Contact lenses are practical, easy to wear, clean and store. They are the intelligent eye corrective choice for sports and recreation. After an initial visit to the opthalmologist and a mini training session on how to clean them, put them in and take them out, most people are ready to experience life without a pair of glasses perched on the end of their nose.
For those who haven't yet made the decision to wear contact lenses or for those who are new to it, consider the following practical advice and information on contact lenses.
Soft or Rigid Contact Lenses
Soft contact lenses are the most popular choice as they are made of silicone, are comfortable and allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye making them easier to tolerate for long periods. They can be worn by people suffering from long or short-sightedness and astigmatism.
There are five different types of soft contact lenses:
- daily wear: They are worn for one day and then thrown away.
- bi-monthly: They are changed every two weeks.
- monthly: They are changed at the end of the month.
- overnight wear: They are worn continually day and night for a month.
- conventional: They are used for a year and then thrown away.
Rigid contact lenses are often used in the case of silicone intolerance, dry eye syndrome , for those with corneal astigmatism and to slow down short-sightedness in children or teenagers.
Coloured Contact Lenses
Coloured lenses can be fun and safe, if they are worn for visual correction. However, they are often worn just for a party or a special event. Those who have not consulted an ophthalmologist should:
- Follow the instructions carefully.
- Clean contact lenses daily with adapted multipurpose solutions and not with water.
- Throw contact lenses away if they have not been soaked in a cleaning solution overnight.
- Throw contact lenses away at the end of the month.
- Avoid wearing someone else's contact lenses or risk infection.
Cleaning Solutions for Contact Lenses
An opthalmologist will tell a patient which solution is best adapted for him but there are basically two different types of cleaning solutions for soft contact lenses:
Multipurpose solution is for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and storing contact lenses. These solutions are the most practical but a small amount of the population have shown to be allergic.
Hydrogen peroxide solution is for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and storing contact lenses. Some people prefer this solution but most choose it because of allergies to multipurpose solutions.
Practical Advice for Eye Hygiene
Here is a list of common complaints for contact lens wearers:
- Red eyes and blurred vision: Contact lenses should be taken out, cleaned and stored. In the case of eye secretions, lenses should not be re-used but thrown away.
- Contact lenses forgotten overnight: Contact lenses should be taken out, cleaned and stored. Saline solution or eye drops can be used to lubricate eyes throughout the day.
- A contact lens is stuck under the eyelid: Looking down and massaging the eyelid at the same time usually makes the contact lens come back down. Contact lenses often get stuck if the eye is dry so eye drops can be used alongside the massage technique to make the lense come back down.
- A torn contact lens: A new contact lens can be used if the lens is torn but whole. However, if a piece of lense is missing, the eye must be rinsed thoroughly before a new one can be used.
- Dry eyes: The altitude, air conditioning, allergies and certain drugs can cause dry eyes. Comfort eye drops can be used to lubricate eyes.
- Contact lenses at the swimming pool: Swimming goggles must be used to avoid losing a contact lens.
Sloppy contact lens care and eye hygiene can lead to a variety of eye infections and even blindness. Switching solutions or using eye drops without consulting a doctor may result in complications as some products are not compatible with each other or with certain contact lenses. A doctor should always be consulted for a prescription before switching from glasses to contact lenses and in the case of redness, burning or itching eyes.
References
American Optometric Association website
Louanne Piccolo - Louanne Piccolo has been writing professionally for 13 years, focusing on family, health, teaching, education, translation and travel. ...
