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From: donn@hpfcla.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Hard lens advise request
Message-ID: <163700001@hpfcdc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 7-Dec-85 15:41:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfcdc.163700001
Posted: Sat Dec  7 15:41:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Dec-85 04:18:38 EST
References: <1600@cae780.UUCP>
Organization: 07 Dec 85 13:41:00 MST
Lines: 39

I've been wearing conventional hard lenses about 18 years (since '67 or
so).  Most of that time has been with "fenestrated" lenses (with a hole
in the middle (that fascinates my daughter)).   I can wear them all my
waking hours (barring a *really* late night) here in Colorado (where
I'm told normal air (O2 concentration) (as opposed to that thick stuff 
flatlanders have :-) ) and dryness is a bit rough on contacts.

I'm told I have astigmatisim rather badly (I should, it runs in the family),
but since all I wear is hard lenses, I havn't noticed.  (Nor has my
prescription changed since I got contacts.)

The ability to wear hard lenses for extended periods appears to be tied
to the fit: there are the lucky few who get good fits, the less lucky
many who don't, and the *very* lucky (or should I say smart :-) ) who
have found an optician that gets a good fit most every time.  I believe
I'm in the last category: there are a small number of (half a dozen?)
opticians who make their own lenses, and have found out how to repeatably
manufacture lenses with a good fit.  I deal with one of them (and no,
I don't get a cut for saying this), and I can be assured that if I lose
a contact, I can get a replacement by mail that will fit *exactly* as
well as the one I lost.  (And they fit so well I can swim with them 
and not lose them, but they're still comfortable (although I *don't*
swim with them without goggles)).

You'll note I said "by mail".  The optician is in Honolulu, a bit of a
way from Colorado, but since I grew up in Honolulu, you can see how it
happened.

Anyway, for anyone who happens to be passing thru there, and wants to check
out getting a good fitting pair of contacts, check with Tanco Laboratories.
(Getting them may take a couple of weeks; but the last leg can probably be done 
by mail in a pinch.) I don't guarantee anything, but they can handle some
pretty tough cases.  There are probably other manufacturing opticians
like this, but I don't know of any other names.


Donn Terry
HP Ft. Collins, Co.
ihnp4!hpfcla!donn