and will just get some damned reading glasses for the rare situations where I need them.  Or I might get a monocle.  I could probably tote that in my wallet.

ETA:  @Mad Cow I didn't forget your suggestion of multi-focals.  I'm going to discuss it with them when I go for my follow-up.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Anyone know where I can find some Daily lenses that are 8.7-14.2 -3.25 0.00 0 online?  Finding the the 8.7 seems to be my issue.  My eyes dry out and I find thinner is better.  Don't want any of those lambskin lenses if you know what I mean.  TIA. @Mad Cow

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Anyone know where I can find some Daily lenses that are 8.7-14.2 -3.25 0.00 0 online?  Finding the the 8.7 seems to be my issue.  My eyes dry out and I find thinner is better.  Don't want any of those lambskin lenses if you know what I mean.  TIA. @Mad Cow
Have you tried eyeconic.com?

 
Update:  day 3 of the monovision experiment.  Still kinda sucks.  Most things are ok, not terrible, but reading a computer is awful.  This is obviously a compromise kinda solution, but the gain (ability to read tiny print without reading glasses) seems almost negligible compared to the constant frustration of diminished mid-range and long-range vision.  I'm giving it the old college try, but pretty sure next week I'll be switching to standard (distance) contacts and will just get some damned reading glasses for the rare situations where I need them.  Or I might get a monocle.  I could probably tote that in my wallet.

ETA:  @Mad Cow I didn't forget your suggestion of multi-focals.  I'm going to discuss it with them when I go for my follow-up.
I have been doing multi-focals for about three years (been wearing contacts for decades and used readers for about 5 years).  I was wearing B&L that were suppose to last two weeks but I was only getting a week out of them.   My eyes were getting dry and I switched to dailies.  Currently using Accuvue Moist. They work great. But it may take several modifications of the prescription to get it right. It does take a little getting use to, but you are fighting that battle right now with the mono-vision process.  Currently at -3.25 and -2.50 with "hi-add" (for reading) in both of them. Usually they will only put the "hi-add" on the eye focused on reading/near vision. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Anyone know where I can find some Daily lenses that are 8.7-14.2 -3.25 0.00 0 online?  Finding the the 8.7 seems to be my issue.  My eyes dry out and I find thinner is better.  Don't want any of those lambskin lenses if you know what I mean.  TIA. @Mad Cow
An 8.7 base curve is standard and will likely have nothing to do with your comfort except in certain rarer circumstances.  Your prescription should have a specified brand, which is what your Rx is good for.  Different brands are not interchangeable, and there is a pretty big difference between them.  If your current brand is drying out, I would talk to your optometrist about trying different brands.  I am pretty flexible in trying a few to several until we find the right lens for my patients.

 
An 8.7 base curve is standard and will likely have nothing to do with your comfort except in certain rarer circumstances.  Your prescription should have a specified brand, which is what your Rx is good for.  Different brands are not interchangeable, and there is a pretty big difference between them.  If your current brand is drying out, I would talk to your optometrist about trying different brands.  I am pretty flexible in trying a few to several until we find the right lens for my patients.
It said Dailies on it.  Is that a brand?

 
Remember the optometrist is working for you. You should not have any reservations about going in and telling him/her you want to consider multi-focals over monovision...and going in multiple times modifying brands or tweaking the prescription. Your prescription may or may not change each year.

I think the Focus Daileys brand may be one of the more expensive. You probably can use FSA/HSA account to pay for contacts with pre-tax $. 

Astigmatism can be tricky. Contacts specifically for astigmatism have moderate success. Sometimes they can increase your power a little to compensate. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Update:  day 3 of the monovision experiment.  Still kinda sucks.  Most things are ok, not terrible, but reading a computer is awful.  This is obviously a compromise kinda solution, but the gain (ability to read tiny print without reading glasses) seems almost negligible compared to the constant frustration of diminished mid-range and long-range vision.  I'm giving it the old college try, but pretty sure next week I'll be switching to standard (distance) contacts and will just get some damned reading glasses for the rare situations where I need them.  Or I might get a monocle.  I could probably tote that in my wallet.

