My DH recently went in for his eye exam, and opted to get contacts. He already has glasses, but rarely wears them because he likes to wear his sunglasses. So, he gets the exam and the sample contacts. The contacts were killing him. He called and the office was quite rude and acted as if they didn't want to deal with the problem. DH said it felt like as soon as the insurance payment was posted to the DR, they dumped him and moved onto the next patient.
So, after a few days of bugging the office, they order him a different brand. The right one feels fine, but the left one hurts him still. He has an astigmatism in the left eye. He's been talking to guys at work, and they are telling him that the contacts shouldn't be hurting at all by now. DH wears them for about 4 hours a day, then takes them out because of the irritation to that one eye.
For those here that wear contacts, what was your experience when you first got your lenses? Were they irritating?
We understand that it takes awhile to get used to them, but find it odd that one feels completely fine and the other is still causing trouble. The eye doctor is basically brushing it off saying that it takes awhile to get used to them.
DH stopped by another eye doctor's office last Wednesday. They tried calling the original doctor to have his records transferred over, but the other office was already on Thanksgiving vacation. The new office said that there are a ton of different lenses to try.

Any experiences?

By Heaventree on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 02:45 pm:

Was he prescribed Toric lenses? These types of lenses are usually prescribed for astigmatism depending on the severity. It can take up to a week to get used to them, but I totally agree, go and see a new doc, one that is willing to work with you. The lenses are probably irritating because they are moving around on they eye. You should also check the solution and make sure that it is Themirsal (sp?) free as this can be an irritatant as well. I had to try many, many different kinds until I found the one that I could tolerate and then when I ordered my next pair they didn't work anymore. I want to go for laser eye surgery as soon as we can afford it.

By Cocoabutter on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 03:08 pm:

I agree with Heaventree. Has it been more than a week since he first got his contacts?

The only thing with going to a second doctor is that insurance will most likely not pay for more than one eye exam or doctor consultation per year. But, if insurance isn't an issue, by all means, find someone who is willing to listen and work with him. It would seem that, if this first doctor is serious about good business practices, he would make sure that he had the proper fit.

I have had contacts since I was 14, back before 2-week disposable lenses. I remember that they were very irritating at first (made me feel like I HAD to rub my eyes) but that feeling went away after a while, maybe 2 weeks. But, back then, lenses were much thicker.

The first thing I would do is check to make sure that the lens that is still irritating him doesn't have any rips or cracks in it, which can scratch the surface of his eye.

The next thing I would say would be to start out gradually wearing them only 4 hours a day (which is what I did when I first started wearing them) for about 2-3 days, then try working up to a full day (8-12 hours.) He shouldn't be in a hurry to wear them full time, as his eyes are not used to them.

If this doesn't work, I would go back and ask the doctor (probably the second one) for help. If the first doctor isn't willing to forward his records, get a second exam, if you can swing it financially. My best guess is that the eye that is still irritating him may be shaped differently, and may need yet another type of lens.

Good luck!

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 03:19 pm:

They shouldn't be irritating his eyes. I agree, make sure there isn't anything on the contact. Even the tiniest scratch or tear will cause pain. Also, make sure the contact isn't inside out. That will cause irritation. Turn it the other way and have him put it in, he'll be able to tell if it is right or not. The doctor should definitely be working with him to get him comfortable.

By Missbookworm on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 03:27 pm:

I have an astigmatism and I got contacts and within 2 days of getting them I was able to wear them all day with no irritation. I'll look up what kind I have and let you know. I agree with cocoa butter on what to try, also if he has put the lens in the "wrong way" that can cause irritation.

I agree if you can see a different doctor who is willing to work with you. My partner got contacts for the first time from my contact specialist and loves them. It took him a while to get used to putting them in, but once he got used to that he was fine.

Good luck!

By Colette on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 03:30 pm:

The dr sounds like a jerk. They should be working with him to help him. I have been wearing contacts since I was 13 and never had a problem - unless there was a small rip or it was inside out.

By Cat on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 03:55 pm:

I'd switch docs. There may be a problem with the contacts, but the doctor should be helping, not blowing him off. My eye doctor's office is great. If we have a problem they get us in right away. If the contacts aren't comfortable they should help your dh. Only being able to wear them 4 hours a day isn't right after this long. And if he has an astigmatism he may need the toric lenses (I did--my son's is so slight he didn't). Good luck.

By Breann on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 04:24 pm:

Thanks for the responses. I've been telling him that doctor #1 is being unreasonable. When the contacts first came in and DH stopped by the office to put them in, he was struggling and couldn't figure out how to get it in properly. The doctor was irritated that he needed help, walked over, put it in, then walked away without saying a word.

I will have him check and see about the toric lenses. I'm not sure what he has. I'll also ask him about it being inside out.

It's been about 3 weeks since he got them.

By Cocoabutter on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 04:31 pm:

At the doctor office where I first got my lenses, there was a female staff member whose job it was to train new lens wearers on how to put them in and take them out, how to store them, and how to clean them. That lady wasn't in the day I went in to get my contacts, so the doctor tried to fill in for her, and he just wasn't as good at it as she was, so after about a half-hour, we gave up and he rescheduled me to come in when she was there. He got a little flustered, but he knew that it was his job to teach me how to do it for myself, and when he couldn't, he didn't just send me on my way with my lenses not knowing what the heck I was doing.

Sounds like the doctor is a jerk. Sorry your dh had to go through that.

By Breann on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 08:14 pm:

Cocoabutter, having someone actually show him how to put them in would have been great. Even when the DR put them in for him, he didn't talk him through it or anything.

I think that "jerk" is a great way to explain this guy, lol.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 08:44 pm:

They should always give him trials of different types of lenses. After over 10 years of contact wear, I've FINALLY found that Optix 2 are best for me. I would DEFINITELY take the script, see another doc, and get a proper fitting. There is no reason they should be uncomfortable, and there are so many brands, he will find the right ones. A good example is my color contacts are a lot thinner than my regular ones, and they are uncomfortable for long wear because of my astigmatism. I only wear them for special occasions because of that.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 10:25 pm:

DH has contacts. I've never heard him complain about something like that, and when he has had a problem with his lenses, they always work him in, to get it taken care of. There is no excuse for customer-no-service!