I have tried programming with contacts in (usually when my glasses were damaged beyond repair or lost). I can barely work for 6 hours before the contacts dry out, even when using contact lens drops. Does anyone know of tips for finding contacts that are good for computer use?
I sort of had this problem, my tear ducts work for 20% so I have prescription eye drops. That sort of forces me to wet my eyes. The month lenses are not that good for me, the dirt build up is big, and they don't even last a month most of the time.
Best for me is day lenses.
What I did to test out many lenses, is get a real good optician to measure my eyes. Ordered a set of lenses with them, then used the labels to order different brands online.
It was more expensive to measure my eyes there than at some random optician store who do it for free, but it was so much better.
Have you tried different brands? I started out with Bosch and Lomb contacts, which I thought were excellent. Then one year my doctor suggested that I try Biofinity Toric instead, and it was a revelation. Most of the time I can't feel that they're even there. If I forget whether I have them in, I literally have to see if my distance vision is clear to check.
That is not to say that Biofinity is the better choice, but it's worth trying out some different kinds to see if there's one that works better for you.
Same here! I swapped optometrists and my new optometrist recommended me this brand that had EXTREMELY thin lenses. She said that even though they were more fragile, they were better for people who looked at computer screens all day, since we're much less likely to blink, which causes them to dry out. Thinner lenses require much less moisture from your eye to feel comfortable.
You should look at daily disposables and see if those work better. They may be expensive, but since they're good for a day, you wouldn't have to worry about any degradation over days or weeks (like with others). If you're looking for cheaper options on a daily disposable, Daysoft is something you could try. Caveats - comes in a single (physical) size and is not available for astigmatism or presbyopia.
I'd advise strongly against using contacts. Not only for work but like ever. Eye drying seems a simple problem until the unfortunate event of corneal erosion. The risk is higher since you are putting some plastic on top of your eye. If it is dry, it is as bad as any plastic.
With time, you'll damage the surface of your eye to no repair. Read the Internet for some real experiences.
This is overly sensationalistic and seems to be based on a single bad personal experience.
Most people can wear contacts just fine with zero side effects. I've been wearing contacts for more than 20 years. I started with yearly lenses, then monthlies, then dailies, then multi-focal dailies. They've all been superb, and I've never had any issues with dryness. I use contacts from morning to night, only switching to glasses when going to bed.
People are different. I know several people who wear glasses and who say they tried contacts but that it was very uncomfortable due to drying. But I also know many more people who do wear contacts without issues. I know a person who uses "night and day" lenses that you sleep with. I tried this type myself, and every day I woke up with my eyes clogged with mucus. Again, people are different.
A good opthamologist will monitor your vision and look for corneal issues. As one gets older, the risk of corneal detachment increases, but again, it's highly individual.
Maybe, but you can check the Internet about eye dryness. I think there is a lack of stats in this area. The problem is that people react differently. And for some people the damage from dryness is quasi-permanent. So unless there are very established measures/stats, I'd not take risks.
Don't go to the Internet for medical advice. Your opthamologist will determine, based on your experiences, whether contacts are right for you.
The opthamologist will also fit you with the contacts that are right for you. There are tons of different brands and contact lens products. For example, I use Alcon Focus Dailies, and Alcon also launched Focus Dailies Total 1, a more expensive "water gradient" lens that increases breathability and lubrication [1], and for some people who have dryness issues they are much more comfortable. For me, there was zero difference, so I went back to the cheaper kind.
Your comment is a bit like saying that no one should ride bicycles because people with Ménière's fall of their bikes. It's not a proportional response. Plus, you can get training wheels.
Due to some reasons I couldn't use contact lenses in one eye for a couple of months. I switched to using contacts in single eye for that period, as I can't stand glasses for more than one hour due to very high myopia. It turns out, single contact has enough benefits that I didn't switch back to wearing two contact lenses after the issues with the eye went away. Instead I use single contact lens alternating between eyes for the last four years. Some observations:
- The issues with contact lenses became almost nonexistent. I almost never feel dryness in the eyes.
- Perhaps surprisingly, whenever I feel dryness in the eyes, it's always the eye without contact lens.
- It seems that the eyes have much much higher stamina now. They never feel tired regardless of how much I abuse them. I could look into screen all day without breaks and I wouldn't feel any issues as far as eyes are concerned.
- Since I have high myopia, using single contact gives my vision very high dynamic range. The eye without a contact is almost like a microscope.
- The potential wear of the cornea is reduced twice.
I can also attest that the brand of the contacts matters a lot. I remember several brands of contacts being really uncomfortable to use. Currently I wear 'Biofinity XR' if anyone cares. There were several other brands that I liked, but I don't remember them.
Being able to wear contacts is extremely convenient for athletic activity and times when you want to wear standard sunglasses. I personally like a hybrid approach - glasses most of the time but contacts once in awhile. I would guess that wearing contacts occasionally is fine, but feel free to disagree if you do!
Is this just FUD? I've been using contacts and doing coding for over a decade now. I get my annual checkup from the eye doctor. They would know if my eyes were getting damaged, wouldn't they?
Like any intervention to the human body, there are risks. Properly maintained and adjusted, contacts carry very few risks.
Anecdotally, I've yet to find a pair of glasses that lets me function in the world as well as contacts. (My eyesight is poor enough that I cannot see the screen on my phone with both eyes open, as it has to be so close to one eye that it is too far from the other.) Wearing contacts lets me see the entirety of my world, not just the portion within the frame of my glasses.
Do you blink regularly when staring at a screen for long hours? This helps in all situations (no glasses, glasses and especially with contacts where moisture is critical).
The natural blink reflex can be supplemented with an external reminder, similar to alarms that remind you to stand for a few minutes, or focus your eyes at infinity to balance out the close monitor.
I switched from Acuvue 2 to Oasys and it was a huge improvement. I only get dryness when I’ve got a consistent breeze on my face. (NB: I never wear them during sleep. That just seems to me like a fantastic way to get an eye infection.)
I'm in dailies, so I'm kind of a weird case. Makes sense though because I use them predominately for social events and athletics.
The ones that get itchy for me are Acuvue Moist.
A step better is Dailies AquaComfort Plus by Alcon/Novartis.
The really nice ones (comfortable for 12+ hours) are Dailies Total 1 by Alcon/Novartis. My optometrist described them as "the Cadillac of contacts," so I'm guessing they're expensive (I'm still working through my stock of Acuvue contacts).
