Bausch + Lomb and Lomb Soflens 66 Toric Contact Lenses

I just had my yearly eye exam and my poor left eye is taking a beating. I rarely wear my contacts and the astigmatism in that eye is getting worse. I was told that I absolutely have to wear contacts or glasses for close things like computer work or risk eyestrain, headaches, dizziness, and more.

I previously reviewed Wesley Jessen Durasoft 2 Optifit Toric Opaques Contact Lens and still like them. But I needed a daily wear clear lens that would last all day without making my eyes dry or irritated. I have allergies so I have to be even more careful about what goes into my eyes.

I can't wear glasses with the level of astigmatism I have. I can't get used to the weird feeling I get when I wear them. I feel 15 feet tall and I often misstep and look foolish. Because I don't need correction all the time, I just can't get past the hurdle of wearing glasses some of the time.

So…the answer was daily wear contact lenses.

My eye doctor recommended Bausch & Lomb Soflens 66 Torics for me. Previously, I had worn Acuvue clear toric lenses.

The doctor said these lenses were much thinner and had a higher water content than my old lenses and shouldn't cause the irritation that the others did. He said they would allow me to have the full level of astigmatism without the weird acid trip affects like with glasses.

I got my lenses five days ago.

I love them.

I have read varying reviews about these lenses and was somewhat hesitant to try them but I am glad I did. For me, they are the answer I have been searching for.

What is Astigmatism?

Basically, astigmatism means that the cornea is oval like a football instead of round like a basketball. According to www.stlukeseyes.com, most astigmatic corneas have two curves – a steeper curve and a flatter curve. This causes light to focus on more than one point in the eye, resulting in blurred vision at distance or near.

So I have a football shaped cornea and it is causing me all kinds of trouble.

Toric Lenses

Previously toric (lenses for people with astigmatism) lenses were very thick and very expensive. They were uncomfortable and often slipped around the eye causing blinking and blurriness. I had a lot of trouble with my thicker toric lenses. I felt like I had a Frisbee in each eye and I always well aware that they were in. There were times when I would just take them out wherever I was because they drove me so crazy. Hence the reason I was hesitant to try any more torics.

My Experience

I noticed immediately that the lenses were very thin. They were so pliable that they seemed to be fragile. However, my doctor told me that they were actually quite sturdy and to handle them as I do my thicker colored ones. I had a bit of trouble at first getting the thin lens off of my finger and into my eye, but I hear that is common for those who wear thin lenses. As I said, before, mine were so thick that I would slap them in and begin the blinking and blurring process.

After a few seconds, my eyes adjusted to the lenses (I had not had lenses of any type in my eyes for over six months so they were unused to having anything in them.). Once the lenses adjusted, they were amazing. I didn't even know the computer was blurry until I looked at it with these lenses. I had no idea how hard my right eye was working to compensate for my severely affected left eye.

I was told to wear the lenses for three to four hours the first day but I kept them in for seven hours. They didn't bother me at all and I was seeing great so why take them out? The next day, I wore them all day. Not a problem, No itching, no blurring, no watering, nothing.

I felt like I had nothing at all in my eyes. This is NOT something I felt with any other lenses. The green ones I have are great looking and fairly comfortable, but I am always aware they are there. With these lenses, I could fall asleep and not even remember that I had lenses in.

I have worn them every day, all day for the last four days. I am starting to find myself depending on them to carry the load of my left eye. I notice that the computer really is blurry and that the TV isn't as sharp as I thought without the Soflens 66's.

Cleaning and storage is simple. I take them out and put them in contact lens solution every night. In the morning, I pop them in. That's it! These are lenses that you wear for two weeks then throw away. My Acuvues were monthlies but I often got many more weeks use out of a pair because I didn't wear them much. They felt like I had an eyelash in my eye and I didn't want to suffer through the annoyance they caused me. They didn't hurt, but they were always reminding me they were there.

The lenses I have now don't slip, they don't hurt or feel odd, and they correct my vision beautifully. Usually I have to go through several trials to find the ones that work for me. I don't believe I could find any others that work better. These are the lenses I will buy when I see my doctor in a few days to report on how I liked them.

I don't know the cost of these lenses but have been told they are relatively inexpensive compared to some of the others I have tried. I like that I can toss them (unlike my colored Durasofts that last for a year with daily use and a lot longer with occasional use). If I drop one, I won't go crazy because they won't be too expensive to replace.

Buying Info

You should always see a good ophthalmologist and get a thorough eye exam before getting contacts. Once you find the ones for you, you can order these lenses, with a prescription, over the internet. Some sites are less expensive than your doctor's office prices and are the exact same lenses. I usually look for deals and compare prices on the net and order from a reputable online dealer after my first purchase of contact from my doctor. It saves me a few bucks.

The official website for Bausch & Lomb, where you can learn more about all their contacts, including the Soflens 66's is http://www.bausch.com/

Conclusion

I really like Bausch & Lomb Soflens 66 contact lenses and plan to wear them daily. I am very sensitive to anything in my eyes and, with thicker lenses, I can feel them every time I blink. With these, once they are in, I don't feel a thing. My eyes feel fresh and so much less strained than before. They also feel moist all day and night. Previously I had to buy drops for dry eyes (made especially for contact lens users) but I don't need them with these lenses. They feel cool and comfortable. I have experienced very little slippage and blurriness. The only time I did have some blurriness is when I forgot they were in and rubbed my eye. But my vision returned to normal very quickly.

Contact lenses are a personal choice. Everyone's eyes are different and everyone's preferences are different. However, if you need toric contact lenses and want to try something new or this is your first try at wearing contacts, give Bausch & Lomb Soflens 66's a try. Your doctor will order you a trial pair in your prescription and you can try them out and see if they work as well for you as the did for me. If not, you can try other brands until you find the ones you feel are most comfortable and allow you to see the sharpest.

I expected to have to either give up comfort or clarity but I gave up neither. I see perfectly with these lenses and they as comfortable as nothing at all in my eyes.

For me they the answer.

Five stars!