Y'all, I need advice and some courageous vibes!! I have no problems standing on an alter or stage and speaking to a crowded audience. I love roller coasters. Hold newborns and change diapers like a pro. Quite comfortable talking to strangers and stopping 15 times to ask for directions. I don't understand why people squirm at the notion of going out to eat and see a movie solo. It's not like you talk to anyone in the movie theater. But .... fear not friends .... I too have "my thing."
I hate eyes. I so badly want to get contacts so that I am able to do things like jog and see at the same time. Fancy, I know! But I can't even look at a graphic of an eyeball, let alone watch you put your contacts in. And do it myself, forgetaboutit! But today, I took the plunge. I prayed the entire car ride for courage and will-power. Got through the puffy eye exam OK but when it came to learning to use the contact lenses.... Let's just say I have appointment #2 tomorrow! I was a nervous wreck. And let me tell you what does not help me to be less nervous. Telling me to "just get over it" does not miraculously solve my problem. It only serves to annoy and embarrass me, furthering my nervous situation.
So if any of you have been in my situation, had a completely irrational (hey, I can admit it!) fear of touching your eye but did it anyway, how did you do it? Help!! I really really want to conquer this dumb fear. But I might need a Valium or two to make it happen at this point!
25 comments:
I know where you are coming from. Trust me, trust me, trust me you WILL get the hang of it. It took me 2 hours at the doctor's office to get them in for the first time b/c I was completely freaked out by the whole thing. It does get easier every day. The first 2 or 3 days it took me 30-45 minutes to get in the pair. By the end of the first month wearing them it was like I had been using them forever. I am being completely honest. I can now put them in in less than 10 seconds. I know it sounds hard to believe, but it you do not give up you will love it. 2 hours to get them in on day 1, and 10 seconds by day 30. Swear to God.
You can do it!!! I had that same fear and was late in the game in getting contacts. It took me a couple of weeks to get the hang of it...trust me, you can do it!!!
I have no advice for you because I never had a problem with that, but there is an episode of Friends where Rachel can't even put eyedrops in. So apparently you are not alone!
If it helps, you never really actually touch your eye with your finger. It's the lens that kinda just attaches to it when you get close enough.
good luck!
I was nervous too! You just need practice! After a bit, you'll get your own trick to it and it'll be old news. Or you can get lasik? One surgery and no more eye issues! I want it so badly!
I've worn contacts since 7th grade, so my days of eye issues are long gone, but let me tell you I was so much like you when I first started with contacts. And back then I wore HARD contacts so not only did I have to put them in my eye, it hurt like h*ll. I'm not sure how your Dr. is telling you to put them in, but I have to look in the mirror and do it. My husband somehow learned to put his in without a mirror. Also, the "reaching in" and squishing it together to get it out....no way. I slide it down off my eye with my finger and then take it out. It will get easier and better, but I sooooo feel for you. Good luck!
My experience with contacts was not unlike yours. I tried them in college and just couldn't do it. Then about the time I was getting married I tried again. The first time I put them in was rough, and it took a week to get used to wearing them. I have been wearing them for 10 yrs now and glad I do.
The trick I found is to not focus on your eye when putting them in. Stare at yourself in the mirror, and with the left hand hold open your lid,both top and bottom and with your right hand, contact on index finger put it in your eye, but don't look at the finger with the contact just look at the mirror. It will take a little while to get used to them, but once you do you won't look back. CeCe is right!
Just take a deep breath, don't think "ewww I'm touching my eyeball". As Lisagh said, you aren't actually touching your eyeball. You get the lens close enough and it just jumps on by itself! Just think of that "wow, look...it's going to jump on...now!" Exhale and you're done. To remove it's like pinching a little plastic wrap and ta-da! It's off. It's so worth it. You can see the world more clearly with contacts. Enjoy them. I miss them. I now have "old lady" eyes and contacts have not yet been perfected well enough for me to see clearly through them via...cough-cough...tri-focal lenses. Ugh! Putting in contacts...way easier than turning fifty! :)
I think you should give yourself a LOT of credit for trying today. That already shows that you've got courage. You didn't HAVE to go today. And you certainly didn't have to schedule another appointment for tomorrow. I think you are far braver than you realize. If it's something that has bothered you for a while, it's not going to just disappear overnight. Just keep trying. You're doing good girl!!! I'll say a little prayer for you too!
