| Reply 1 : Contact lenses seem to win over eye glasses, purely for aesthetic reasons. Lenses do correct a wide range of refractive errors, and are safe for the most part. Most notably, they eliminate the need for glasses which are not preferred or are not suitable for some professions like sports.
However, contact lenses also pose some risks to your eyes. Consider the following points before you choose contact lenses to correct your vision.
1. High Maintenance: First and foremost, contact lenses are high maintenance. Before considering them, you have to be aware of factors like cost, lifestyle and the commitment required for their safe usage. If you are a very busy or a careless person, you have to think twice before opting for contact lenses.
2. Eye Infections: If you do not clean the lenses regularly and in a proper manner, they may cause abrasions or scars on your eyes. These abrasions welcome pathogenic bacteria and viruses, which cause infections. Such infections rarely lead to blindness but they can be very troublesome.
3. Reduced oxygen supply: Cornea is the clear transparent tissue over the eyes and is very clear when healthy. However, the cornea does not get blood supply like other parts of the body. It thrives upon atmospheric instead.
Contact lenses become a barrier between your cornea and atmospheric oxygen. The body responds to this by growing abnormal blood vessels into the cornea from the surrounding tissues, so as to supply blood. This makes your cornea less clear, and over time affects your vision.
Reduced oxygen levels also affect the sensitivity of the eyes, because of which you may not feel pain even when the corneal surface is scarred or infected.
4. Dry Eyes: Contact lenses may disrupt the tear composition in your eyes, which causes dryness in the eyes. Dry eyes cause irritation, pain and grittiness. Over time, dry eyes lead to vision problems as well.
5. Blurred vision or discomfort in the eyes: Latest models of contact lenses are soft and made of a gel-like material. They conform to the eye better than the earlier-hard-plastic makes. These latest models minimize the risks of corneal abrasions and scars. Most of these soft lenses come in extended wear models meant for continuous usage.
But after prolonged, careless usage, these lenses cause protein built-up in the eyes and can cause allergies in the eyes. Apart from discomfort, the protein build-up may cause blurred vision too.
Right way of using contact lenses- avoid risks
1. Avoid wearing any type of lenses overnight, even if they are advertised as long-wearing. Wearing lenses while asleep increases the risk of corneal infections and inflammatory bumps under the eyelids. Before sleeping, you should remove the lenses, clean them as per directions given and store them in their case.
2. Disposable lenses are for single use and to be disposed of at the end of the day. Never use them for the second time.
3. Never clean the lenses with water or homemade saline solutions. This can cause a variety of infections. Clean with only the sterile cleaning solution provided with the lenses.
4. Make sure that the contact lens solution is not discolored. If it is discolored, there is a high chance that it is contaminated or past expiry. A documentation of a nationwide outbreak of an amoebic infection among contact lens wearers from a certain brand of contaminated solution is given in references.
5. Water contains many infectious microbes. Therefore, always remove your contact lenses before entering swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas.
6. Avoid non-prescription colored lenses altogether. You may end up paying a higher price for mere fashion by developing serious eye problems.
7. If you are using extended wear models, you may alternate wearing them with wearing regular glasses while at home. This can help to minimize the chances of contracting infections.
8.When an ophthalmologist prescribes contact lenses, he/she provides detailed instructions regarding their usage and cleaning, and how long they can be used. Please follow these instructions carefully and avoid over-wearing them.
When should you see an ophthalmologist?
Infections due to contact lenses may bring on sudden symptoms of pain, itching, redness in the eyes, excessive discharge or blurred vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, please remove the lens immediately and consult an ophthalmologist. It helps to carry the lens in its container along with you, such that the doctor can examine your contact lenses also. |
