Contact Lenses and Healthy Eyes - 12 Rules Every Contact Lens Wearer Should Follow

Contact Lenses and Healthy Eyes - 12 Rules Every Contact Lens Wearer Should Follow

Do you want to switch to contact lenses from glasses, but you're not sure if contact lenses are safe or if caring for them is too much of a hassle? Or do you wear contacts already and want to make sure that you do the best for your eye health?

Taking proper care of your eyes and contact lenses isn't rocket science. Here are 12 simple rules you can follow, to keep your contact lenses and your eyes happy and healthy.

1. Modern contact lenses vary in quality; make sure that your doctor prescribes the contact lenses that are healthiest for your eyes. See suggestions on advanced contact lenses



2. Clean your lenses every time you handle them (before putting contacts in your eyes and after removing them). Give each lens a gentle 10-15 second rub in solution. The only exception to this rule is color lenses - rinse, but don't rub them; it might damage the color.



3. Handle only one lens at a time, so you don't confuse them. Train yourself to start with ether the right or the left lens.



4. When cleaning your lenses don't forget to take care of the lens case as well. Wash it with unperfumed soap and let it dry. Doctors also recommend that you replace your contact lens case every 2 or 3 months.



5. Never put your lenses in the same solution twice; replace the solution every time you handle your lenses. Usually you shouldn't use any solution 6 months after the bottle has been opened, and definitely not after the expiry date. Store your contact lenses and solution in a dry, cool place. The refrigerator door is ideal.



6. Soft contact lenses shouldn't be allowed to dry up. The lens should be either in the eye, or in a special solution. If you accidentally let the lens dry up, throw it out, it is no longer good.



7. Don't wear contacts if you have got a cold, cold sores or another infection. You don't want any germs to get into your eyes. It is handy to have a pair of glasses for such occasions.



8. If you wear make-up, apply your eye make-up after putting your lenses in, and try to use water-based mascara. Lenses are very sensitive to deodorants and hair sprays, so either spray before you put the lenses in, or close your eyes very tightly while spraying.



9. Don't forget to replace your contact lenses on schedule. Daily disposables - every morning, 2-week replacements - every fortnight and so on. A couple of days delay wouldn't make any difference, but wearing 2-week replacements for a month is definitely not healthy for your eyes. See more information about disposable contacts.



10. Avoid smoky or dusty rooms; soft contact lenses collect every tiny particle and your eyes will feel uncomfortable.



11. If your eyes feel uncomfortable or irritated, take the lens out. It is possible that something is stuck under it or the lens is torn. If your lens isn't damaged, wash your eye and the lens, and put it back. If the unpleasant sensation doesn't go away, take the lenses out and don't wear them until you can see your optometrist. Damaged lenses should be thrown away, no matter how expensive they are. A torn lens can do serious harm to your eye.



12. Don't sleep in your contacts. Lenses designed as day wear block oxygen flow to your eyes and the eyelid puts extra pressure on the lens, so your eyes would feel terrible after you wake up. The only exception is extended wear lenses, like Focus Night and Day or Acuvue; they are designed for continuous wear and sleep.
    

If you routinely follow these rules, your contact lenses should never give you any problems and, most of the time, you should feel like you don't wear any corrective lenses at all.

About the Author

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and all types of contact lenses with reviews and pictures
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Many means have been used over time to correct vision. The monocle and eyeglass on a stick came before prescription eyeglasses that had first had limited styles. As technology improved, lenses for glasses were getting smaller.

A lot of people were looking for eyeglasses to wear that they didn't have to worry about being lost or getting broken. Contact lenses were great but expensive when they came along. You would have to get new lenses if you lost them or dropped them.

Someone I knew lost a contact lens and developed an eye infection. The doctor found on examination that the lens had slipped out of place. Rigid contact lenses took some getting used to. People wanted softer lenses that were flexible, and easy to put in.

People wanted lenses they could wear all the time because the softer lenses had to be removed and cleaned every night. As more people were able to afford contacts because of the lower prices they got sick and tired of cleaning them and the expense of all the cleaning solutions needed.

It would be wonderful if contact lenses could be disposed of at night and people could get rid of the cleaning solutions. Disposable lenses came out in 1987 and were designed to be worn for a certain period of time before you needed to dispose of them.

There are terms and explanations that will help you understand disposable contact lenses. Contact lenses that can be worn for up to two weeks, discarded and replaced are called disposable lenses. Frequent Replacement lenses are replaced anytime from one to three months.

Every six months traditional/reusable lenses are replaced if not before. You can wear Extended Wear lenses for up to two weeks even while you sleep. The need for cleaning solutions is eliminated with daily disposables because they are removed and discarded every night.

Together with your doctor the right replacement schedule for you will be decided on. How you wear your contacts will help determine how often your will need to remove, replace, and/or discard them. Day and night Contact Lenses - You wear these lenses day and night for up to 30 days.

After they are removed you get rid of them. The best idea in my opinion is the use of Day and Night Contact Lenses if you can tolerate them. Think about what you can do with the extra time you will have since you won't be cleaning your lenses every night.

You eyes will be healthier the more often you replace your lenses. Your eyes could be come very uncomfortable and you could become prone to eye infections because over time lipids, proteins, and calcium could build up on them.

Some reasons to wear disposable lenses are for theatrical purposes and color changer lenses are often used. Among the wide variety of contact lenses available are animal eye lenses and those with company logos. What are the benefits, if there are any of disposable contact lenses?

Lenses are sterile and there is a lower risk of infections. There is little time for calcium, proteins, and lipids to build up on them. You will have clearer vision with them. They are not to be used with any cleaning solutions.

Storing cleaning solutions and having them is no longer necessary. The ideal lens for people with allergies is the daily disposable lenses especially during allergy seasons. If you only wear contacts a few times a week, these are great. If you wear contacts only a few times during the week, these are cheaper.

If your lose them or you rip your lenses simply throw them out and open a new package. There are greater benefits to disposable contacts than there are to eyeglasses. Many carry glasses just in case something happens to their contacts. Discuss the use of any contact lenses including disposables with your eye care professional.

He should perform a thorough examination of your eyes as well. You can get a free trial period of wear for up to a week from some manufacturers, if you do the research. You can get disposable contact lenses from online and from traditional eye care/wear places.

You need a prescription for contact lenses no matter where you get them. You should know that not everyone can wear contacts, only you and your doctor can make that decision. Make sure you will be able to afford them.

Contact manufacturers for special offers and/or free trial periods. Check out what lenses are available for your personal prescription. You need to do what is best for you.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Bifocal Contact Lenses and Contact Lenses and more. http://www.2020-contact-lenses.com