ETA:  @Mad Cow I didn't forget your suggestion of multi-focals.  I'm going to discuss it with them when I go for my follow-up.
I have been doing multi-focals for about three years (been wearing contacts for decades and used readers for about 5 years).  I was wearing B&L that were suppose to last two weeks but I was only getting a week out of them.   My eyes were getting dry and I switched to dailies.  Currently using Accuvue Moist. They work great. But it may take several modifications of the prescription to get it right. It does take a little getting use to, but you are fighting that battle right now with the mono-vision process.  Currently at -3.25 and -2.50 with "hi-add" (for reading) in both of them. Usually they will only put the "hi-add" on the eye focused on reading/near vision. 
Not  sure you noticed my post was from 2016. No biggie. IIRC, at that time, there were no extended wear multi-focals. I wear the ones that you can sleep in up to 30 days, so switching to something I have to take out every night would kinda suck for me. But I'm using reading glasses a LOT now and that sucks, too.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Not  sure you noticed my post was from 2016. No biggie. IIRC, at that time, there were no extended wear multi-focals. I wear the ones that you can sleep in up to 30 days, so switching to dailies would kinda suck for me. But I'm using reading glasses a LOT now and that sucks, too.
Yes but there has been several other more recent posts looking for options. Just included your post as background for others. Probably should not have quoted your post. 

 
Yes but there has been several other more recent posts looking for options. Just included your post as background for others. Probably should not have quoted your post. 
No problem, and I'm actually glad you did. Google tells me there are some extended wear multi-focals now.

 
On the subject of spectacles, any opinions on the Transitions (or other brands) lenses? Anyone have a version they like?

Everyone I've seen with them seem to take a while to change so the guys are walking around indoors with half sunglasses but as a glasses wearer I'd rather not buy two pairs if there's something out there that will work as sunglasses.

 
On the subject of spectacles, any opinions on the Transitions (or other brands) lenses? Anyone have a version they like?

Everyone I've seen with them seem to take a while to change so the guys are walking around indoors with half sunglasses but as a glasses wearer I'd rather not buy two pairs if there's something out there that will work as sunglasses.
I used to have a nice pair of glasses with transitions, and they worked great outdoors, but I couldn't deal with the 7-9 minute phase where you look like you're wearing sunglasses indoors.  Ever since I just keep two pairs of glasses, one for daily wear and the other for sun/outdoors.  I have a nice pair of glasses with high index lenses and blue light filter, and a pair of rx sunglasses with a pretty cool orange mirror tint.  🤓

If you're a boomer and don't care so much about aesthetics you can get the little sunglass clipons from vision centers for like $15.  They also sell glasses with a little premade magnetic clip to fit the frame- just be mindful not to lose the clip!  

 
On the subject of spectacles, any opinions on the Transitions (or other brands) lenses? Anyone have a version they like?

Everyone I've seen with them seem to take a while to change so the guys are walking around indoors with half sunglasses but as a glasses wearer I'd rather not buy two pairs if there's something out there that will work as sunglasses.
I have Transitions lenses.  It is true they take several minutes to revert to regular glasses after coming in out of the sun.  But what I don't like even more than that is the level of darkening I get from Transitions.  They look dark enough to look at them, but when I put them on, I hardly get any darkening effect compared to my Maui Jim prescription sunglasses.  

 
I used to have a nice pair of glasses with transitions, and they worked great outdoors, but I couldn't deal with the 7-9 minute phase where you look like you're wearing sunglasses indoors.  Ever since I just keep two pairs of glasses, one for daily wear and the other for sun/outdoors.  I have a nice pair of glasses with high index lenses and blue light filter, and a pair of rx sunglasses with a pretty cool orange mirror tint.  🤓

If you're a boomer and don't care so much about aesthetics you can get the little sunglass clipons from vision centers for like $15.  They also sell glasses with a little premade magnetic clip to fit the frame- just be mindful not to lose the clip!  
I had the glasses that came with magnetic sunglass overlay but you're still basically carrying around two pairs of glasses.

Appreciate the feedback on transitions. Confirms what I am seeing out there.

 
Remember the optometrist is working for you. You should not have any reservations about going in and telling him/her you want to consider multi-focals over monovision...and going in multiple times modifying brands or tweaking the prescription. Your prescription may or may not change each year.

I think the Focus Daileys brand may be one of the more expensive. You probably can use FSA/HSA account to pay for contacts with pre-tax $. 

Astigmatism can be tricky. Contacts specifically for astigmatism have moderate success. Sometimes they can increase your power a little to compensate. 
Focus Dailies are actually older and on the lesser spectrum of cost.  But they do not have rebates going, so using the newer would actually be cheaper.

