How Safe Are Contact Lenses?
About
three million people in the UK wear contact lenses. It is getting more popular day
by day for various reasons. Some contact lenses content UV blocking agent that
cover your cornea. But another study says that, a million people visit doctors
every year for eye infections from the lenses. Most of the infections occur
because people ignore their doctor’s advice. About 45% people don’t wash their
hands before use their lenses. So this problem is not only with the contact
lenses, but also with the people who use it. There are a number of steps that
improve the safety. These are very much easy and straight forward but many
people ignore it and fall into diseases. Consider your eyes are more precious
than anything.
Contact Lenses may be various types:
Reusable contact lenses – which can be reused, rather
wear once and throw away. It must be clean before use again.
Disposable lenses – it is used once and unsuitable
for repeated used. It doesn’t need cleaning or disinfecting.
Extended-wear lenses – they are specially designed for
wearing over night. You may check up your eyes frequently if you use this type
of lens.
No
matter what types of lenses you use you must clean your hand and disinfect the
lens with an appropriate solution before using it. Reusable contact lenses need
special care before and after using as it prevents harmful organisms building upon it.
Don’t use disposable lenses more than once because they are designed to use only
once, otherwise it will cause harm to your eyes.
A
recent study shows that, disposable lenses are used more than they should be
used and also one and half time longer than recommended. Soft contact lenses
are packaged in a small container which is filled with fluid. This fluid may be
contaminated if it stayed for a long time. So before use, wash and rinse it with
new solution.
Now
a very popular new trend that is to use contact lenses in Halloween and other
festivals. With a vampire costume people use lenses like veined and bloody eye,
swirling eyes, red or green eyes, make a shape of cats pupil or kaleidoscope
eye, etc. In these cases people use them without a valid prescription and without
consulting a doctor. Most of these lenses are collected from local street
vendors, from fashion boutiques and beauty supply stores with a little amount
of money. So they are risky and un-hygienic. Fashion contact lenses are
different in size to fit your eyes. If this does not fit eyes properly, then
serious eye damage like corneal infection, decreased vision, conjunctivitis, and
scratches on the cornea and in some cases blindness may occur. So avoid these
cheap lenses. Consult with your doctor, he will give you a valid prescription
with brand name, lens size, and expire date.
Some easy way to safety use of your lenses:
1. Wash hand with clean water. Take the lens in
your palm. Gently clean with the new solution.
2. Place the lens on the top of middle finger.
Gently place it to eye and blink to settle it.
3. Don’t use water or other liquid to wash face
while wearing lenses.
4. After using again clean it with appropriate
solutions and put into the case with new solution. Be sure that the lenses are
completely inside the liquid.
For anybody who is wearing contact
lenses, be sure that you are having regular checkups with your optician to ensure
all looks good. Contact lenses are safe to use, but only if anyone follows the
doctor’s guidance and the straightforward rules of care.
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