The Epic Ongoing Saga of the Contacts

The Epic Ongoing Saga of the Contacts

June 25th, 2010 @ 2:34 pm by Mrs. Earrings
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By contacts, I mean the kind you stick in your eyes. I have worn glasses since I was 13. I hated them then, and the relationship is still an uneasy one now. I have never worn contacts regularly, as my eye problems are not simple (weak optic nerve, no binocular vision, yada yada). However I found out last year that I CAN wear contacts for distance, just not for reading, writing, or anything close up.

Which brings us to how this relates to the wedding. I used to think that there was no question about it—a bride couldn’t wear her glasses on her wedding day, because I had never seen a bride wearing glasses. This is silly of course, and now, thanks to my obsessive wedding blog reading, I see that many brides do choose to wear their glasses and, not only that, but they look good wearing them! There goes that little myth I had constructed for myself.

But, at the same time, when I envision myself on my wedding day (as you do), glasses are not in the picture.

I’m still at that stage in my life where glasses make me feel awkward and self-conscious and not as “pretty” as my naked-faced peers. So, a couple of months ago I traipsed off to my appointment at the optometrist to get fitted for the lenses.

It was traumatic, to say the least. OK seriously, how does anyone handle someone poking their finger in their eye?! There were tears, the optometrist looked concerned and guilty, and it took half an hour to even get one in. Which I did myself because I couldn’t face her fingers anymore.Yes, I know I’m pathetic. Thousands of people wear contacts every day with no nervous breakdown. I wish I was one of them.

But I stuck it out, I paid $300 for the damn things. The optometrist told me the more I practice, the easier it will get. I’m sure she is right, it just takes me a long time to work up the courage to do the practicing. Wearing my glasses looks like an attractive prospect right now… but the fact that I paid for the contacts means I can’t face the thought of “wasting” them. So I will practice. I promise. As soon as… the holidays come ’round maybe… I really will.

In all of this, the fact that one of the hardest parts of this wedding centres on the fact that I’m really bad at using contacts just makes me laugh.

Please tell me I’m not the only one that freaks out over little things like contacts?

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30 Responses to “The Epic Ongoing Saga of the Contacts”

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Member

hilsy85 (message) 3,680 posts, Sugar bee

Totally true–the more you practice, the easier it gets. I was soo nervous the first few times I put mine in. Now, I do it with one hand, and I’m verry comfortable with my eyeball, lol.

6/25/10 @ 2:50 pm (reply)

Member

Miss Pinot Grigio (message) 1,410 posts, Bumble bee

I completely freaked when I tried contacts in high school - it definitely takes some practice and getting used to.

Believe me, if you make yourself do it on a daily basis (and work in extra time in the mornings, until you get the hang of it) - you will definitely get over this little hump. =)

6/25/10 @ 2:52 pm (reply)

Member

Dragonsus (message) 1,194 posts, Bumble bee

Take a deep breath - you are freaking out over something very simple. It does take some practice to get them in right, but once you do it shouldn’t feel like anything is in there. If you can still feel it, there may be something wrong with the contact, not you - if you’re still having trouble you may want to go back to the doc and ask to try another brand that may fit better. Good luck

6/25/10 @ 2:54 pm (reply)

Member

Frugal Bride (message) 244 posts, Helper bee

Well, although I don’t have (too much of) a problem putting contacts in, I am in a similar spot as you with the whole glasses thing! I’ve worn glasses forever, and think I look silly without them. But I’m not a huge fan of the whole glasses+wedding dress+veil look. *Sigh*

6/25/10 @ 2:57 pm (reply)

Member

rachel_leigh (message) 1,106 posts, Bumble bee

Everyone had trouble the first few times, but then it is a piece of cake! Just make sure you look up and off to the side when you put them in. My first doctor never told me to do that and I was trying to put them in with my eyes looking straight on. Big mistake! I almost gave up on them until I figured out that was the problem.

6/25/10 @ 3:00 pm (reply)

Guest

Molly

Oh man, I first got contacts the year I got married and I had a horrible time at first. Definitely look away while putting them in and push in on the center of the contact so that it doesn’t fold over or flatten at the edges. Also make sure your finger isn’t wet with solution as that makes it harder to release onto your eye. Try a couple times and take a break if it’s not working. I found I was trying for long periods of time and my eyes were getting all dried out and irritated (which didn’t help). You will get it to work, it does take time. You are not alone.

6/25/10 @ 3:05 pm (reply)

Member

Knubbsy-Wubbsy (message) 2,395 posts, Buzzing bee

I had such a problem when I first started wearing contacts in middle school. I think the first time it took me an hour and a half to get one in and that’s after several jabs so my eyes were bloodshot and lovely. 8 years later and I still am hopelessly clumsy about putting them in- quick but clumsy.

6/25/10 @ 3:05 pm (reply)

Member

TheFutureMcBride (message) 4,479 posts, Honey bee

Okay, I don’t wear glasses, but I think that glasses are beautiful and sexy, promise! I just think that they can give a flair that non-glasses people can’t have. (Guess it’s my envy what I don’t have thing)

And just so you know, I FREAK OUT when people go near my eyes as I had a 2nd degree laceration to my right eyeball 4 years ago. I had something in my right eye last weekend and McGroom had to get it out. I was screaming and crying. It was terrible, so although I don’t deal with contacts, I understand your pain.

