My glasses are killing me!

Hi there... I am a 20 year old university student and I have a high prescription... although I wear close to the lightest glasses possible (also no nosepiece), my glasses are always seeming to either put too much pressure on my nose or my ear and it's really frustrating me. I can't focus for long before I have to take off my glasses for a break and sigh in frustration. I have gotten my glasses adjusted numerous times, and every time a few hours after getting them adjusted the problem would reemerge. I just want to know if there is any solution to this or will I have to live with it until I get a bit older and go for laser eye surgery?

[kg17]

Have you given contact lenses a good try?

[UniBoy3]

Yeah, and they dry my already dry eyes. But my Dad just offerred to look into contacts for extremely dry eyes... so maybe they'll do some good.

[berrywoo]

First for the dry eyes try over the counter artificial tears. Also, if those aren't helping much, then talk with your doctor about trying Restasis.
Second, what type of frames/lenses do you have? Even with a strong prescription the materials of frames/lenses can be made to be extremely lightweight and durable. So try to find a good lightweight frame and make sure the optician makes the lenses with the lightest weight material possible, a good choice is polycarbonate. It's really durable and can be made to be pretty thin, it's much better than glass. Or if this is too expensive try high index plastic lenses.
Third, if that doesn't work try contact lenses. Daily-disposables while a bit more costly will probably provide you with better comfort and no need for cleaning solutions!

[sophia35]

Hi,

Will try to give useful feedback.

I have myopia with -17 and -22 glasses prescription.I have used rgp contacts for almost 20 years. In most case healthiest option for eyes and better vision but harder to get used to. If you're interested I wrote something about rgp contacts in old post.

My vision with glasses is very inferior to my vision with contacts and I really hope to be able to use contacts  as long as possible.,

Omega 3 helps tear production, I personally take salmon oil capsules.
2 capsules daily = 2 mg oil = total of 600 mg EPA + 360 mg DHA
( each capsule = 1 mg  oil = 300 mg EPA  +180 mg DHA).
Different brands have different concentrations.
Check with doctor before taking and ask for his dosage reccomendation.

Although I have been lucky enough to get along with "normal" RGP´s I am actually
looking into trying RGP's in new  materials which to my frustration optometrists don't usually work with in Portugal where I live ( I am woman over 35 and my eyes seem to be getting dry).

I am waiting for my optometrists feedback on lenses  that can be sent from England namely:

ONSI- 56 = Comfort O2 in England by Lagado Corporation
advertised as worlds first RIGID silicone contact lenses, supposed to give the advantages of rgp lenses and comfort of soft lenses and really low wetting angle. ( the  lower the better).

Optimum Comfort by Contamac, supposedly rgp with material that allows great wettability ( in other words very low wetting angle).

Rgp material is important and although there are other aspects of contact lens materials two stand out for me:

Dk which measures oxygen permeability ( many people stop using lenses at some point because of oxygen deprived corneas) .

Wetting angle already mentioned,lower wetting angle = more wettability, specially important if you have dry eyes.

Regardless of material,it  is also very important to have a competent optometrist which adapts the best lens DESIGN for your eye situation. There are even labs with their own patented designs.

If you want to go with soft lenses users on this forum with dry eye problems have mentioned One Day Acuvue Moist, Think they are traditional soft, not soft silicone ( silicone hydrogel).

Please check this information but I think that basically you've got rgp lenses, traditional soft lenses and the most recent silicone hydrogel lenses which although not as soft as the traditional ones are still comfortable  and allow more wettability and oxygen permeability.

Choosing the right contact lense for a specific situation involves many factors, for example a more comfortable contact lense may not provide the best vision...

Best of luck,
Sophia