by Ted Sherman

Created on: August 05, 2010

I needed to get used to wearing contact lenses more than 60 years ago. In the late 1940s, I was asked by a student friend at the Philadelphia Eye Institute to volunteer to participate in a contact lens tryout.

I had been near-sighted since early childhood, and was required to wear glasses at all times. I had just completed WWII Navy service, and my poor eyesight had kept me from earning a commission in the Naval Reserve. I was more than happy to try the contact lenses in the hope that my improved eyesight could help in my future plans.

However, when I saw what I was required to wear, I wasn’t quite sure if I’d made the right decision. Those early contact lenses were not the thin little flexible plastic ones that fit over the cornea today. They were rigid plastic fishbowl shapes that covered the entire eyeball.

After several lessons, I was able to fit the contacts in and learn to wear them. At first, it was just for a few minutes. Then, I could wear them for up to four hours, but never much longer. The lenses required saline fluids to keep them comfortable, but after several hours they would become irritating. Of course, I was warned never to go to sleep at night with the lenses still in place.

However, I did find the lenses helpful. My sight was greatly improved better than traditional glasses, which limited clear sight to facing front and fuzzy peripheral vision. With contact lenses, I could see well in all directions. I also had a bit of fun with them when I shocked people by tapping my lens-covered eyeball with a pencil.

Today I wear the more comfortable little flexible plastic lenses. With my long experience, maybe I can offer some advice on how to get used to wearing them.

1. Keep them clean. Remove them and use medicated fluid at least once every 12 hours. Always remember contact lenses are foreign bodies that could irritate your eyes if worn too long.

2. You may sleep while still wearing your contact lenses. However, if you remove them before going to bed, your eyes will get a well-appreciated rest.

3. Check with your opthomologist about the best brand of fluid to use. Some have chemicals and salts in them that could irritate some sensitive eyes. If you use plain water, make sure it is filtered and absolutely without additives.

4. Update the condition of your lenses periodically, and replace them as recommended. Of course, if you feel any irritation and suspect a lens is damaged, replace it immediately.

5. There are so many varieties of contact lenses today, you have many choices. If you if want colored or other fancy designed lenses, check with your doctor before buying any.

Getting used to wearing contact lenses may be a very simple procedure for many people, particularly the very young. Their eyes adapt easily, while older people’s eyes may have trouble accepting the foreign bodies placed on them. However, with continuing improvements in contact lens quality today, nearly everyone can wear them comfortably.

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