6/25/10 @ 3:16 pm (reply)

Member

soontobemrandmrsfinck (message) 34 posts, Newbee

I actually had a mild “panic attack” over the thought of not being able to wear my glasses on the day of my wedding. My doctor has made contacts out of the question after we found that they were doing MUCH more harm than good. I had never seen a woman choosing to wear her glasses on her wedding day and actually look GOOD doing it… then I hit up google and fell in love with the amazing pictures of beautiful brides who chose NOT to wear contacts on their wedding day and be more of themselves.

I’m totally with you, ma’am!!!

6/25/10 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

10.

Member

camrie (message) 3,044 posts, Sugar bee

I got glasses in 3rd grade.

When I was in Jr. High we moved so before starting a new school my mom took my little brother (1yr younger) and me to get contacts. He got them no prob but I STRUGGLED. However there was NO WAY I was going to start a new school with glasses so I went back a few weeks later and tried again.

For the next year I had to get up early to make sure I had time to put them in but now I can put them in and take them out without looking in a mirror. I’m sooo glad I kept at it because among many other benefits now I can wear cute sunglasses.

6/25/10 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

11.

Member

gill84 (message) 725 posts, Busy bee

Contacts suck. But seriously, your eyes adjust and stop blinking so violently within a few days. Literally. IF you try every day for a week, you will see results. And at first it’ll take a while and your eyes will water and your nose will water and you will sniff. It’s like a right of passage. My sis, bro, and I all got to watch each other go through it when we were teenagers.

You can do it!

(or you can totally wear glasses - but you should have the choice, not just have to resort to it

6/25/10 @ 3:19 pm (reply)

12.

Member

jordynrose (message) 6,351 posts, Bee Keeper

I first got contacts in 8th grade and it was like wearing some sort of Medieval torture device. Now, 12 years later, I still have my days when I can’t even put them on. Practice, practice, practice! Also, make sure to have plenty of eyedrops on hand.

6/25/10 @ 3:22 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

Calendar

it does take a while but you will catch on quickly if you try every day and take your time! i say the #1 key is MAKE SURE YOUR LENSES ARE CLEAN before inserting. even anything like a tiny speck of dirt of a stray eyelash will not only get into your eye, but possibly be trapped between your eyeball and your lense. (insert pain, itching, burning here) after time, you’ll also learn that you’re not actually “poking your eye” every day you are actually just placing a lens atop your eyeball.

6/25/10 @ 3:25 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

When I first starting wearing contacts, it took me about 30 minutes every day to put them in. They rolled up, fell on my finger, didn’t go in right, etc. But really and truly, you will get the hang of it if you keep doing it.

6/25/10 @ 3:44 pm (reply)

15.

Member

roxymarie (message) 201 posts, Helper bee

The first time I tried to put in contacts it took me probably about 2 hours to put them both in, take them out, and put them in again. I definitely struggled and there were tears. But by the end of the week I had no trouble putting them in at all. Its been about 7 years since then and I don’t even think twice about wearing them anymore. So don’t worry, the practice really does make a huge difference, and once you get used to it you’ll have no problem!

6/25/10 @ 4:05 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

leefone

I tried for hours to get them in the first time - and the Dr. had to use numbing drops to get them in. He said it would get easier - and it never did. So I just gave up. It isn’t worth the pain and frustration. I figure my need to wear glasses is just part of who I am. Besides, my F says he thinks glasses are sexy.

6/25/10 @ 5:13 pm (reply)

17.

Member

fancypants (message) 493 posts, Helper bee

I had such a struggle getting used to contacts years ago… they wouldn’t let me take a pair home until I could get them in and out in front of the doctor. What a mess! I had to make multiple trips back to the mall… and this store was in the middle of the mall so shoppers watched me crying, cursing and poking myself in the eye. Eventually I got over the eww gross touching my own eyeball thing and it’s been fine since. I do normally wear glasses since I am lazy and they work better

6/25/10 @ 5:39 pm (reply)

18.

Member

StrawberryBee (message) 149 posts, Blushing bee

I adore my contacts. I’ve had glasses since third grade (ish?). Went to contacts for a while when I hit high school, stopped wearing them, then switched back again about ten years ago. I see better in them than I do in my glasses, though I’m not supposed to because of my astigmatism.

I like to get the contact on my finger, drop three drops of solution into it, then hold my eyelids open and plunk the sucker in. The solution helps coat that first contact with the eyeball. As long as it doesn’t cave in on itself, you’re fine. I find it to be sort of refreshing ^_^;;.

If you can feel the contact in your eye, then it isn’t the right one for you. I went through three brands before I found one I liked. The dr insisted that the second one was fitting perfectly, but it was driving me crazy and I insisted he try something else.

6/25/10 @ 5:49 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

Mrs. Cola (message) 2,868 posts, Sugar bee

I say you go for what makes you comfortable AND pretty on your wedding day! Or maybe do both, wear the contacts for the ceremony, and then put on your glasses for the reception, then you can have pictures with both options. If you wear your glasses mostly, you don’t want to look back at your pictures and not recognize yourself with out them!

P.S. no eye doctor has ever put in a contact for me, and I’ve been wearing them since 8th grade. If anyone even talks to me when I’m trying to put them in or take them out I snap at them, I can’t handle the distraction. I don’t know if they’d work for you, but the long wear contacts are so awesome, you only have to take them out once a week, meaning less eye touching!

6/25/10 @ 6:41 pm (reply)

20.

Bee

Miss Socks (message) 1,323 posts, Bumble bee

It would scare me too, Earrings! I don’t wear glasses or contacts, but Mr. Socks does. Good luck–wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy, but it might be worth giving it a shot! You may end up loving contacts!

6/25/10 @ 7:15 pm (reply)

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