With proper use, contact lenses are the best choice if you don’t like to wear prescription glasses, if your work requires a lot of physical activities and if you just want to go out to have fun and play.
WHAT ARE CONTACT LENSES?
Contact lenses are small, thin lenses that are placed directly on the surface of the eye to correct vision problems or to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the eyes. They are made of a variety of materials, including silicone hydrogel, which allows oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye, reducing the risk of eye infections and other complications. Contact lenses can correct many types of vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia
TYPES OF CONTACT LENSES
-SOFT LENSES: They are made of a flexible plastic material that conforms to the shape of the eye. They retain water making them more comfortable than the rigid lenses. They in different types;
Daily wear- these are to be used, cleaned and stored every day in order to help reduce any chance of an infection or complication.
Extended wear- these are made up of silicone materials, this helps to avoid buildup of deposits and irritation of the eyes. They can be worn overnight, although they most known for increasing the risk of an infection so it is advisable to follow the Doctor’s instructions on how to wear it
-RIGID GAS-PERMAEBLE LENSES: They are made of a hard, oxygen-permeable material that allows the eye to breathe. Vision is usually clearer and the lens lasts longer.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CONTACT LENSES
It is important to follow proper care and hygiene when using contact lenses to reduce the risk of eye infections.
-Wash your hands before handling lenses.
- Clean and disinfect lenses regularly only using the solution given to you, using the Rub and rinse method, that is, rubbing the contact lens with clean fingers and rinse the lens.
- Replace your lens as recommended by your doctor or eye care professional.
- Properly store your lens in the lens storage and replace the lens storage every 2-3 months.
Contact lens wear come with some risks and complications as we know, here are some of them;
- Dry eyes: the tear film at the anterior surface of the eyes helps to keep it moist and the cornea soft. With contact lens wear, tears are not spread evenly as they should causing the eye surface to dry out easily. It is therefore very important to always use an eye lubricant if you are a contact lens wearer
- Oxygen Blockage: The eye needs efficient oxygen supply to keep it in normal function and oxygen is diffused into the cornea, contact lenses are placed directly on the cornea this could reduce or completely block sufficient oxygen from getting to the eyes.
- Abrasion on the cornea: if the contact lens isn’t your fit, it could scratch the cornea causing a cornea abrasion.
- Red eyes and conjunctivitis: long hours of contact lens creates an opportunity for bacteria and virus to breed on the conjunctiva causing an infection.
YOU SHOULDN’T CONSIDER WEARING CONTACT LENSES IF:
- You already have Dry Eyes Syndrome
- You are always exposed to a harsh environment.
- You already have a corneal infection.
- You always have severe allergic reactions.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN CHOOSING YOUR CONTACT LENS;
- The power- contact lens prescription is most of the time different from your glasses prescription, your doctor will recommend the right prescription for you.
- The diameter – the Keratometry test provides the values used to determine the right diameter for your contact lens
- The curvature – this measurement is also taken in the clinic during keratometry test to get the curvature of the front surface of your eyes.
You can experience discomfort, red eyes, corneal abrasion, and poor vision from wearing a contact lens that isn’t the right fit for you. So it is very important to have a comprehensive contact lens examination before choosing your contact lens of choice.
STEP-BY-STEP ON HOW TO WEAR YOUR CONTACT LENS
- First wash your hands properly.
- Bring out the contact lens from the case using your finger tip.
- Rinse your contact lens using the solution with the “Rinse and Rub” method.
- Place your contact lens on your index finger.
- Go to a mirror so as to see what you are doing, use your other hand to pull up your upper eyelid while your middle finger pulls down your lower eye lid while the contact lens is still on your index finger.
- When placing, look upwards and place the contact lens just below the black part of your eye.
- Bring your eye towards the contact lens and blink slowly so the contact lens can come to proper position.
STEP-BY-STEP ON HOW TO REMOVE YOUR CONTACT LENS
- Wash your hands properly.
- Using your middle finger, pull down your lower eye lids.
- Look upwards and use your index finger to pull the contact lens downwards and pull it out.
- Use the “rinse and rub” method to clean your contact lens removing dirts.
- Place your contact lens back in the case.
CONCLUSION
Contact lens wear is becoming very common because of its convenience and aesthetics. Provided that you follow the regimen, you should be fine.
Daily disposable contact lenses are known to be the most recommended contact lens as they are easy to use with less regimen and care. If you notice any form of redness, irritation discharge from your eyes, take off your contact lens and please do not hesitate to visit your eye doctor.