First Contact Lenses?
Contact lenses, like glasses, correct vision defects (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia). Approximately 20% of my patients regularly use contact lenses. Why do some people choose contact lenses while others prefer glasses? What should you know before deciding to apply contact lenses?
First Contact Lenses
Some patients cannot imagine life without glasses. For them, glasses are the most reliable and healthiest form of vision correction and can also be an adornment. Others cannot accept the limited field of vision, lack of freedom, or simply the constant cleaning of glasses.
Contact lenses have been known for over a hundred years. Currently, the vast majority of people can wear contact lenses, so if you were told 10 years ago that your vision defect could not be corrected with lenses, now it probably can. If you gave up contact lenses 10 years ago because they were uncomfortable or too expensive, it’s worth reconsidering – a lot has changed in terms of health, lens design, and wearing comfort.
Contact Lenses – Advantages
- nobody knows you have a vision defect – contact lenses are not visible on the eye;
- convenience – contact lenses do not get dirty or fog up;
- unlimited field of vision;
- natural vision – lenses do not affect the size of seen objects;
- contact lenses are fresh and provide the same vision – glasses deteriorate, losing their original appearance due to wind, heat, sweat, interaction with the skin;
- significantly better peripheral vision without distortions is especially appreciated by those who play sports;
- you can wear a swimming or fencing mask over lenses;
- you can wear a helmet on a motorcycle or scooter;
- they provide better spatial vision and distance assessment;
- proper care of lenses ensures health, good vision, and excellent well-being for years;
I Want to Wear Contact Lenses – What Next?
The first step is to visit a contactologist – an optometrist or ophthalmologist who deals with the application of lenses. During the visit, contact lenses will be selected to suit your eyes and needs. You will learn how to care for them and practice putting them on and taking them off. At the end of the visit, you should receive a prescription specifying the parameters of your lenses.
Wearing contact lenses, you should have check-ups – once every 6 months.
Contact Lenses – Which Are Best for Me?
Contact lenses should primarily correct the vision defect. Glasses sometimes have a different power than contact lenses. This happens because contact lenses are not produced in every possible option. An optometrist prescribing glasses can prescribe any lens values. When prescribing contact lenses, an optometrist operates within a limited choice of spherical, cylindrical powers, curvatures, and diameters.
Contact lenses should have the right size – they cannot be too flat or too convex. They cannot be too small or too large. Oxygen permeability is also a very important criterion for selecting lenses. The cornea gets oxygen from the air, so lenses should have the maximum possible oxygen permeability. This guarantees eye health and a good appearance.
In my opinion, UV protection is also an important criterion. More and more lenses on the market protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation. I always recommend my patients to use lenses with a filter, both in winter and summer.
Is Caring for Lenses Difficult?
No. Read the short instruction:
Preparing lenses for cleaning:
- wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
- before removing contact lenses, thoroughly rinse the case with multi-purpose lens care solution.
- remove the lens from the selected eye.
Cleaning Lenses:
- if you use daily disposable lenses, cleaning them is unnecessary – simply throw them away after use.
- if they are bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual lenses, daily cleaning is necessary. After removing the lens from the eye, gently rub it with the index finger of the other hand for about half a minute. It is important to rub it up and down, not in a circular motion, which can damage the lens. Then flip the lens over and perform the same action. After cleaning, rinse the lens on both sides to remove all remaining impurities.
- if you have a special NO RUB formula solution (without rubbing), simply rinse the lens on both sides.
Storing Lenses:
- fill both chambers of the contact lens storage case with lens solution. Place the removed and cleaned lens in the appropriate chamber of the case, so that the lens is completely submerged. However, do not fill the case to the brim, as it is neither necessary nor economical. Screw the lid on the case.
- Perform the same actions after removing the second lens.
REMEMBER THAT:
- before reapplying, lenses should stay in the container for at least four hours, so the best solution is to remove lenses and disinfect them directly before going to sleep.
- the lens case should be rinsed daily with disinfection solution and left open until dry.
- despite proper care, the lens case should be replaced every two to three months.
- Never use tap water or even mineral water to clean the case.
- lenses should also never be rinsed with anything other than solutions designed for lens care and disinfection.
- do not pour several types of care solutions into the container.
- never wear lenses longer than the manufacturer recommends.