Ex-convict claims prisoners who wear contacts are left 'completely BLIND' because they're forced to
A convict has opened up about what happens to people who are wearing contacts when they get sent to jail - revealing that prisoners are forced to throw them away upon arriving, which left many 'completely blind' because they didn't have access to glasses.
Amanda Dove, who served five years from 2005-2010 for committing an armed robbery, has become a viral TikTok star in recent months for sharing some of the gruesome details from her time behind bars - including how she made her own tampons and what happened when she ran out of toilet paper.
Most recently, she opened up about how prisons handle people who arrive wearing contact lenses.
According to the formal criminal, contact lenses were not allowed in the prison so inmates were forced to throw them away during the check-in process, which resulted in numerous people having to go 'their entire incarceration without being able to see.'
A convict has opened up about what happens to people who are wearing contacts when they get sent to jail - revealing that prisoners are forced to throw them away upon arriving
Amanda Dove, who served five years for committing an armed robbery, has become a viral TikTok star recently for sharing some of the gruesome details from her time behind bars
Most recently, she opened up about how prisons handle people who arrive wearing contact lenses in a video that got more than 11 million views
According to the formal criminal, many inmates had to go 'their entire incarceration without being able to see' because contact lenses were forbidden and they didn't have any glasses
@prison_storyReplying to @moon_beams What happens if you wear contacts in prison? #prison #rules #glasses #contacts
♬ original sound - Amanda Dove ❤️In a video shared to her TikTok account earlier this week, which got more than 11 million views, she recalled an officer telling her and her fellow detainees to take theirs out on her first day.
While Amanda secretly kept hers in her eyes, she explained that the others who discarded there's were not offered any glasses.
'On my first day of prison, the officer was like, "Raise your hand if anyone has contacts in their eyes," and a bunch of girls raised their hands automatically,' she shared.
'I kinda held back even though I had contacts. I wanted to see what was gonna happen.
'They made every single girl take their contacts out and did not give them glasses, there was no replacement. Those girls had to go their entire incarceration without being able to see.'
She added that people serving a short-term sentence that's less than a year were allowed to apply to get glasses from the state - but the process could sometimes take months.
'They would [eventually] go and get an eye exam, which they had to pay for, and they would get these state issued prison glasses that were the ugliest things I've ever seen,' she explained. 'Black rimmed, super thick. They were absolutely horrendous.'
But convicts who had longer sentences weren't given this option.
Some people branded it as 'cruel' and 'inhumane' that prisoners who arrived with contacts weren't allowed to wear them, while others argued that they deserved it
Others simply shared their own fears over the possibility of being left with no way to see after her revelation
She added that while they were allowed to have glasses brought to them from a visitor, they couldn't leave for an eye exam - and unfortunately, many inmates didn't have access to anyone on the outside world who could bring them a pair.
In addition, she said that if you came to prison with glasses, you were allowed to keep them, but those who wore contact lenses were forced to give them up.
In another video, Amanda revealed how she made her own tampons and what happened when she ran out of toilet paper
Amanda recalled trying to keep her contacts in as long as possible because she was so desperate to be able to see.
'I had two contacts to start with, one of them fell out and it was gone. The other one was crusty and dry,' she continued.
'Every morning I would wake up and it would be somewhere deep in my eyeball and I would try to get it back. There was no saline solution, you know? I was just winging it.'
Thankfully, her dad brought her some glasses two months into her sentencing, but many of her fellow inmates weren't as lucky.
'I was able to see for the rest of my time but a lot of other girls, they were completely blind,' she concluded.
Amanda's admission sparked a debate between viewers, with some people branding it as 'cruel' and 'inhumane' that prisoners who arrived with contacts weren't allowed to wear them, while others argued that they deserved it.
'This is insane. Cruel and unusual punishment when the fix is simple,' one user raged.
She said the prisoners were provided only four rolls of toilet paper a month, and some 'thick' menstrual pads that were 'enormous and so uncomfortable'
'But we figured out a way to turn them into tampons,' she shared. 'We took the mesh part at the top and separated it from the cotton. You open it like you're opening a bag of chips'
@prison_storyReplying to @Dawnie D Less like Always, more like *Sometimes* #prison #pad #tampon #hack
♬ original sound - Amanda Dove ❤️However, someone else fired back, 'Cruel were the things people did who are in prison.'
Others simply shared their own fears over the possibility of being left with no way to see after her revelation.
Another person wrote, 'That’s terrible. I couldn’t imagine the headaches without any contacts or glasses.'
'I'm -15.5. I wouldn't be able to even function at all without my contacts,' a fourth comment read. 'The prison glasses wouldn't fit, I have to get certain frames only.'
'My worst fear... I can't go two minutes without my glasses I am so blind,' a different viewer shared.
'I’m a -10. I would deada** not be able to survive,' a fifth commented.
In other videos, Amanda got real about some of the other problems that she had to endure in prison.
She explained that prisoners were only given four rolls of toilet paper to use a month, and if you used yours up you'd have to ask an officer on duty for some extra, and it was up to them if they wanted to give you more.
She said the women were provided with 'thick' menstrual pads that were 'enormous and so uncomfortable.'
'But we figured out a way to turn them into tampons,' she shared. 'We took the mesh part at the top and separated it from the cotton. You open it like you're opening a bag of chips.
'Then you'd roll the cotton up and take the mesh part and wrap it back around. But if you got caught doing that it was a write-up.
'Anything you use for another purpose besides it's intended purpose was an automatic write-up.'
Amanda explained that tampons were sold in the canteen but cost 'a lot of money,' which many didn't have, so they were forced to find their own means.
In another TikTok, she also shared a series of tips for 'surviving your first day of prison.'
She added: 'Then you'd roll the cotton up and take the mesh part and wrap it back around. But if you got caught doing that it was a write-up'
In another TikTok, she also shared a series of tips for 'surviving your first day of prison,' which involved only speaking if you're spoken to and not becoming emotional
@prison_storyReplying to @shardeny|UGC Creator| First Day of Prison 101 #prison #inmate #survivalguide
♬ original sound - Amanda Dove ❤️'Number one, don't speak unless spoken to. Don't strike up a conversation with other inmates or officers,' she suggested.
She also warned against showing a lot of emotion, adding, 'Keep your face blank, no smiles, no frowns, nothing.
'People ain't gonna mess with you if you sit back and just watch and listen. People will tell you who they are.
'Oh and don't ask people what they're in for. It's disrespectful. Also, don't volunteer or raise your hand to do anything.'
In addition, she said it's important to wear shoes at all times, even when you're in the shower or getting changed.
'If you're changing, keep your feet on top of your shoes. Your feet should never hit the floor, ever,' she insisted.
Lastly, she said it's important to know what your skills are - so you can use them to your advantage.
'Maybe you're a great artist, you can give tattoos. Maybe you know how to thread eyebrows, maybe you know how to braid hair - whatever your skill is, market it,' she concluded. 'That way, you can have a little hustle and make some money.'
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