Contact lenses are an effective alternative to glasses for vision correction and aesthetics. However, new users must learn how to use contacts safely. Beware that contacts increase the risks of eye infections, but if you follow your doctor's advice and maintain high hygiene standards, your contacts will be enjoyable.
Overview of contact lenses
Contacts are prescription medical devices, as per the U.S. FDA. You should not wear them without consulting a physician, even if you are experimenting with beauty lenses.
Getting contacts without a prescription can seriously harm your eyes.
Prescription for contact lenses
If diagnosed with an eye condition, your doctor may recommend contacts. If you prefer contacts but the doctor does not prescribe them, you should expressly ask whether contacts would be safe for your eyes. The doctor must examine you more closely since contacts involve more dangers than glasses.
A prescription is also essential for beauty lenses, such as those used during Halloween events. Often, people assume they can just pick beauty lenses over the counter like they do with designer glasses. However, contacts are both a fashion item and a medical device. That is why you must ask your doctor first.
Factors considered in recommending contacts
Many health factors must be considered when recommending contacts. Some of the factors include:
- The general health of your eyes, including any history of infections.
- Any known allergies or causes of irritation and itching of the eyes.
- Signs of dryness or moisture loss.
- Health and thickness of your cornea.
- The shape of your eyes.
Your doctor will only recommend contacts if convinced they are safe for you. Whether you are getting contacts for a medical condition or beauty, a checkup is necessary. You should not go for contacts without the approval.
Your first contact lenses
After obtaining your prescription, the next step is to visit an optometrist. The expert will give you a pair of contacts matching your prescription and other technical specifications like the base curve, diameter, and power.
You still need to choose your contacts based on the following factors:
- Materials - Choose between hard and soft lenses. About 95% of users choose soft contacts.
- Color- The seller may offer a range of colors for those selecting contacts for aesthetics.
- Duration- You can choose between daily, bi-weekly, and monthly issues. There are also contacts that you can wear day and night. Most people go with the daily option.
The choices above are based on safety and eye care routines.
Most people prefer soft contacts with clear or natural eye colors because they are safer. They also choose one-day disposable contacts instead of bi-weekly or monthly contacts that require special cleaning and disinfection.
Risks associated with contact lenses
Contacts are associated with the following health risks:
- Allergic reactions leading to rejection of lenses
When you wear contacts for the first time, you will likely feel discomfort before your eyes get used to them. However, you must watch for abnormal irritation, itching, or swelling that may signal an allergic reaction.
If you experience the symptoms, you must discontinue using contacts and see a doctor immediately. Untreated allergic reactions to lenses could cause blindness.
- Injury to the cornea
You may also face the risk of injury or abrasion to your cornea. Often, this happens with rigid contacts with improper fit. Corneal injury may also occur when you wear the contacts wrongly or due to prolonged use. Watch out for eye pain that may signal damage to the cornea.
People who buy contacts over the counter, without a prescription, face a greater risk of corneal injury.
- Bacterial infections in the eyes
Contacts increase the risk of eye infections, and touching your eyes transfers dirt and germs. You may have an infection if you notice sticky eye discharge.
Although you can keep off infections through strict hygiene, be aware of this inherent risk of contacts and discontinue their use if symptoms occur.
- Reduction in the production of tears, causing dryness
Dryness in the eyes is another risk associated with contacts. It reduces the flow of tears that nourish your eyes with moisture, oxygen, and minerals. If facing this challenge, you may get eye drops to help with moisturization.
- Swelling of veins near the cornea
Contacts may reduce the flow of oxygen to the eyes. People with this problem may notice their eyes becoming redder. Veins in the eyes become more visible due to dilation.
If neovascularization remains untreated for extended periods, it may blur your vision and lead to blindness in the long term.
- Possible blurred vision or partial blindness
In rare cases, there can be progressive partial blindness. This risk results from not treating infections, corneal damage, and vascularization in time.
You must discontinue the use of contacts and consult a doctor immediately if you detect any problem.
Healthy habits of when using contact lenses
Healthy habits equals healthy eyes. You can prevent nearly all of the health risks by adopting these habits:
- Read and follow all the safety instructions on the manufacturer's label
Your contact lens package comes with a label containing critical information about using the contacts safely. You must read, internalize, and strictly follow all the safety guidelines.
Read the instructions each time you replace the contacts.
- Maintain hygiene when touching the contacts
You must clean your hands with soap and water before touching the contacts, storage case, cleaning solvent, and everything that comes with your contacts.
You should also ensure the contacts don’t touch soap, water, or other beauty products. If that happens, you should get a new pair.
Hand hygiene and sterilized contacts are the pillars of safety when using lenses.
Use contact lenses in strict compliance with the doctor’s instructions
- Your eye doctor gives instructions on how and when to use contacts.
Some key instructions include storing, cleaning, and disposing of contacts. One-day lenses are disposable and cannot be worn more than once. Biweekly and monthly lenses should be cleaned after every wear and disposed of at the end of the replacement period.
Each brand specifies the solvent for cleaning contacts. You should only use the cleaning and disinfectant agents from your contacts’ package. Never mix old and new contacts or cleaning agents.
Observing all the instructions is the only safe way to use contact lenses.
- Schedule regular eye examinations
Your doctor advises you about replacing the contacts and scheduling clinical visits. For most people, monthly clinics coincide with the replacement dates for the lenses. In some cases, you may be asked to see your eye doctor once after every three months.
Honouring clinical appointments is essential for the safe use of contacts. The doctor examines your eyes to ensure the lenses' safety. Depending on your eye health, the doctor may change the prescription to different contacts.
- Purchase contact lenses from licensed sources
The last major tip is about where to purchase your lenses. There are only two ways to buy new contacts safely:
The first is from your eye doctor, who is bound by ethics and regulations to ensure your safety.
The second is an online shop where you mail your prescription. The online shop supplies the lenses in strict compliance with the prescription.
A prescription is an essential requirement for purchasing contacts safely. Without one, you can never be sure the contacts will be safe.
Final thoughts
Contact lenses are safe. Their safety is predicated on purchasing them from licensed sources using an eye doctor's prescription.
In use, the safety of contacts is hinged on practicing healthy habits that include hand hygiene and following all the instructions from your doctor and the manufacturer of lenses.
Failure to follow healthy habits exposes you to eye injuries and infections that could lead to blindness if untreated.
FAQs
Who are contact lenses unsafe for?
Children may face difficulties maintaining healthy behaviours, and people with recurrent eye infections for whom contacts may increase the risk level.
May I rub my eyes with contacts on?
No. Doing so could lead to injuries. Remove the contacts and replace them with a clean pair. Always carry an extra pair or two. Also, eye drops should enhance comfort and reduce the need to rub the eyes.
Am I allowed to sleep in contact lenses?
No. Doing so increases the risk of eye injury. You may also get sticky or dry eyes.
If you need contacts at night, seek a doctor’s opinion. The doctor would recommend Day and Night variants with instructions to maintain eye health. Day and Night lenses must not be bought without a prescription.