I totally understand! I want contacts so bad, but because I can NOT touch my eyeballs *shudders* I will have to stick with squinting. :( Good luck--you'll do fine!
I've given you an award :)
It will be okay, it will take some getting used to but it WILL be okay in the end! I don't have to use contacts luckily but I once bought some "creepy" contacts for halloween and had THE hardest and scariest time getting them in- alone with no one who knew how to put them in nonetheless! But I got through it! And so can you. =]
It gets easier, I promise! It used to take me hours to put them in and I even threw up the first few times, but now I can pop them in no problem without a mirror or anything. Just keep practicing!
Although OI do not actually have a fear of eyes, I do know what it is like to get used to contacts. I actually started out wearing hard plastic contacts and they were miserable. It took be about thrity to forty five minutes to put them in and I was always SO scared since it was so incredibly painful. However, practice does make perfect and this is such a great way to overcome your fear. Your contacts will be easy as cam be and not at all painful, so you have nothing painful to fear! I will be thinking anf praying for you, best of luck today.
I have no advice, because I've never worn contacts or glasses, but good luck!
My mom has the same fear! We all wear contacts/glasses in my family. (DAd had lasik in Dec '07, but still wears reading glasses-he had bifocul contcts, and then bifocual glasses...yea he has bad eyes!) I've been wearing contacts since I was in 5th grade (got glasses in 3rd). It is weird at first, but you DO get used to it! Just always have clean hands...I can change my contacts (which I need to do soon hah!) without a mirror!
Just be grateful you have the ability to wear contacts! my bf, bless his heart, he had a tiny tumor on the back of his cornea removed last summer. now he has to wear a hard contact (it's miserable, don't try them) and has awful night vision because of it. he is unable to have lasik and has seen 3 doctors to see if he can have the surgery where they implant a contact behind your lens (it's removable, so not permanent). and he isn't eligible for that either! So basically, he's one-eyed pirate (totally wore a patch for 3 months).
Just remember, it could be worse! You will love contacts when you get used to them because you actually have peripheral vision! GOOD LUCK!!
Good luck! I know how you feel, right around the time I was going to try contacts I found out I have an eye condition that will become worse if I wear them: so I got to chicken out on the contacts!
I know exactly what you're talking about. It's almost a phobia with me. I can't even put drops in my eyes! So, sorry I can't help you. All I can do is tell you I understand. completely.
You can do it! I started wearing glasses at age 4, contacts at 13 and then had Lasik performed 3 years ago, and am SOOO thankful! Contacts are hard at first, my Mom used to help me...deep breaths and think about all the fun things you want to do without your glasses and it will be worth it!
Have a good week,
Diane
That is so great that you had the courage to try! I got contacts in seventh grade and it is scary and tough at first, but you'll get the hang of it. I put my contact in my hand, cover it with lots of solution, put it on my finger, right hand, and holding my eye open with my left hand i stare into the mirror as i put it on my eye. It doesn't hurt, it actually just feels like something cool and wet and it attaches to your eye right away. I think it's the buildup and anxiety that makes it stressful thinking about it. Practice lots! I hope this helps. Sending lots of courage your way!
I think you've gotten great advice. Something that helped me with contacts when I first got them in 7th grade was to actually try to touch the edges of my eye itself without freaking out or flinching.
I can't give you any advice because I don't need contacts or glasses, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. It seems like everyone struggles with it at first.
Good luck!
Nothing wrong with a little medication...
This is a tough one...but you will get it.
I have never needed contacts but for me it was eye drops...Ugghhhhh!!
I had to use these eye drops for a month once when I had an infection and I struggled with putting them in, I just couldn't keep my eye open long enough...but through trial and error I eventually did it!!! Yay! And you will too...
Hey take that valium if you need the first time or two. :)
I was the same way! I couldn't even have eye drops in my eyes without getting all creeped out and blinking an insane amount. Eventually your brain adjusts and your reaction to always blink stops. Good luck!
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