Contact Lenses: Tips and Tricks for First Time Users

1:02 am

It’s quite common for people to avoid getting contact glasses or lenses because they are unsure of how to put them in . . . or even that they will be able to deal with having something in their eyes every day. However, contacts are really quite easy to use, once you get the hang of it. The first couple of times, you may be hesitant, but this article will show you how to put your new contact lenses in and how to ensure that they don’t bother you.
To make sure that your contact glasses don’t have calcium build up that could irritate your eyes, you’ll want to soak them in lens cleaning solution for at least 4-6 hours. This will loosen up anything that has built up during the time they have been in the package. After the soak time, rinse your contacts thoroughly with saline solution (NOT tap water) and check them for any scratches or tears. Then you’re ready to put them in.
You should wash your hands with soap and water before handling your contact glasses. This just ensures that no dirt or grime will get trapped under the lens where it can irritate your eye. Also, dry your hands carefully, since a wet fingertip will tend to stick to the contact, making it harder to insert.
Once you have prepared everything and your hands and contact glasses are nice and clean, you are ready to get started. Take the first contact lens and place it on your fingertip. It should look like a little bowl sitting there, with the top edges horizontal. Soft contacts can get turned inside out by accident sometimes and if this happens, you’ll notice that the edges flare out. Just turn it right side out and it will be fine.
The easiest way to put your contact glasses in is to place the contact lens on the index finger of the hand closest to your eye, left hand for left side, etc. Use the middle finger of that same hand to pull the lower eyelid down and the opposite hand to lift the upper lid. Basically, you want your eye open as much as possible, you should be able to see the entire colored part of your eye.
Now, place the contact gently in the eye, making sure that it doesn’t stick to your finger and let go of your eyelids. Blink a few times and the contact will automatically center itself. You should be fairly comfortable at this point. But, to make sure that you don’t have any problems, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t wear your new contacts for very long the first few times, since they can be drying to the eyes.
Following the recommended time schedule for wearing your contact glasses is definitely a good idea, but you might want to use some lubricating eye drops (ask your eye doctor for recommendations) to help ease any discomfort. It’s normal to have slightly irritated eyes the first few times that you wear contacts. You might find that your eyes tear up and get a bit red, but that’s normal. However, pain is not, so if you have any pain, just take them out.
Trying out contact lenses for the first time can be a bit nerve-wracking, but it will get easier. Within a week, you’ll be a complete expert at putting your contacts in and taking them out!

Contact Lenses: Replace Them For Healthy Eyes

1:04 am

Contact lenses have seen an explosion in popularity over recent years. More convenient and affordable than ever before many people are opting to take off their glasses.
For anyone wishing to make the switch to contact lenses, one of the most important things you will need to know about is the replacement schedule for your contact lenses.
What Is A Replacement Schedule?
There are two important schedules contact lens wearers need to follow in order to maintain good eye health. One is called the wearing schedule; the other is called the replacement schedule.
- The Wearing Schedule: refers to how many hours you leave your contacts in and how often you remove them, clean them and store them.
- The Replacement Schedule: refers to how often you dispose of and buy new contact lenses.
While most people understand how often to remove contact lenses (the wearing schedule), it is also very important for the health of your eyes to understand how often to dispose of and replace your contact lenses.
How Often Should Contact Lenses Be Replaced?
There are a number of different types of lenses to choose from and each has its own optimal replacement time.
- Disposable Lenses: These need to be disposed of and replaced daily, weekly or bi-weekly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Most eye care professionals advocate the use of daily lenses, which are put in first thing in the morning and then removed and thrown away before sleep. This kind of a daily regime removes the danger of bacteria contaminating your contact lenses.
- Extended/Continuous Wear Lenses: The new product on the market, these are designed to be worn consistently (even while sleeping) for up to one week or one month and then discarded.
- Frequent Replacement Lenses: These are designed to be replaced monthly, quarterly, or biannually on a schedule determined by your eye care professional.
- Traditional Lenses: These are reusable and should be replaced quarterly, biannually or annually on a schedule determined by your eye care professional.
Personalize Your Schedule
Just because the box says you can re-use your contact lenses for up to two weeks doesn’t mean your eyes will agree. Everyone’s eyes tolerate the use of contact lenses differently and some people are more sensitive than others. This is why it is important to discuss a replacement schedule with your eye care professional and stick with it.
If you find your eyes become irritated easily then you may need a shorter replacement schedule or a different kind of lens.
Why Do We Need To Replace Contact Lenses?
Even with proper cleaning and maintenance substances such as proteins and lipids (found naturally in tears) build up over time and adhere to your contact lenses. This film can cause discomfort in the form of red, itchy eyes and also provide a place for germs to live. These germs can cause nasty infections to occur which in rare cases can destroy your cornea. That is why it is vital for continuing eye health to replace your contact lenses frequently.
Cost Versus Safety
It is important to factor in the cost of replacement contact lenses when you make the decision to wear them. Never wear lenses past their recommended usage time in order to save money. Many people who have tried this have ended up with bacterial infections that can do permanent eye damage. You also run the risk of irritating your eyes to the point where you can never wear contact lenses again.
Ensure the health and safety of your eyes and replace lenses frequently.