Contact lenses (contact lenses) make life easier: they allow you to freely practice sports, do not fog up and do not slip off the nose. Contact lenses come in many types: there are daily, monthly, progressive, colored, eye magnifying lenses. We advise on how to choose contact lenses, how to put them on and care for them.

Contact lensesare primarily comfortable. Thanks to them, you can play sports intensively, without worrying about falling glasses. In addition, contact lenses provide an unlimited field of view without distortions. You don't have to pay attention to the weather - the contact lenses won't fog up! The aesthetic aspect is also important - most people look better without glasses, moreover, thanks tocolored lensesyou can change the color of your iris. Contact lenses also allow you to wear fashionable sunglasses.

Contact lenses and astigmatism. What eye defects do lenses correct?

Contact lenses correct short and long-sightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism. Systematic replacement lenses (one-day, 2-week, monthly) are available in powers from +6 to -12, quarterly and annual lenses ordered individually - from +30 to -30.

Hard and soft contact lenses

Although contact lenses have many advantages, remember to always have a spare (e.g. in case of illness) ordinary glasses.

The selection of contact lenses is done by ophthalmologists and optometrists. Soft lenses are the most popular lenses and are made of a polymer called a hydrogel or silicone hydrogel. When dry, the hydrogel has the properties of a hard organic material, and when hydrated it becomes soft and flexible. The type of lenses depends on the degree of hydration and air permeability (these are separate parameters). The degree of hydration in soft lenses varies between 30 and 75 percent. In hydrogel lenses, water is responsible for the amount of oxygen transmitted, in new-generation silicone-hydrogels - silicone. There are soft corrective contact lenses, medical (used as a dressing) and cosmetic contact lenses (they are used to change the color and appearance of the iris, and can also perform a corrective function). They can also be divided according to the mode of wearing: in the day system (removable for the night), inflexible system (you can sleep in them occasionally) and for continuous wear (without taking off, e.g. for 30 days).

Hard lenses are made of an organic material with high oxygen permeability. They last longer and have a smaller diameter than soft lenses. Unfortunately, they also have a disadvantage: the eyes get used to them for a long time.

Progressive contact lenses

This type of lenses is recommended for people over 40, whose eyesight problems result from the natural aging processes. Progressive lenses work by adjusting to the distance at which you are looking at an object. So the problem of having two types of reading glasses and one for everyday use disappears, because progressive lenses provide sharp vision for both near and distant objects.

The only downside to progressive contact lenses is that your eyes need to get used to them. At first, your vision may be blurry and your image may appear duplicate. Adaptation to new lenses can take from several hours to even several days. However, if you still feel discomfort after 2 weeks, see your optician.

Colored contact lenses

Contact lenses in various colors are available on the market - thanks to this, you can emphasize your natural eye color, change it, and even optically enlarge your eyes. The fashion for experimenting with the color of irises meant that such lenses are worn even by people who do not have eyesight problems.

What effect can colored lenses produce?

  • enhancing the natural color,
  • eye color change,
  • eye enlargement - a delicate circle is drawn on the surface of such lenses, which optically increases the area of ​​the iris and the eyes appear larger,
  • deepening the look - the lenses both enhance the color of the iris and increase the contrast, thanks to which the look becomes more expressive.

It is worth adding that there are also contact lenses with various designs, e.g. red eyes, bloodshot eyeballs, narrowed pupils, with crosses, checkerboards, etc., but they are not recommended for people with visual impairments.

How to put on contact lenses?

During the first visit, test lenses are put on by a specialist. After 15 minutes, he asks if they are not pinching or can be felt. If you feel uncomfortable try a different type. During this visit, the specialist teaches how to put on contact lenses.

Here is a simple guide to inserting your lenses:

Always start with your right eye. Remove the lens from its packaging with your fingertip. Raise it to eye level, check that it isn'tturned up - it should have a semicircular shape. Pull the upper eyelid slightly and pull the lower eyelid down. Use your index finger to place the lens over your eye, then remove your fingers and blink. To take it off, slightly pull it downwards and pinch it with your thumb and forefinger.

Contraindications for wearing contact lenses

Only a few percent of people have clear contraindications for wearing contact lenses. These include: active infections, dry eye syndrome, type 2 diabetes, as well as mental barriers - fear of inserting a lens into the eye.

Who can wear contact lenses and who can't? Check what the specialist says

Magdalena Sadowska, an optometrist, explains for whom wearing lenses may not be recommended.

