I went to the optometrist last Saturday for a consult on getting contact lenses. At the end of the consult he asked me what medications I was on, if any. So I listed them, including sironolactone, & Estadiol. The optometrist asked why I was taking them and I told him that I was in the process of a sex change. Anyway, without batting an eye, he said that spiro is a diuretic, which I knew, and he said that it also causes dry eyes and could pose a problem for contact lenses. He went on to check out my tear ducts, and said there was no problem there, but warned that I may have to use eye drops.
Soooooooooo... are there any girls out there who have experienced this???
Yes, I quit using my contacts altogether over 4 years ago when I started spiro. Eye drops helped but I had to use them so often I just gave up wearing them.
Sandi (http://vista.powerblogs.com/)
Well I've never taken hormones or anything, except birthcontrol, but I used contactsfor about 5 years, I -always- had a bottle of eyedrops with me... they sell them specifically for Contacts..... Opti-free or something... green packaging was the best.... was.. err.. "thin"... like water.... the blue packaging (major brand name) which name is escaping me at the moment.... I didn't like at all, it was "thicker".... it was ment to moisturize more but i didn't like the way it felt....
I eventually had to stop the contacts because my allergies just couldn't handle them =/
But yea, not uncommon at all to have to use eyedrops :)
Contacts and hormones/spironolactone? Was something I was worried about when I started, as the problem is even mentioned in the liturature, or I had heard about it or whatever. As it turned out the first effect I noticed was that my vision actually seemed clearer.
I habitually wear a contact on my left eye. no useful benifit of one on the right, and it is set to a medium distance so I can read with it and I just put up with the blurry distance. Oh, and I wear the 2 week disposable ones, meaning I pop it in and leave it for two weeks and sometimes a while longer before replaceing it. docs don't seem to like those things but I have been using them since they came out with no ill effects.
For me, I never had a problem other then in the mornings, the thing seems to be slipped off center and dry, so it doesn't want to fix in place and clear up for some minutes after I open my eyes, but there is never any problem with it during the day.
Like most things with HRT, it is an individual thing. some will have problems and some will not. Just depends on your own experience with it. But then my eyes are somewhat more moist them usual, seems I'm always holding back a tear or to for some reason or other.
Terri
Hello Terri-Gene,
After wearing my contacts for just over a week I've founf that I don't really have a problem with the dry eye's the Dr warned me about. Yep it effects different people different ways. I do plan on trying different one's though as the bifocals that I'm wearing now are not that great for reading.
Yes Steph, It is good to know the experience of others to know what can be expected, but ones experience can be quite different from anothers.
I know what you mean about bi-focals. Since losing the vision of my right eye, the remaining left has gone from perfect to needing bifocals in order to read. I however get cramps in my neck having to reposition my head to see through the lower portion in positions such as computer screens, and the presence of the frames is irritating to me, thus I wear a contact.
Under normal conditions, there are options for people who wear contacts but require bi-focals. They now make a bi-focal contact, but I have not tried them. The older methode is to set one eye for distance and the other for near, thus allowing for long range and close up vision, it is referred to as Mono Vision I believe, but when only one eye can be used, this option is unavailable, thus mine is optimized for reading and at distances beyond a few yards, things are less then distinct.
One never really appreciates things until they are lost. I once enjoyed exceptional vision with far better then normal hand to eye coordination, but now have no depth perception or perifial much past my nose on the right side. Make things interesting at times. One of the most common frustrations is hashmarks on a street. Without depth perception, they can appear as a solid barrier standing up depending on lighting conditions. It is things that some years of experience has taught me to deal with, but still today sometimes causes misconceptions in what I see.
I drive 18' box trucks as part of my job, and backing them up under tight conditions is often more an excercise in confidence in ability then actual perception of distances. Almost anything is overcomable if you are willing to try and do.
I use the Acuvue 2 brand lenses and find them quite comfortable, as a rule, I can not even tell I am wearing one by any "feel". They can even be worn while swimming underwater and will never fall out unless they become to dry, which as I have said, only occurs in my case in the mornings when I have slept for a few hours.
The cost of these lenses is generally on an average of $25 or so for a box of 6, which worn on only one eye will last me about 3 months if changed according to recommended time.
Take care of them eyes Steph, and if wearing contacts, keep them clean and guard against infections. This is why most optomitrists do not like the extended wear lenses, they are concerned about bacteria buildup, which I am told could destroy ones eyesight almost overnight if the wrong bacteria becomes present and you do not remove them. As said though, I have worn the Acuvue lenses for a good many years and never had a problem, but then remember the different experience of different people.
