Contact Lenses – Basic Facts

Contact Lenses are the perfect solution for people with vision problems who do not wish to have surgery and do not like the feel and visual appearance of eyeglasses. Millions of people wear these little disks that fit right on your eye and give you crisp, clear vision without changing your appearance. However, there are colour contact lenses and specialty contacts that can change your appearance by giving your eyes a new colour or different look. The majority of people are able to wear contacts. However, there are a few who are not able to due to high amounts of eye infections, extra sensitive eyes, and other reasons an eye practitioner can explain. No matter what you chose, you are bound to have some fun with contacts.

The first step in getting contacts is to visit your ophthalmologist or optometrist. They will measure your eyes and find the right contact to fit properly and comfortably. For people new to wearing contacts and are afraid of the thought of touching your eyes, the doctor can even help you get used to placing the contact lenses in and taking them out. After some time even the most sensitive of people will be able to do this with ease. The doctor will also advise you on the different types of contact lenses and how to properly take care of them and your eyes. One of the first things you will learn is if the contact lens is flipped inside out or not. You can tell by when you wear contact lenses inside out because there is a slight discomfort because the lenses do not fit properly onto your eyes. Another way to tell without even placing them in your eyes is to hold the bottom curve of the lens on one finger. If you have a perfect half circle without any edges sticking out then the contacts are fine. If it is a half-circle shape with the edges sticking out, then the contact lens is flipped inside out.

Normal Contact	Inside out contact

Contact Lenses – Problem Areas

Wearing contact lenses for a long period of time may cause blurry vision, pain, and redness due to the lack of oxygen passing through to the cornea. A lack of oxygen can also change the shape of your cornea and results in uneven vision. Improper cleaning of contact lenses can result in bacterial infections which can lead to other eye diseases. Thus, it is a good rule of thumb to wear contact lenses for a limited time, clean and disinfect lenses properly, and schedule routine check-ups.

Contact Lenses – Cleaning and Disinfecting

When cleaning lenses always follow the instructions given by your eye doctor. Some general guidelines should be followed for all lens types. Always wash your hands before removing or inserting the lens. Always use quality lens care products and try to clean lenses as often as possible to move build-up. Always follow guideline in the instruction as to minimal soaking time before wearing lenses again. Always clean the lens case with solution and replace it every so often.

Types of Contact Lenses

Hard Contact lenses

There are very few hard contact wearers today due to improvements in other types. Hard contact lenses are made of hard plastic material and come as either non-gas permeable or gas permeable. They provide clear vision and last a long time (5 to 10 years) but are harder to adjust to. They are harder to insert and take out but correct most vision problems. Non-gas permeable lenses do not allow oxygen to reach the cornea. These lenses have a limited wearing time because major damage can occur to the eye if no oxygen passes through to the cornea. Gas permeable lenses offer the same advantages but also allow longer wearing time and greater comfort since oxygen can flow easily through them.

Daily wear soft contact lenses

Daily wear soft lenses are made of polymer-plastic materials that are flexible. These lenses allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea, provide great comfort, and are easy to adjust to. They can also be worn for longer periods of time and can come in different colours. Some drawbacks include a shorter life span, an inability to correct some vision problems, and a lack of durability.

Extended wear lenses

Extended wear lenses are soft lenses that have been made to allow for longer periods of time (about 7 days) without removal and cleaning. These lenses allow more oxygen to pass through to the cornea. An example of these types of lenses is Focus® NIGHT & DAY™; lenses which allow for 30 nights of continuous wear. These lenses are made from silicone hydrogel that allows up to 6 times more oxygen to pass through than disposable lenses, do not dry up as much as ordinary soft contact lenses, and have a bio-compatible lens surface that decreases protein and bacteria build-up. As with all extended wear lenses there is always a chance of affecting eye health even if there are no apparent problems.

Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses

Rigid gas-permeable lenses are similar to hard contact lenses but are made of better material that allows more oxygen to pass through than even soft contacts. They are made of hard plastic that gives crisp vision and corrects most vision problems. They are durable and have a longer life span than soft contact lenses. Like hard lenses they do require some time to get used to and are not recommended for highly physical activities.