 
I had the glasses that came with magnetic sunglass overlay but you're still basically carrying around two pairs of glasses.

Appreciate the feedback on transitions. Confirms what I am seeing out there.
I have transitions on maybe half of my 20 pair of Rx glasses.  I like them for what they offer, though for driving and most other things that will be dedicated outside time, I use either Rx or non-Rx polarized glasses.  They just help so much more.

As for transitions, the brand itself is very nice.  Zeiss has their own variety called PhotoFusion which I also like.  THey have a cool blue color.

 
Mad Cow - what is your recommendation for contacts - with sensitive, dry eyes, astigmatism, bi-focals ...but mostly 20/350 near-sighted.  

I wore contacts for years and about 8 years ago, I lost one (semi-permable) and it took awhile to get a replacement.  When I started wearing them again ...they were just too uncomfortable ...had a lot of red in the whites of eyes, etc.

Since then, my eye doctor has tried several types but none have been comfortable enough.  Any thoughts?  TIA

 
Mad Cow said:
Focus Dailies are actually older and on the lesser spectrum of cost.  But they do not have rebates going, so using the newer would actually be cheaper.
Thx.  I qualified it with “may be more expensive” because that is what my eye doctor advised me.   I noticed that they had a lot of tv ads the last year, so figured someone had to pay for the ads.

 
Mad Cow - what is your recommendation for contacts - with sensitive, dry eyes, astigmatism, bi-focals ...but mostly 20/350 near-sighted.  

I wore contacts for years and about 8 years ago, I lost one (semi-permable) and it took awhile to get a replacement.  When I started wearing them again ...they were just too uncomfortable ...had a lot of red in the whites of eyes, etc.

Since then, my eye doctor has tried several types but none have been comfortable enough.  Any thoughts?  TIA
That's a hard question.  First there aren't really any good multifocal CLs with astigmatism correction.   You essentially are left with monovision, or one eye for distance and one for near.  Comfort is really subjective,  since one lens might be great for one person that had dry eyes and another might hate it.  What have you tried?

 
That's a hard question.  First there aren't really any good multifocal CLs with astigmatism correction.   You essentially are left with monovision, or one eye for distance and one for near.  Comfort is really subjective,  since one lens might be great for one person that had dry eyes and another might hate it.  What have you tried?
Most recently the Jupiter lenses.  My eye doctor has had a lot of patients use them with great success ...but they adhered to eyes and I had a helluva a time getting them off.  Not even with a plunger.  Pretty scary.  So I'm not going there anymore. 

I would want to use the contacts for my near-sightedness and glasses for reading during the day so I wouldn't have one for distance and one for near.  I want to be able to comfortably play golf in them ...and drive.  Does that sound reasonable?  I just don't know.  

 
Most recently the Jupiter lenses.  My eye doctor has had a lot of patients use them with great success ...but they adhered to eyes and I had a helluva a time getting them off.  Not even with a plunger.  Pretty scary.  So I'm not going there anymore. 

I would want to use the contacts for my near-sightedness and glasses for reading during the day so I wouldn't have one for distance and one for near.  I want to be able to comfortably play golf in them ...and drive.  Does that sound reasonable?  I just don't know.  
Sure there are.  I use a lot of the Biofinity Toric and more and more of the B&L Ultra for Astigmatism.  How high is your Rx?

 
No, sorry.  That is visual acuity, or a measure of how badly you see.  I would like to see the prescription, or lens powers.
I called and since I hadn't had a prescription for contacts since 2013, they wouldn't give me anything.  I have an appointment this coming week ...any particular type/brand I ought to be suggesting to try?  

- astigmatism

- very near-sighted with some far-sightedness, wore bi-focal contacts but willing to go with a total focus on fixing the astigmatism and near-sightedness and use readers when needed

- want soft lens ...last time I tried semi-permeable my eyes were just too dry

 
I called and since I hadn't had a prescription for contacts since 2013, they wouldn't give me anything.  I have an appointment this coming week ...any particular type/brand I ought to be suggesting to try?  

- astigmatism

- very near-sighted with some far-sightedness, wore bi-focal contacts but willing to go with a total focus on fixing the astigmatism and near-sightedness and use readers when needed

- want soft lens ...last time I tried semi-permeable my eyes were just too dry
So much depends on the shape of the eye and other things,  but two brands I really like are Biofinity Toric and Ultra for Astigmatism.   How old are you?

 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top