Glasses, Contacts, Bring Both?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Glasses, Contacts or Bring Both?

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Specializes in Operating Room.

What's better for a nursing job, glasses or contacts?

I see pros and cons for both:

Contacts: Pros: Look better on me, no pushing them up/no sliding down my nose

Cons: Dry out, eyes blur, could fall out

Glasses:Pros:Eyes won't dry out, eyes won't blur

Cons: Not as stylish on me, doesn't fit right (I've had 18 surgeries), have to push them up when looking down

I realize if you wear contacts, you should bring glasses just in case...

Which do you prefer, and what is better to wear on the floor?

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I never wear contacts to work because the hospital is so dry. I can't keep them in 14 hours. I know some nurses do, but most also bring glasses just in case.

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I never wear contacts to work because the hospital is so dry. I can't keep them in 14 hours. I know some nurses do, but most also bring glasses just in case.

Do you not have a problem with keeping them up on the bridge of your nose? Do you wear the neck loop with them? Is that only for older people?

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I have worn my contacts for my entire nursing career. Would not consider using glasses at work, if I had a choice about it. And that has been during 16 hour shifts when I was in school, and throughout my career.

I have never had an issue with them falling out. And I have better eyesight with them. I much prefer the peripheral vision that I have with them, and not having to turn my head. :)

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Do you not have a problem with keeping them up on the bridge of your nose? Do you wear the neck loop with them? Is that only for older people?

Not really. There are times when I have to push them up, but it isn't a big deal.

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I lost two pairs of contacts at work, one because I got splashed in the eye with saliva from a MRSA pt (yes, I probably should have been wearing goggles but the facility didn't provide them), the other because I got punched by a combative pt. Also, as someone else said, the environment is so dry that they're just not comfortable. I'm sticking with glasses.

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

OR you could do like me and have lasik (even though I'm having problems with the monovision right now :o )

Of course if you're anything like me, then you'd almost put your eyes out trying to push up glasses that you no longer wear :chuckle

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I'm too chicken to have lasik done. lol ...At least right now.

I should wear corrective lenses at all times, but usually don't. I went and had my eyes checked today, first time in about 3 years.

Again, like the last time at a different Dr's office, they told me my astigmatism is so bad, they didn't even carry the trial contacts in the office.

I have to have a physical for my application to the RN program, and I didn't want not having corrective lenses to hurt my being accepted into the nursing program...other than the fact that I know I needed them anyway.

However, I'm torn on what I should wear during clinicals, or later on the job.

I was born with a cleft lip/palate, so I have had 18 surgeries. Glasses just don't feel right, and I'm not used to wearing them, so they don't look right. (I'm ok with some sunglasses, but I have to bend them around until they feel comfortable...lol)

Maybe by the time I get to clinicals (hopefully get accepted for Jan'06), I'll be used to wearing them. I just feel uncomfortable in glasses, and think they would be a pain when having to look down to do something on a patient.

.....but like I said b/4, eyes blurring, drying out, etc, with contacts seems to be a possible nuicance as well....

.......soooooo confused on what to do! lol

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.
I'm too chicken to have lasik done. lol ...At least right now.

I should wear corrective lenses at all times, but usually don't. I went and had my eyes checked today, first time in about 3 years.

Again, like the last time at a different Dr's office, they told me my

I wear my contacts period!! I cant stand my glasses, I have a pair for "just in case" but it makes me really frustrated while wearing them I hate having to look directly staright ahead to see!! UGH

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I wear my contacts period!! I cant stand my glasses, I have a pair for "just in case" but it makes me really frustrated while wearing them I hate having to look directly staright ahead to see!! UGH

My eyes just get so dry and blurred. I'm not sure if I'll get used to them, or if I should just suffer with glasses.

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.
My eyes just get so dry and blurred. I'm not sure if I'll get used to them, or if I should just suffer with glasses.

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I would take both in that case then. I carry eye drops with me and pop them in when I get a sec. I just cant stand my glasses and I know they would affect the way I work if I wore them. I hope to get lasik after graduation ;)

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I wear glasses. I've worn glasses since my senior year of high school (which was 15 years ago). I love my glasses. I think I look good in my glasses. I am too chicken to have lasik (the idea of surgery on my eyes gives me the creeps) and I refuse to wear contacts (I have a hard enough time getting eyedrops in my eyes) so, the glasses. I've never had a major problem with them, yes, they slide down, but that's why God gave me elbows. Yes, I have to move my entire head to look at stuff, (like to look up at the monitor from my charting) but, I'm used to it. I'm sticking to my glasses.

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