Disposable lenses

Disposable lenses are designed to be worn for a limited time and then discarded. Disposables have a replacement schedule which can range from 1 day to 3 months depending on how well they are taken care of and the environment in which they are worn. Usually the typical replacement schedule is 2 weeks. Daily wear disposables lenses should be taken out daily and cleaned until the replacement schedule. Extended wear disposables lenses can be worn overnight but should still be cleaned and disinfected to prevent eye problems. Disposable lenses are more comfortable and easier to maintain because they are used till the replacement time and just thrown away.

Fears of Newcomers to Contact Lenses

Many people who wear glasses are learning about the convenience and comfort of contact lenses. Unfortunately, most of these people haven’t switched yet because of common fears. Most of these fears have to do with inserting and taking out the contact lenses, as well as getting used to the feeling of having something in your eye at all times. Having these fears are natural, and trust me, you’re not alone. People for generations, of all generations share most of these fears at one point in their lives. If this article doesn’t help shine light on some of these fears and possible solutions to overcome them, try visiting different online forums like www.ask.metafilter.com or www.contactlenses.org/qa.htm. These forums discuss lots of fears and have ideas to overcome them. If this article doesn’t help, forums don’t help, and advice from your eye care professional doesn’t help, maybe you should return to wearing glasses.

Common Fears Among New Wearers

The most common fear most people share is the actual touching of one’s eye. This is a normal fear. Lots of people struggle to put eye drops into their eyes, let alone an actual device. But this fear can be overcome by practice, lots of practice. When inserting them look up, insert from below. When the lens is inserted, look down to position the lens over pupil. One way to almost get around this fear is to ask for lenses that can be worn for extended periods of time, that way there’s less times you’ll have to go through the process. Ask your eye care practitioner if you are a candidate overnight contact lens wear. Or train yourself not to blink as the lens is being put on your eye. Another fear that new wearers have is that they’re afraid of scratching their eye while putting them in or when taking them out. Doing something as simple as using eye drops to wet your eyes before you put them in or take them out, can reduce the chances of this happening. Also, make sure your hands are washed thoroughly before inserting or removal to wash away any dust or dirt particles that could be lingering on your fingertips.

Some people are worried that they will put the lens in the wrong place. So, let’s think about this. There are only so many places for your lens to go once it’s in your eye, and most lenses are designed to align automatically or with a few blinks. The probability that you will insert your lens into the wrong location is slim to none. If your lens is moving around too much, the sizing of it might be wrong and you should remove the lens immediately and set up an examination and fitting with your eye care professional. One fear that is completely understandable, yet completely irrational is the fear that the lens will somehow slip behind the eyeball at some point during wear-time. This is impossible though. There is a chance the lens can go upward, under the upper eye lid, but if you pull your upper eyelid out you can easily remove the lens. The bottom line is that your eyelids are connected to the back of your eye, leaving no room for anything to “slip behind”. We’re not dealing with nostrils that have passageways to your throat. Other people are afraid of giving themselves an infection by using contact lenses. As long as you are taking proper care of your lenses, cleaning and disinfecting them, along with rinsing them, you should be okay. Another important step is to wash your hands thoroughly before handling your lens, or placing your fingers near your eye. This step alone can significantly reduce the risks of spreading bacteria.

Some people have the fear that they will never get used to having something in their eye. This is occasionally the case. Some people are just too sensitive to have something in their eyes at all times. My advice is to discuss this fear with your doctor. Try using soft contact lenses or silicone hydrogel contact lenses. There’s a high oxygen transmissibility with these two types of lenses, making them more comfortable to wear. They can also be worn by people who require special lenses for astigmatism or bifocal lenses. If this is still a problem, you can try using daily disposables. Daily disposables eliminate the cleaning and disinfecting steps (hands not included) and are worn only during daytime hours. If this is still a problem that you cannot overcome, maybe the best solution would be to remain in glasses. Prescription sunglasses are available to you for daytime use and for outdoor activities.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Contact Lenses

Whether you are wearing Daily Wear or Extended Wear Contact Lenses or whether you are discarding them each day or after 2 weeks or more of wear, it is important to follow your eye care practitioners’ instructions regarding cleaning and disinfection, carefully. By following the “how, what, why and when” of contact lens cleaning and disinfection, you will have the best and safest contact lens wearing experience.

Each type of contact lens and care product or solution will have very specific instruction for how long to rub the lenses to clean them-or not to rub them at all…how long to soak the lenses, how long to rinse the lenses and in what type of solution. Follow these instructions carefully. If you are unsure about any step you should ask your eye care practitioner to further review and explain them.

