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.