Optometrist for Challenging Contact Lens Fit

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, I’m looking for recommendations for an optometrist in the McLean/Tysons/Falls Church area who specializes in, or has experience with, hard-to-fit contact lenses. I’ve tried contacts a couple of times in the past, most recently a few years ago, but didn’t have much luck. I’d like to give it another shot and would love to hear any recommendations.
Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Anyone? Any recommendations for hard to fit contacts specialists in the area?

[Anonymous]

What exactly is tricky?

[Anonymous]

What do you mean “hard to fit?”

[Anonymous]

It isn't local to your area, but my DH had great success at Bethesda Vision Care. He's extremely nearsighted and has presbyopia. They had lenses in stock that actually worked for him!

[Anonymous]

The most common problem is dry eyes, OP. But that's not a "fit" issue. I've never heard of a fit problem for contacts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most common problem is dry eyes, OP. But that's not a "fit" issue. I've never heard of a fit problem for contacts.

+1. I had this problen with dry eyes (a serious condition) and had to give contacts up. Many years later I'm being treated for keratatosis sicca and meibomian gland dysfunction. I have autologous eye drops made from
my blood every three months (not covered by insurance). If this is you, OP, you need to see an opthmalogist who specializes in dry eye. I go to the UVA dry eye clinic but Johns Hopkins has one.

[Anonymous]

Good luck Op. people who don’t have a constellation of eye problems don’t understand the challenges. Even with multi focal Hi add I don’t get clear vision the way I wish I could. You can’t get this combination and an astigmatism correction with some levels of myopia. I hope you find someone smart with patience who can help you. Sorry, I have no recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Pp again- above was with reference to soft lenses. Hard lenses may be different.
Also, the optometrist and ophthalmologists’ offices call it a “fitting” (as you said) even tho fitting curve of eye is only a part of figuring out what works for you.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

DH had trouble wearing contacts because of scratchy dry feeling. Then he tried dailies, which are apparently thinner and maybe more moist, and they don’t irritate his eyes at all. This may be too simple a solution for OP, but thought it was worth mentioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't local to your area, but my DH had great success at Bethesda Vision Care. He's extremely nearsighted and has presbyopia. They had lenses in stock that actually worked for him!

This place is being propped every time someone is looking for a recommendation. I’ve been there twice and found it terrible. Prescription not well measured, lenses were cut and fit in a way that doesn’t help minimize the thickness (as I found out years later), eye doctor was very condescending.

[Anonymous]

OP, why do they say you are hard to fit? Are your eyes dry? Astigmatism?

My eyes are really dry, which developed in my 30s. I previously only had trouble with my contacts during allergy season, but by my mid 40s I had to stop wearing them altogether. When eyes are dry the contacts can't rotate as they should and even eye drops don't always help, so it is extremely uncomfortable and impairs vision. I also have astigmatism so that can also be a bit tricky. I still can't wear contacts even after using $$$ prescription dry eye treatments.

I've resigned myself to glasses. My Dr said I could choose elective lenses replacement which would help vision and allow me to be rid of glasses even though it won't help the dryness. But I'm not ready for that.