Some general guidelines should be followed for all lens types. Always wash your hands before removing or inserting the lens. Always use quality lens care products and try to clean lenses as often as possible to remove buildup. Always follow guidelines in the instructions as to minimal soaking time before wearing lenses again. Never rinse the lenses with tap water. Frequently clean the lens case with solution and replace it at reasonable intervals. Your eye care practitioner can advise you on how often your case should be replaced. By following the lens care and cleaning instructions, you will have a safe and comfortable lens wearing experience.

Common Mistakes When Caring For Contact Lenses

Proper care of your contact lenses, storage cases and eyes is essential to keep your eye’s health in the best shape possible. After a fitting and examination your eye care professional will give an instruction booklet, describing exactly what is necessary for you to do on a daily, biweekly and monthly basis. The best source of information comes from the FDA. Even your eye care professionals get their information from the FDA. You should follow safety guidelines to a T when caring for your or your child’s contact lenses. If you are unsure about anything, you can look it up online 24/7 by visiting www.fda.gov. Or to request another instruction and/or information booklet you can contact your lens manufacturer website. They have information on just about everything you can think of, including solutions, cases, and other optical products you can benefit from. Below are some common mistakes made by contact lens wearers. There are also tips and suggestions to help you look at the big picture.

Common Mistakes of Lens Wearers

The most common mistake among contact lens wearers is improper daily care of them. The fun doesn’t stop after the cleaning and disinfecting process. Properly storing them in clean and disinfected storage cases is just important. There are many dangerous creatures that grow and live in storage cases that can harm your eyes even more. Wearers who are prescribed continuous wear lenses think they are exempt from the daily cleaning process. The opposite is true. Even though these lenses allow you to keep them in overnight, it’s often a bad idea to do so. Nor is it a good idea if you swim, shower or involve yourself in water activities while wearing contact lenses, regardless of the wear-time prescribed.

Another common mistake people make when buying lenses is that they want to have them right then. So, they look to places like swap meets or flea markets to avoid the waiting time. But buying lenses from anyone who is not asking for a prescription or a copy of a prescription can be a bad idea. This should raise a red flag immediately and these types of dealers should be reported to the proper authorities. NEVER buy contacts without having an examination and fitting done first. Infections, abrasions and even blindness can result.

One more issue many people don’t consider is the reliance on contact lenses to protect your eyes from the sun. Make sure to use sunglasses that block ultraviolet light. Even though lenses such as Acuvue Oasys include UV protection in the lens, it’s no comparison to the protection you can receive from prescribed sunglasses. Never swap contact lenses with another person. Swapping is just another way to transfer germs between people. Contact lenses are individually fitted. Incorrectly fitted lenses may cause permanent eye injury, infection and may potentially lead to blindness.

Tips When Caring for Your Eyes and Lenses

Even though you follow procedures exactly and do everything you can to ensure you’re taking proper care of your lenses, there are few extra things you can do to ensure you’re taking the proper care of your eyes. If you wear makeup, apply your cosmetics after inserting your lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup. This will help reduce the likelihood that bacteria and other particles from your makeup from being transferred to your lenses and your eyes. Also apply any aerosol products like hairspray, cologne, and deodorant before inserting lenses.

Another way in which to ensure healthy eyes is to get annual eye exams. During the span of one year, the health of your eyes can change dramatically, either for the better or the worse. This could be a great time to ask for a new pair of glasses. Having a back-up pair of glasses with a current prescription in the event that you have problems with your contact lenses is a great idea.

Replace contacts as recommended by your eye care professional. Throw away disposable lenses after recommended wearing period. There are reasons why contact lenses have expiration dates. And you should always ask your eye care professional before using any medicine or using topical eye products, even those you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may affect your vision or irritate your eyes.

Don’t smoke, and if you do really consider quitting. Studies show that smokers who wear contact lenses have a higher rate of adverse reactions than do non-smokers. Of course, smoking can lead to other serious health problems. Remember, if you’re unsure about care routines, solutions, proper storage cases or any optical products, and don’t know what to do or how to do it, information is available. Also, if you feel like you’re witnessing unsafe and unethical practices by any contact lens provider or seller, contact the proper authorities as soon as possible.