Contacts for Teens

[livinitup]

My 13 year old girl was absolutely crushed that she could not get the contact our of her eye. I mean crushed. The optometrist had to do it and in 13 year old fashion, she is DONE, done, done. That is fine with me (I don't wear glasses) but she was SO EXCITED to get contacts and really, really wanted contacts for sports and school. (The optometrist was very sweet and friendly - we can go back any time.)

My H wears glasses and when he tried for contacts could not touch his eye, so he wrote-off contacts. Its been 25 years for him. I grew-up with a sister who wore contacts every day and can pretty much change her contacts while driving during a hurricane. It takes guts and practice to do it, but can that be learned??

It's so sad to see my young teen want something so badly and then have her dreams crushed. Is there anything she can do other than give up?

[smock]

It definitely takes practice! I got contacts as an older teen and I had a total fear of touching my eye. I got over that pretty fast because I really prefer contacts.

If your daughter changes her mind, definitely encourage her to keep practicing and trying. It really helped me to realize that you aren't supposed to actually touch your eye, you're only touching the contact lens. And it's easier to pop them out if you use two fingers really close together and very gently pinch the lens, if that makes sense. Maybe she could make an appointment with the optometrist and just practice taking them in and out in the office?

[madringal]

Just practice, practice, practice. My first day having them I had a sleep over at my cousins and I couldn't get them out and was legit freaking out. My mom had to drive over and help me. But, in 1993 having glasses AND braces was pretty dorky so I fought through it until I figured it out.

[megkat]

Honestly, (IMO) contacts are just one of those things that has to be practiced and practiced. I got my first set when I was 15- for the first few weeks, I set my alarm for an hour ahead of when I needed to get up, because that was how long it took for me to get them in. Now, I can put them in/take them out in less than 30 seconds

There are some tips you can find online (make sure you’re holding back your eyelashes, look up and then down into the contact, blink them into place) but I really think it’s just a matter of practice makes perfect

And as someone who has TERRIBLE vision and has worn glasses since she was 8, having my contacts for sports, etc was a TOTAL game changer

[tacokick]

I got (hard) contacts at age 11 which is a little different but what worked best was trying them on at home when I wasn’t doing anything (after school, before homework or dinner) then leaving them in for like 10-20 minutes then taking them out. Then I repeated it the next day and then by like day 5 I was ready to wear them all day at school.

[Patsy Baloney]

The other thing - I think new contacts are too slippery! When I crack open a new pair, I know I’ll have about a week of feeling like I cannot get the damn thing in and out of my eye because it’s too floppy and slick. When the contact gets a little older, I think it gets a little bit easier to handle. I don’t know what happens - it gets thicker? Dryer? (But not uncomfortable)

Just got to keep at it!

[jinkies]

I got contacts at 12. I definitely remember standing in front of the bathroom mirror for like an hour, crying, trying to get them in/out. It took a ton of practice for the first couple weeks. Even after I got the hang of it, I would say it was several months where I could definitely do it, but I had to plan on it taking about 20 minutes.

I can put them in without a mirror in about 5 seconds now. It can definitely be learned if she sticks with it. Just like every skill in life, it takes practice.

[Roc A Bee]

It takes practice and I feel like you have to take a break. If I can’t get it out, and my eye gets all red and angry, I have to stop and take a break.

I’ve had contacts since Freshman year, and I can do it without even looking now.

[cattledogkisses]

It really does take practice.

That said, I've found some brands are easier to put in and take out than others. Even as a seasoned contacts wearer I struggled a little with Acuvue Oasys when I tried them, and ended up switching back to my trusty Bausch & Lomb Softlenses because of it. Those seem to be slightly more rigid so I find they're easier to pop out.

[cmeon]

You don't give up after one shot! They're so much better than glasses once you're used to them. DS started wearing them at 10yo, DD tried for 15 minutes, and decided she'd try again next year (January ish). Everything in your body screams to not touch yourself in the eye- it's a lot to overcome, if you think about it! But, it is beatable!

ETA: DS had to go back to the office three times before he could get them in and out of his eye (which was what our office wants to see before they send them into the wild). He was determined, because he was a soccer forward and his glasses were increasingly annoying during games.

[RoxMonster]

I got contacts at 14 and will repeat what everyone said. Practice practice practice! It would take me a good half hour just to get both contacts in when I first started. I got them over the summer, so I was not in a rush to get to school in the AM and I also only wore them for like half a day/a few hours when I first started and gradually worked up to wearing them all day.

I really learned just by doing it myself over and over again at home. I did not leave the eye doctor's office really able to do it on my own confidently at all. It just takes time.

[blondemoment123]

I was 14 when I got contacts. My mom was really mean about it and the optometrist made her leave the office.

Once she left and I could relax, I got it right away.

Maybe this should go in the grudge thread lol.