Source: x-news, Dzień Dobry TVN

How do I care for my contact lenses?

Contact lens care is not at all time-consuming. You just throw away your daily lenses in the evening. If you decide to replace your lenses regularly, you need to clean and disinfect them every evening. One multifunctional fluid recommended by an ophthalmologist is enough for this. Cleaning the lenses is simple: place the lens in the hollow of your hand, pour a few drops of the liquid and rub it gently with your finger. Repeat the same with the other, and then put each of them in a container filled with fresh liquid. Always carry special eye moisturizing drops with you - they moisturize your eyes, reduce irritation caused by pollen, dust and dry air.

Important
  • A US study by Roper Starch Worldwide shows that about 60 percent of lens wearers believe their self-esteem is much higher than when they wear eyeglass lenses. Most of them feel more confident and do not have complexes.
  • 9 out of 10 Europeans who play sports with contact lenses say they provide better visual acuity.
  • In the USA, as many as 15 percent of the society uses contact lenses as a way to correct eye defects.
  • Modern contact lenses have a built-in filter that protects against harmful ultraviolet radiation (responsible, among others, for cataracts). Lenses with a UV filter stop over 97 percent. UVB radiation and over 82 percent. UVA radiation.
  • British scientists argue that the latest generation of contact lenses has properties that reduce the risk of eye infections. Those who also want to sleep in contact lenses should wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses, which reduce the risk of contamination five times compared to hydrogels.

Choosing contact lenses - at a specialist

The first contact lenseschoose only with an ophthalmologist. Each change of lenses to a different type must also be consulted. During the first visit, the specialist conducts a qualifying examination, selects the appropriate type of lenses, and teaches how to put them on and care for them. It also sets when to come back for your next follow-up visit to check that your lenses are wearing well and you don't experience dry eyes. If everything is okay, come to the check-ups at the appointed time by a specialist (usually every 6-12 months). Also, see an ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any disturbing changes in your eyes.

How much do contact lenses cost?

Lenses are not expensive, sometimes they pay off more than glasses. The best, although the most expensive, are those for daily replacement, the longer the time the lenses are used, the cheaper they are. Of course, price cannot be the decisive criterion. You also need to add care lotions and eye drops to the costs. Once you choose the contact lenses from a specialist, you can buy new pairs in optical salons or in online stores, where prices are much lower. Just remember about regular check-ups with a specialist.

What about makeup with lenses?

When wearing lenses, you do not have to give up painting your eyes, you just have to follow the rule: do makeup when the lens is in the eye. In other words, follow the order: put on the lenses first, then make-up, remove the lenses before removing them. Hypoallergenic inks or crayons are not necessary ( although manufacturers of lenses and liquids recommend them). When using spray cosmetics (hairspray, deodorant), close your eyes or wear them before inserting your lenses.

Important

Iron hygiene rules for wearing contact lenses

  • Before touching your contact lenses, wash your hands, rinse them thoroughly with soap, and then dry with a lint-free towel.
  • The lens case must be rinsed with the liquid after each use and left to dry.
  • Do not use expired liquids or touch the end of the liquid bottle.
  • Under no circumstances should you exceed the recommended wearing time. If the comfort of using lenses deteriorates before it expires, debris sticks to them or the lens is damaged - try a new pair.
  • Never use saliva, water or any other liquid - only liquid - to moisten or rinse your lenses.
  • Do not touch the lenses with your fingernails or tweezers.

Contact lenses and strabismus

The latest research shows that contact lenses work greatthey work well with such eye defects as astigmatism or strabismus. In the case of astigmatism, lenses efficiently train the eye and significantly correct the defect. As it turns out, the lenses are also good at dealing with strabismus, although until recently it was believed that only the right glasses could correct the strabismus. It turns out, however, that contact lenses provide a very similar effect on eye positioning to glasses. However, it should be remembered that the values ​​of contact lenses must be modified in relation to glasses: higher in hyperopia and lower in myopia. The corresponding tables are used to calculate the power of contact lenses. In the case of correction of strabismus with lenses in children, they should wait until the age of 10. Until then, corrective glasses are recommended.

Japanese lenses

The so-called Japanese lenses, which not only change the color of the eye, but also make it appear dark and wide (Asian type). However, specialists argue whether these lenses are completely safe for our he alth, especially since they do not have a corrective effect. The question - are they not additionally burdening the eye in addition to the "doll effect".

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Category:

Eye diseases and vision disorders