Trying Contacts for the First Time
I remember the day my optometrist delivered the news: I’d need to wear some sort of vision correction all the time.
My heart filled with fear. I didn’t want to wear glasses all the time. I worked out a lot and I didn’t think that glasses would be the best choice for my active life.
But, contact lenses. Yikes. The thought of touching my eyeball panicked me. I didn’t think I could do it. I could never even get eye drops in because my blinking reaction was so strong.
So, I asked my eye doctor for his opinion. His encouragement: try some sample contacts and give it time.
He was right.
As a part of the customer experience for anyone new to contacts, there is a mandatory I&R (insertion and removal) session with the technician. In this I&R, he or she shows you how to put your contacts in and take them out and gives you pointers, and then you get some time to practice on your own.
I’ll be honest, it took me about an hour that first day. I tried over and over again to open my lids and get those lenses in there. I failed again and again until I finally did it. And once I did, it was no big deal. I got comfortable with putting my lenses in, and within a week I could do it on the first try, every time.
Aside from the initial struggle of getting the contact lenses in, there was little adjustment necessary to actually wearing the lenses. It was quite exciting to be able to see the world clearly and vividly without glasses on my face. It was thrilling to be able to jump up and down, run, and spin my head around without worrying about glasses sliding down or falling off. I loved my new lenses.
Finally, it was time for the second greatest challenge: getting the lenses out. This was a little harder than getting them in, initially. The thought of just going right for my eyeball, and grabbing the lens terrified me. But, by the second try, I got it. No problem. And, by the second eye, I realized that the odds of me grabbing so hard I would hurt my eyeball were very slim. There was, once again, nothing to worry about.
If you are thinking about trying contact lenses for the first time but are scared like I was, don’t worry. You will get used to it, and quickly! Talk to your America’s Best optometrist about the type of contact lenses that would be right for you, and ask about trying some samples so you can see for yourself just how easy it is to wear contacts. And when you do finally decide to make the switch to contact lenses, take advantage of your mandatory I&R. Ask any questions you may have. Then enjoy the freedom that comes with contact lenses!