[wanderingback]

I got contacts at 9 or 10 because I played sports.
It definitely just takes practice. I'm sure there has to be some tutorials on you tube, maybe that'll make her feel more comfortable about it. Hopefully she's willing to give them another try if that's what she wants. 

[purplepenguin7]

I agree with practice for sure. A few other things, having short nails really helped me with getting them in and out. Also, I would try getting her dailies just in case she drops or rips one. I had ones that were supposed to last months when I was a teen and my mom would get so mad if something happened to them because they were expensive. I got lasik several years ago so I don’t know what the recommendation is any more but I would look into dailies if they weren’t given to her already.

[janegold]

I first got contacts around the same age and it took me at least an hour or two of practice before i got them in the first time. I’m not sure I ever really learned how to take them out properly - the optometrist who fitted me showed me how to kind of squeeze them out and that’s how I still do it over 20 years later.

That’s all to say that she should keep practicing! It’s just a mind over matter thing and your brain finally stops freaking out. This is how it is for everyone.

[pearls]

I mostly lurk...But had a similar experience of really wanting them and then not getting it immediately. I have been wearing contacts since I was 9. I begged my parents to get them. I agree with the other posters, I would encourage her to practice before giving up, in my experience it comes with time.
My mom helped me get up early to practice the first week, and said not to think too much about touching my eye because I was actually touching the contact. She reiterated if I wanted to do it I'd be patient with myself (I'm not!) to learn to put them in and the steps to take care of them. After trial and error in the morning and some days at night, by the end of the week I had figured the best way for me to put them in (I like to hold back my top eyelid (but not the bottom) and look down, inserting with my dominant hand)).
Some days even now my eyes just aren't into it and I forgo contacts because I cannot get them in for whatever reason, or they burn, or itch. They aren't a sure thing for me every day, so if she experiences that as well, I wouldn't necessarily be concerned and just have her see how the next time goes. Good luck!

[luckystar2]

What was her problem? Was she freaked out about touching her eye? Just couldn’t get a good grip? There are definitely some tips and tricks out there. So Id suggest looking some stuff up - but as others have said, short nails help for sure, having the right pinching technique, and just certain contacts are easier than others. If she’s freaked out about it - as others have said you aren’t touching your eye so maybe reiterating that will help.

I got contacts at 12. For me it came naturally and I sound like your sister. But it certainly has gotten easier with practice. I really think as long as it’s not a straight up Phobia of touching the eye that most people can learn with practice. Wearing contacts was life changing and I cannot imagine having to wear glasses for the last 28 years! I hope she can just regroup and go in knowing it will take some practice and not get discouraged.

[lolalolalola]

My 14 yo DD couldn’t get it out at her training. She went back 2 weeks later and was fine. I’d just encourage her to go back.

[luckystar2]

Sept 15, 2020 16:56:52 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

It really does take practice.

That said, I've found some brands are easier to put in and take out than others. Even as a seasoned contacts wearer I struggled a little with Acuvue Oasys when I tried them, and ended up switching back to my trusty Bausch & Lomb Softlenses because of it. Those seem to be slightly more rigid so I find they're easier to pop out.

Omg I hated Oasys for a bunch of reasons. But even as a seasoned contact wearer I struggled even getting them out of the package. They were so slippery and thin.

I agree that maybe she could look at testing out different brands. I’ve found oasys and any dailies to be really thin and are a little more challenging.

[minzy]

I too would encourage her to try again. I started with hard contacts at 14 and switched to soft at 26. After I finally got the first hard contact in, I got lightheaded and nauseous, and had to lay down for awhile before trying the other. They gave me a little tiny plunger which I could use if they ever got stuck. I don’t know if those are an option for soft lenses, but you could ask. If a hard one ever got dislodged or even had a speck of dirt under it, the discomfort was excruciating (a problem I have never once had with soft lenses).

Contacts have been life changing for me so I would highly recommend she keep trying. Could she try gently squeezing a piece of Saran Wrap off an egg or something...?

[ewall]

I got contacts when I was 12 and remember going through the same thing. It was very emotional! As others have said, practice and practice some more. I think it took me at least 2 weeks? I'm sorry she's struggling with them.

[NomadicMama]

Practice, practice, practice!!!

And make sure whatever she uses to dry her hands when she is handling her contacts is lint-free. When I got contacts in 8th grade, I tried to use tissues…and the lint was all over my hands then the contacts. It was awful. Lint free!!!!

[yaga]

I got glasses at 16 and contacts around 20 because I started needing them for more than just driving and seeing things very far away. I've always had long nails, so taking them out with two hands (pointer finger of each hand, held parallel to my face to pinch them out) is the only way I know how to remove them. The person at the eye doctor definitely thought it was weird, but I was like, lady I'm not sticking nails in my eyes. I guess she figured I could get them out, so it was fine.