nicknack's Full Review: CIBA Vision Focus Monthly Contact Lenses
Before I began to write my opinion on this, I read the only other opinion posted here, written by tiasmom. I had to laugh at myself because our stories are so similar. I too, have been wearing contacts since I was 13 (however, that's a few more than 17 years for me!). I too, get my lenses at Walmart. My vision used to be a -7.00 (like tiasmom) but it has actually improved to a -6.75 now. I started not to write a review, because I felt it would just be a repeat, but I have been wearing FOCUS lenses for 3 years, so I felt I had a little to say about my long-term satisfaction. So, IN ADDITION to everything tiasmom said........
When I first started wearing contacts (MANY years ago). They were the kind that you clean daily, take out daily, enzyme weekly, don't take a nap with them on, buy a new pair every year..... etc. Well, I had a lot of trouble with the cleaners. No matter which cleaner I would use, I would have an allergic reaction to it. (Yes, I rinsed them properly). I had a terrible time wearing the lenses after I cleaned them, so as you can guess, I just quit cleaning them. With a "year-long" lens, you can imagine what it looked like by the time I went in for my next check-up. But after having the doctor carefully clean my lenses while I was in the office and then wearing them for a little while, he too, realized that I was indeed reacting to the cleaners. Although he didn't like it, he didn't argue with me to clean my lenses anymore.
I continued to wear this type of lens for another 10 years. When I moved and switched eye doctors, my new doctor suggested disposables. The thought of disposables was all right with me, but I figured that it was going to be much more expensive in the long run. I had been paying $150 for ONE pair of lenses, now they want to give me lenses that I will have to replace every few weeks??? At that time, 2 week lenses cost about $25 a pair and that just didn't add up for me. The doctors also explained that it would be so much better for my eyes, especially in view of the fact that I don't clean my lenses. At least this way, I would be getting a clean lens every few weeks. So I decided to give it a try.
Well, the hardest thing in all of this was to throw that first pair of lenses away. So, I didn't!!! The doctor had told me that the lenses are made to wear all the time, even overnight. But if I would take mine out at night, it would extend the life of the lenses. So, that's what I had done. So after 2 weeks, I just kept wearing them. I threw them away after about a month. So, by wearing them for a month, I was paying double what I would have for one pair of traditional lenses, but getting the benefit of having a new lens 12 times a year. Plus it was easier to come up with $25 a month, rather than $150 in one wack.
Over the years, I tried several different brands. Prices were beginning to come down and it was actually getting cheaper to wear disposable lenses.
After numerous years of wearing 2 week lenses, I moved again, and this doctor suggested FOCUS 2 month lenses. The lenses are much thicker than the 2 week lenses so they hold up a lot better. They are extremely comfortable. And as tiasmom mentioned, they have a blue tint, so us "blindees" can find them. I also tried the colored FOCUS and was very happy with them, but have gone back to non-colored lenses to save a few more dollars. Again, by not wearing them at night, I could almost double the life of my lenses, getting 3 to 4 months out of one pair.
Two years ago, I was disappointed to learn that FOCUS stopped making the 2 month lens and was now offering a one month lens. I talked to my eye doctor about it, and she told me that it IS THE VERY SAME LENS, only labeled one month instead of 2. So, I continue to wear my one month lens until it begins to bother me, which is an average of 3.5 months. With that, it costs me $30 a year for lenses, because I get a complimentary pair from my doctor when I go for my check up and 3 pair come in a box. (Can't beat that compared to $150 I used to pay).
I have NEVER ripped a disposable lens either, which is a concern for a lot of people that haven't had a disposable lens. They stay right where they are supposed to, in fact, I even swim with mine on.
Everyone is different, you need to pay attention to the needs of your own eyes. A lot of people probably can't extend the life of their lenses, others can. Throw your lenses away when they start to bother you. If that happens in a month, fine. If you get some extra time out of them, GREAT.
Even switching them monthly would only be $120 a year and you have NEW, crystal clean, clear lenses every month. If you've hesitated to get disposable lenses, I highly recommend you give them a try. I certainly haven't been disappointed.
BUY FOCUS MONTHLY VISITINT DISPOSABLE CONTACTS ONLINE Save up to $100 with CIBA Vision contact lens rebates. Focus Visitint Monthly- contact lensesMore at Vision Direct
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