Choosing the right contact lenses and properly using them requires an understanding of the various kinds of contact lenses available and how to use them properly. Here are some of the things you need to know to ensure good eye health as you use your contact lenses:
Types of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses come in various forms. Primarily, we have soft contact lenses and hard contact lenses.
Soft contact lenses are the most popular and can be used to correct most eye problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and age-related vision loss.
Soft contact lenses can be further classified according to how long they are supposed to be worn. There are daily wear lenses, extended wear lenses, and disposable lenses.
Hard contact lenses can help correct most vision problems and are suitable for those who have tried soft contact lenses without success. Hard contact lenses can be used for as long as two years if the prescription doesn’t change.
Hygiene
Your contact lenses should be kept clean at all times. If you do not clean and disinfect your contact lenses before wearing them, you run the risk of contracting an eye infection. Cleaning should always be according to the guidelines given by an eye care professional. Contact lenses’ hygiene extends to the cleanliness of the case in which they are stored.
Foregoing the whole cleaning process is possible if you choose to wear disposable contacts. Disposable contacts are used once and must be discarded after each use.
Get a Doctors’ Prescription
You should only wear contact lenses as per the direction of your optician.
Wearing Best Practices
You should wear contact lenses as directed by your eye-care professional.
You also need to ensure that your eye is getting enough oxygen for it to function properly. Contact lenses cover the cornea, and this may affect the flow of oxygen to the eyes. To remedy this, doctors recommend a wearing schedule. Stick to this schedule. You must adhere to the replacement schedule your doctor recommends.
You can also take extra steps to ensure better oxygen flow to the eyes by going for silicone hydrogel contact lenses or gas permeable (GP) contact lenses.
Cases Where You Should Avoid Contact Lenses
Some people’s eye condition and work environments may not allow them to use contact lenses properly. You are advised against using contact lenses if you suffer from frequent eye infections or have Dry Eye Syndrome that is treatment resistant.
Environmental factors such as being in a dusty place for prolonged periods of time may also make wearing contact lenses a bad idea.
Using Eye Drops
You don’t need to worry about your eye drops not being compatible with your contact lenses, but, it is still recommended that you remove your contact lenses before using eye drops.
Troubleshooting Health and Suitability
Some people might develop eye complications on using certain contacts or on wearing contact lenses for long period.
To troubleshoot if the contacts are healthy for you or if you are wearing them for too long and to avoid infection, you need to evaluate vision clarity, presence of pain or discharge, the redness of your eyes and the comfort level.
Bloodshot eyes could be a sign of dry eyes or an infection. Discomfort may result from abrasion of the cornea, an infection or dry eyes. Vision clarity might reduce because of dirt or oxygen deficiency. It is important to catch these symptoms early, so you don’t run into any problems. Remove your contacts immediately on encountering them and see your eye doctor for an examination.
Ideally, you should go for eye examinations regularly even if you don’t encounter any of these issues. This blog post on KohliVentures.com warns of some of the very serious consequences of ignoring medical advice relating to your contact lenses.
Conclusion
Using contact lenses remains one of the safest methods of correcting vision problems provided the directions given by the prescribing eye care professional are strictly followed.
Your eye doctor will give you directions on how to use your contact lenses properly so you need not worry that much about developing eye complications from misuse.