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Do you use contact lenses? Here’s what you must know!

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1. What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are made from soft plastic. They are small, thin discs designed such that you can place them directly on the surface (cornea) of the eye. 

Most often, eye doctors, or other licensed eye care professionals, prescribe contact lenses for vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

 Eye doctors may also prescribe them to treat certain eye conditions and diseases. 

2. What are the different kinds of contact lenses?

There are several types of contact lenses available. The most common are types are soft and hard (rigid gas permeable) contact lens. 

3. What are the different modalities of contact lens?

You have daily disposable lenses, bi-weekly lenses, monthly and yearly lenses.

4. Can anyone wear contact lenses?

  • Not everyone who needs glasses would want to wear contacts lenses, but many who would want to consider wearing them can wear contacts.

  • However, contact lenses may not be a suitable option for people who:

  • Have had a history repeated eye infections

  • Suffer from severe allergic reactions repeatedly

  • Have problems with eye lubrication or suffer with dryness in the eyes

  • Are exposed to large amounts of dust, dirt or smoke, have a specific vision problem that contact lenses cannot treat or need special lenses for treatment.

5. Do I need to see an Ophthalmologist or eye care professional before considering to wear contact lens?

If you want to consider wearing contact lenses, it is advisable you must first schedule a visit with an eye doctor or an optometrist. Because contact lenses are medical devices, they need to be properly fitted by an Optometrist. One should visit the eye care specialist even if you don’t wear glasses and just want to wear contacts for cosmetic purposes.

6. Does it matter where (or from whom) I purchase my contact lenses?

Contact lenses are medical devices, the fitting of which requires the expertise of an eye care professional. Avoid over-the-counter contact lenses. These lenses can cause eye injuries and infections. 

Hence, contact lenses should be prescribed and purchased from a licensed practitioner. 

7. What are multifocal contact lenses?

Multifocal contact lenses are soft contact lenses that can correct distance and near vision known as presbyopia at the same time.

8. Why do contact lenses hurt my eyes?

Discomfort with contact lenses is a symptom that something is wrong, and you should always take it seriously.

If you develop sudden eye pain or discomfort while wearing contact lenses then immediately remove your contact lenses and clean the lenses thoroughly with multipurpose contact lens solution.

Inspect your contact lens for any foreign body, deposit or torn contact lens.

If the discomfort still persists, remove your contact lens and visit your eye doctor.

9. How do I choose the best contact lenses?

Choosing the correct contact lenses is a decision you should make with the help of your eye doctor or optometrist. The choice depends on many factors such as your refractive error, your eye health, systemic conditions, wearing schedule required, hygiene and care maintaining habits, any previous contact lens history, occupation and lifestyle environment.

10. Are contact lenses dangerous for the eye?

Wearing contact lenses can damage your eyes if you wear them longer than recommended, fail to clean them properly or do not replace them as directed by your eye doctor.

To avoid serious contact lens-related problems, it is essential that you follow the care and maintenance regime diligently that your eye doctor recommends.

Although disposable contacts have reduced the risk of some eye infections, daily lens care is still important to keep your eyes healthy when wearing contact lenses.

One could consider daily disposable lenses, to avoid the task of cleaning and disinfecting your lenses each day. With these "one-day disposable" soft lenses, you simply discard the lenses after a single use and put on a new pair the next day.

11. Can I wear contact lens if I have a red eye?

It is advised to avoid wearing contact lens with a red eye to avoid further risk of infection or worsening of eye condition.

Get your eyes examined at your doctor in case of red eyes and then wear contact as recommended by your doctor.

12. Why do my eyes become red after using contact lenses?

  • You could have dry eyes, and the wear of contact lens could make it worse. To avoid this, ask your optometrist for the best recommendation of contact lenses.

  • The contact lens must be of an improper fit on the eye

  • Sleeping with your contact lens (unless your lenses are specifically made for sleeping)

  • Over wear of contact lenses beyond the expiry date

  • Allergy or any eye condition

13. What are the indications/symtoms that I need to visit my eye care specialist while wearing contact lenses?

If you experience any of the following problems, contact your eye doctor:

  • Unexplained eye discomfort or pain

  • Redness of the eye

  • Excess and regular Watering of the eyes

  • Changes in vision

14. Why must one consider opting for contact lenses over spectacles?

Reasons one should consider contact lenses are as follows:

  • Contact lenses move with your eye hence allowing a natural field of view, it have no frames to obstruct your vision and it greatly helps in reducing distortions.

  • Unlike glasses, they do not fog up or get splattered by mud or rain.

  • Contact lenses are excellent for sports and other physical activities.

