Contact Lens for really strong prescription

[Anonymous]

-11.5 here, slight astigmatism. I wear precision 1 dailies which are very comfortable. The astigmatism isn’t corrected, though. Still better than heavy glasses.

[Anonymous]

Nice to hear from others. I have a -9 and-6.5. I can't wear my dailies all day anymore and just wear glasses except for the random date night with my wife when I want to feel young again. And even then I need to use Oasys drops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice to hear from others. I have a -9 and-6.5. I can't wear my dailies all day anymore and just wear glasses except for the random date night with my wife when I want to feel young again. And even then I need to use Oasys drops.

This is close to me. -9.5 and -8.5.

I was quite happy in contacts until early 40s when my eye dr. did a new test to show me my meibomian glands and said mine were almost gone. She was totally alarmed.

Anyway, it's been years, I was freaked out but now I have realized this is very common as we age and just have a regimen to hopefully prevent dry eye as long as possible. It means I only wear my dailys for special occasions, like once a month or so, and I do hot compresses every night to stimulate those glands, as well as blinking exercises during the day and yearly lipiflow (which is an expensive pain, but I've read it can rejuvenate glands).

No symptoms of dry eye but she scared me off contacts. I'm pretty happy in my glasses - I pay a lot to get the thinner lenses + all the bells and whistles (blue light and UV protection etc.).

So far I haven't needed much in the help of reading, just last year got very mild progressive lenses in my glasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice to hear from others. I have a -9 and-6.5. I can't wear my dailies all day anymore and just wear glasses except for the random date night with my wife when I want to feel young again. And even then I need to use Oasys drops.

This is close to me. -9.5 and -8.5.

I was quite happy in contacts until early 40s when my eye dr. did a new test to show me my meibomian glands and said mine were almost gone. She was totally alarmed.

Anyway, it's been years, I was freaked out but now I have realized this is very common as we age and just have a regimen to hopefully prevent dry eye as long as possible. It means I only wear my dailys for special occasions, like once a month or so, and I do hot compresses every night to stimulate those glands, as well as blinking exercises during the day and yearly lipiflow (which is an expensive pain, but I've read it can rejuvenate glands).

No symptoms of dry eye but she scared me off contacts. I'm pretty happy in my glasses - I pay a lot to get the thinner lenses + all the bells and whistles (blue light and UV protection etc.).

So far I haven't needed much in the help of reading, just last year got very mild progressive lenses in my glasses.

That’s interesting about the dry eyes. -16 here. Mine got so bad post Covid. My contacts were unbearable. I have glasses I wear at home and do compresses, but not nearly enough.

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize how fortunate I was until reading this thread.

At 53, I wear gas perm lenses 16 hrs a day, everyday. My eyes actually feel better once I put them in my eyes in the mornings than they do before I put them in. I constantly have my reading glasses around or on my head. That's annoying. I just really dread glasses, so I'm holding off as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize how fortunate I was until reading this thread.

At 53, I wear gas perm lenses 16 hrs a day, everyday. My eyes actually feel better once I put them in my eyes in the mornings than they do before I put them in. I constantly have my reading glasses around or on my head. That's annoying. I just really dread glasses, so I'm holding off as long as possible.

I would be careful. I'm the PP above with no symptoms of dry eyes but disappearing glands and the alarmed doctor. Your eyes need oxygen. It's great that you find contacts comfortable (I do too) but you could still be damaging your eyes and leading to dry eye problems later. I would give your eyes a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize how fortunate I was until reading this thread.

At 53, I wear gas perm lenses 16 hrs a day, everyday. My eyes actually feel better once I put them in my eyes in the mornings than they do before I put them in. I constantly have my reading glasses around or on my head. That's annoying. I just really dread glasses, so I'm holding off as long as possible.

I would be careful. I'm the PP above with no symptoms of dry eyes but disappearing glands and the alarmed doctor. Your eyes need oxygen. It's great that you find contacts comfortable (I do too) but you could still be damaging your eyes and leading to dry eye problems later. I would give your eyes a break.