Terri
Right now my contacts are the bi-focal ones. The Dr is ordering in a set of mono-vision one's and a set of Accu-vu bi-focals for me to try. He said that I'll have to comprimise either my distance or reading, or a combination of both. So I'll try different things till I find something that works. Luckily it will only cost me $25.00, until I find something that I like.
An interesting alternative you might try. Some weeks ago I was involved in an accident in which I was in no way found legally responsible, but I struck and injured a woman who was attempting to run across the street, against lights, with my private vehicle.
While I was not held accountable by legal authority after investigation of the incident, it troubled me that I would not have noticed her before it was to late to properly react, as she suffered a broken leg and minor injuries, so I had a complete examination of my sight just to be sure it was as good as could be, though I had noticed no changes.
There was no significant change in my vision and no physical reason why I would not have seen a pedestrian crossing from my left, so regardless of who was at fault, I can only attribute my failure to see and react quickly enough to my own distractions at the time. I'm generally very quick to spot the slightest unexpected movement, no matter how small or insignificant and I was taken by complete surprise.
the doctor however suggested going to a full distance contact and using a pair of normal, over the counter reading glasses, in the +250 range over it for reading. I am going to try this option in the near future, though it still brings up the problem of having to carry glasses with me and having them available anytime I wish to read anything. What a pain. Perhaps one of those ear piece necklass things might help for carrying them.
Terri
My Dr recommended the same thing as one of the options. It may come down to that, but I'll try the other options first and go from there. At least I'll know what works and what doesn't. I may even end up just abandoning the idea of contacts, and go back to wearing glasses. The only real reason I'm trying the contacts is to change the way I look, my image. Kinda vain, I know, but it's something I want to do as part of my transition. A new me :)
Don't be kicking Vanity Steph, I'm a rather vain person too. Mostly about weight. When I started hormones, I was a very tight piece of leather standing at 5'7" and 150 lbs and fretting over being 5 lbs overweight for my trim specifications, less then 8% body fat. As of about 2 months ago, I had balloned to 180 lbs and I don't even want to think about the fat ratio. As of Friday night though, I was back down to a disgusting 160. I'll quit feeling like a bloated goof somewhere below 155 and will probably bottom out to my old whiplash weight of 145, though with reduction in muscle mass going on lately it remains to be seen what I will be comfortable with in the future, as a lot of what was muscle tissue seems to have simply converted to fatty tissue, so I may be able to lose more then I think. I'll survive it though, even if the vanity doesn't.
Terri
For what it's worth, speaking as a normal hetero male, I find a woman wearing an tasteful pair of glasses to be delightfully sexy. Just my opinion.
wajdi (Jess' dad)
I've noticed that in some cases also, but its the frames, or their feel on the face that is more of a problem then appearance. It's always push up on the nose piece, or feeling to tight on an ear, or just giving you a headach from the stems over your temples. Thier just restrictive don'tcha know?.
And don't talk about proper fit and types of frames. My last pair, which I still wear sometimes for a while just to give the eye a rest from constant 24/7 use of contact lens, and they are the ultra light weight lenses in wire titanium frames, the kind you can almost tie the frame into a knot without breaking or permanently bending. They were properly fitted and still are, I just can't stand the feel of them on my face. You know how it is, when you don't like something, there are generally reasons for it.
Terri
I wear contacts, and have been taking Spiro for 4 months. I have not experienced any problems with dry eye. I haven't even used drops. I use daily wear but tend to forget I have them on late at night watching TV and fall asleep with them on. Not a great treat when I wake up since they are not designed to be worn while sleeping but even then I still have had no dry eye problems.
It's kinda funny with my regular glasses I have to take them off to read anything close. When I'm wearing my contacts I have to put on a pair of reading glasses to read anything close.
This makes for an interesting dillema in the morning when I put on my makeup. If I put on my makeup before putting in my contacts, I have trouble getting the contacts in without messing up my eyeshadow and mascara, or getting mascara on the lens. If I put my contacts in first I usually end up poking myself in the eye with the mascara wand.
Fortunately I have discovered the wonders of a two sided make up mirror and the problem is resolved. Lately I've been contemplating getting a new pair of frames but I really like the way I look in contacts.