  • Cosmetic appearance: Many people feel they look better in contact lenses.

15. Can a contact lens get lost behind or in my eye?

No. At worst, you might have trouble finding it under your upper eyelid.

 In cases where you can’t locate your contact lens it is necessary that your eye care practitioner can help you locate and remove the lens.

16. At What Age Can Children Start Wearing Contacts?

A understand the age in order for him to start wearing contact lenses.child's maturity and ability to handle contact lenses responsibly is an important factor to 

17. How can I tell if my contacts are inside out?

One of the methods is The Side View

Place the contact lens on the tip of your index finger so the edge of the lens is pointing up. Then hold your finger up directly in front of your eyes so you can look at the lens from the side.

If your contact forms a perfect cup-shape with the edge perfectly upright, the lens is correctly oriented and is ready to be placed on your eye. If the edge has a noticeable outward bend (like a rimmed soup bowl), the contact is inside out.

Connect with your optometrist to know about the other methods to distinguish if your lenses are inside out.

Don’t worry If you put your contact lens on inside out, you won't harm your eye or your contact lens

18. Can I wear an expired pair of contact lenses?

just as packaged foods display an expiration date, so do packaged medical devices such as contact lens have an expiry date, as a consumer protection measure it is advisable to avoid the use/wear of an expired contact lens.

19. Will I get colored contact lenses if I have a spectacle prescription?

Yes, there are prescription colored contact lenses available.

Connect with your eye care practitioner for more details.

20. How do I choose the best contact lens color?

Color contact lenses are a fun way to change your appearance by enhancing or changing your eye color. 

Choosing the color of the contact lenses merely depend on the color of your outfit, your skin tone and hair color.

21. Can I use water to clean my contact lenses?

No, you can't use water. You should never use tap water, bottled water or distilled water as a substitute for contact lens solution.

The FDA recommends that contact lenses should not be exposed to any kind of water, including tap water and water in swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs and showers.

In fact, you should even be careful about getting water splashed in your eyes when swimming, or while soaking in a hot tub, water sports or boating on a lake or river.

There are dangerous microorganisms found in these environments, and if they adhere to your contact lenses or get trapped under your lenses, they can cause sight-threatening eye infections.

22. Can I Swim with Contact Lenses in my eye?

Swimming with contact lenses should be avoided whenever possible to help prevent bacterial contamination of your eye. Swimming with contacts can result in eye infections, irritation and potentially sight-threatening conditions such as a corneal ulcer.

23. Can Contact lenses Be Stored in Water?

You should never, ever store your contacts in water. Despite being purified, tap water can still contain bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections.

Always use multipurpose cleaning contact lens cleaning solution to clean, disinfect and store your contact lenses

24. Is it difficult to put/ wear Contact lenses in the eye?

In most cases, properly fitted contacts are not difficult to wear. In fact, they are easy to apply to and remove from the eye. It just takes a little practice and patience.

25. Do’s Of Contact Lenses

  • Always wash hands, before handling contact lenses.

  • Use a lint-free cloth to wipe your hands after washing them

  • Follow the recommended wearing schedule.

  • Keep the lens case clean and replace as advised.

  • Handle lenses over clean table. Washbasins are risky; lenses can be lost down the drain.

  • Clean and disinfect lenses daily after use.

  • Carry a lens case filled with solution with you while going out of the house.

  • Remove lenses immediately if redness, watering, or irritation start. Consult your eye care practitioner immediately.

  • Wear goggles when moving out in a dusty environment.

  • Follow instructions regarding cosmetics usage with contact lenses.

  • Read all the instructions carefully before starting wear.

  • Wear your contact lenses first and then wear your make up, remove contact lenses first and then remove make up

26. Don’ts of Contact Lenses

  • Do not sleep with the lenses on the eye, unless recommended.

  • Always replace the soaking solution every night. Don’t add over the existing solution.

  • Use the contact lens solution recommended for rinsing and storing. Do not use homemade solution/saline.

  • Soft lenses cannot tolerate most of the RGP solutions. Read instructions always properly before buying solutions over the counters.

  • Do not change the brands of solutions unless recommended by the practitioner.

  • Buy smaller bottles as far as possible and discard after expiry of opening.

  • Do not touch, the tip of the solution bottle with hands, this might contaminate the solution.

  • High water content lenses should not be heat disinfected.

  • Some tinted lenses may lose their tint intensity with peroxide systems. Avoid them.

  • Lenses unused for long time should be disinfected always before reuse.

  • Cracked, chipped or torn lens should never be worn.

  • Do not rub your eyes vigorously with lens on the eye

  • Do not wear lenses if the eyes are red, unless recommended by your eye care practitioner.

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