RGPs cover a much smaller part of the eyeball than soft lenses. So RGPs, by design, allow much more oxygen on the eye.

[Anonymous]

I’m a -9.5 with a pretty bad astigmatism as well. I tried the cooper vision contact but did not feel they were as comfortable as the Air Optix. I can wear them about 16 hours a day with no problem.

[Anonymous]

Just wanna say I love this thread. I have -8 and people can never believe how blind I am, but I’m glad there are other people like me out there!

I switch to some dailies recently but I’m not in love with them. I feel like it’s hit or miss sometimes I take them out of the package and they feel like they have something in them.

I also struggle with dry eye and it turns out my eyes don’t close all the way when I sleep. I love Systane drops but I cannot get it used to the gels like Genteal which is what my doctor wants me to use. They just feel so goopie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had -9 astigmastism over 15 years ago. I had the thickest glasses ever, even after thinning it out. They had contact lens for that. I'm sure they have better ones now.

Yes, there are a couple contact options with astigmatism options that go that high now. I recommended Dr. Teser above - she's very on top of that and every time a new one comes out, she has ready for me to try!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize how fortunate I was until reading this thread.

At 53, I wear gas perm lenses 16 hrs a day, everyday. My eyes actually feel better once I put them in my eyes in the mornings than they do before I put them in. I constantly have my reading glasses around or on my head. That's annoying. I just really dread glasses, so I'm holding off as long as possible.

I would be careful. I'm the PP above with no symptoms of dry eyes but disappearing glands and the alarmed doctor. Your eyes need oxygen. It's great that you find contacts comfortable (I do too) but you could still be damaging your eyes and leading to dry eye problems later. I would give your eyes a break.

RGPs cover a much smaller part of the eyeball than soft lenses. So RGPs, by design, allow much more oxygen on the eye.

True. I just think that people forget that contact lenses are medical devices. We use them all the time for years so they just seem like every day items. And most are safe - as someone who has worn contacts for 30+ years I'm thankful for them and think they are miraculous! But people don't always treat them like medical devices, and I do think if you are wearing them for decade after decade, you should think about taking breaks etc.

Even with RGPs, your eyes aren't getting as much oxygen as someone who doesn't wear contacts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I’ve found my tribe! I wear soft lenses and my vision just isn’t clear. Even with soft lenses, I have terrible dry eye. I have to wear readers on top of my contacts. I hate my glasses because even with the titanium frames and the lightweight lenses, they are still so heavy.

At my last appt, I asked about lens replacement. I’m not there yet but I’m starting to do the research.

Have you tried Acuvue Oasys dailies? Best contact lenses for dry eyes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Btw Dr. Vu-Gia is a Caucasian woman. I didn't expect that. I thought she was Asian.

Many many years ago I used to see Dr. Vu-Gia and loved her. At some point, I think Northern Virginia Drs of Ophthamology stopped taking my (or any?) vision insurance so I switched to her husband who is also Dr. Vu-Gia at Oakton eyecare (He's Asian FWIW). Looks like they take VSP again so maybe I'll switch back... Oakton Eyecare is now becoming part of Myeyedr which i'm not crazy about.

[Anonymous]

I have a high prescription and I see Dr. Tommie Lee whose office is on G Street in DC. He is very careful about explaining the risks that accompany extreme nearsightedness, as well as checking for allergies and eye health. He will also let you try different brands/types of lenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I’ve found my tribe! I wear soft lenses and my vision just isn’t clear. Even with soft lenses, I have terrible dry eye. I have to wear readers on top of my contacts. I hate my glasses because even with the titanium frames and the lightweight lenses, they are still so heavy.

At my last appt, I asked about lens replacement. I’m not there yet but I’m starting to do the research.

Have you tried Acuvue Oasys dailies? Best contact lenses for dry eyes!

I use Acuvue Oasys dailies when there is tons of pollen in the air here. They're great.