Cassie
:icon_suspicious:
I also vote for the glasses > contacts look idea (=
thats one of the problems with glasses. It's been a long time now since I've used more then eye and brow pencils as far as makeup goes, but if wearing glasses, I have to take them off. ever try to perfectly apply eyeliner on both lids when you cant see, especially when doing the only eye you can use? Another plus for the contact. Of course I could cure that problem with perm makeup, but thats a lot of money to spend compaired to the price of pencils when you got higher priorities to save for.
And hey cassandra, why not put the contacts in first? just don't let the pencil or brush touch your eye, or the lens rather, it takes a lot of control and small movements, but I learned to keep things like that away from where they don't belong.
Terri
Putting on my eye makeup is another reason why I want the contacts. I'm not great at puting on my eye makeup but it goes alot better with my contacts in.
You betcha, eye makeup is a bit of a pain as it is. everything has to be so critically perfect. Hard enough when you can see, and when you can't ...... yes, contacts are about the only option for many when it comes to such things, though I guess some make out ok who just wear glasses.
Terri
Oh that is a good point about actually being able to see to put the makeup on. Hum, I don't suppose one of those nice mega magnification mirrors (I think they are called makeup mirrors?) would help in that regard? ... Cassie mentioned a makeup mirror as being handy previously also.
Make up mirrors are great, but in my case I have no way to hold it up except using my other hand which I find clumsy. Don't get me wrong I don't mind doing it that way, but it is sooooooooo much easier for me not having to use one. I did see a mirror that was attached on an arm that swung out in front of your face. That looked good as well, but when it comes to putting on my make-up I prefer the results I'm getting with my contacts. Of course if my contacts don't work out then it's back to being clumsy :)
Chat later
hey, if it's styed out, then making it larger is worse, not being able to see well though can be delt with if you have the patientce to learn. nothing to get in a hurry or a huff about. After a while, its all in the feel and working in small movements....as long as you can see well enough to touch lid and not below it that is.
I don't even use a mirror when I shave, I do that in the shower, in water as hot as is comfortable, by feeling over where the razor has been. I know for a fact that stubs that don't show up in the mirror can be felt, and it's like a zit or something else appealing, so I find hairs by feeling for them with my fingers and guiding my razor to where the fingers are pointing. Nawwwww, mag mirror wouldn't do any good. Only time I look in a mirror is when I get dressed in the morning and comb my hair or dust myself off with my "makeup kit" I don't really know why I bother, but something in me likes it, so, why not? it doesn't make or break my day but, it does soften my eyes a bit. I haven't liked them in years. They even look in slightly different directions because the right one more or less just turns away from direct light sources despite what the left is looking at, no, I've never liked looking into my own eyes, it makes me nervous
Anyway, it's just a lot easier and nicer if you can see what your doing without a lot of artificial cowpattie like lenses and glasses, each to mess with you in some way of their own, so , considering all the possible messups, contacts just make a lot of life easier, without all the daily handling problems of glasses. But they can have an effect on eye health. nothing for free .............
Terri
I have a Clairol make up mirror. It's completely self contained. It has an easal like stand on the back so you can adjust the angle. It opens up with a left and right mirror. The center mirror spins around so you have magnification and normal. There is a flourescent light on the left and right with colored lenses for home, office, daytime and evening light so you can see how your makeup looks under different lighting conditions all you do is just dial it up. They are great!
Cassie
P.S. Be careful of that magnification, it can scare the living daylights out of you first thing in the morning.
Ha, ha, that's so true, i can be pretty scary first thing in the morning. I know it's not a good thing when the cats run off... :)
Terri, if you don't mind me asking, how did you lose your sight in your right eye? I am hearing impaired and have often wondered what life would really be like if I lost my hearing completely in either ear.
Hello all, I am new here and came across this thread with great interest. I also wear contacts and suffer Dry Eye problems. Currently, I alternate between the lenses and normal spectacles and it seems to have dimished the problem. As for Spiro, I was taking them ( off prescription ) and had a stroke, this forced me off them until the cause was identified. As it turns out, I had blood pressure so high, I was lucky to survive and the doctors suggested that I avoided diuretics of all kinds because my body could not handle the water loss :'(.
I do not wish to scare anyone taking Spiro, I had an underlying problem which had consequences far beyond any transition issues. :angel:
I used to wear contacts all the time, but since I started on Spiro contacts bother my eyes in a major way, so I no longer wear contacts. :(
--natalie
Hi Natalie, Nice to see you. Congrats on the one month and three weeks to surgery. You must be looking forward to get it all behind you and come home a complete woman at last. I send prayers that all goes well.
Cindy