6 Best Tips to Protect your Eyes & Vision

Eyes are a gift that you are bestowed with, just once in a lifetime. There are many external agents that prose dangers to eyes deteriorating the vision gradually. From dust, smoke, UV rays, contact lenses, glasses to unhygienic practices & everything that your eyes absorb from the environment plays a negative role until you make strong efforts to maintain good health by meticulous cleansing of contact lenses and excellent hygienic habits. As per Optegra Eye Health care report; 4 out of 5 persons in Britain worry about protecting their eye health but only less than half of the population actually visits eye doctor for regular eye tests. Follow the tips below to keep your vision sharp & eyes perfect in shape.

1. Be Careful with Makeup

Makeup must be removed every night before going to bed. Makeup particles can come in contact with your eyes that may deposit on your cornea. Over the course of time, the debris can cause infection leading to vision loss.

2. Remove Contact Lenses

Don’t go to bed with contact lenses. Sleeping in with contact lenses is strictly prohibited. Since contact lenses block oxygen transmission, wearing them at night whilst you sleep may create complications that may be difficult to treat.

3. Wear Sun Glasses Along with UV Protection Contact Lenses

UV exposure is harmful to eyes the same way it is for your body. Sun glasses that actually have the tendency of intercepting UV rays may be quite expensive. Depending on your budget you can either get UV protection sun glasses or prepare an extra layer of protection by wearing UV interception contact lenses along with locally available shades. UV interception contact lenses block harmful sun-rays reaching your eyes which prevent from pre-mature ageing and macular degeneration.

Be very careful when you go snow skiing during winter and tanning in summer. Over exposure to sun may cause long term damage such as skin cancer

4. Always Remember: Water & Contact Lenses are a No-Match

Water and contact lenses should never be brought into contact. Water contains a virus “Acanthamoeba” that may cause a very rare but fatal infection “Acanthamoeba Keratitus”. This devours human cornea and it often is too late before you could make a difference.

Practice caution at washing face, swimming, taking a hot tub bath, and whilst you surf wearing contact lenses.

5. Quit Smoking

Smoking is injurious to health. It leads to corneal infiltrates, dryness and irritation that makes wearing contact lenses difficult.

Also Read: [Smokers wearing Contact Lenses are at Greater Risk of Damages]

6. Keep Yourself Hydrated

There is no denial to the fact that water is life. Keeping yourself hydrated is the key to stay healthy & fit. Drink plenty of water everyday as dehydration can lead to dryness & irritable eyes. Wearing contact lenses with dry eyes syndrome may induce eye sores and affect contact lens tolerance negatively.

Omega 3 fatty acids & nutritional supplements further help improving eye sight. 

Is it Safe to Wear Contact Lenses with a Sty?

Sty is usually a harmless swollen, pus-filled bump over tear duct or lash line that is caused by bacterial contamination. It goes away by itself within a week or two. If it does not completely vanish; it starts showing the signs of improvements in first 48 hours. Since styes are caused by infections you need to be very concerned about preventing the recurrence or outbreak if you wear contact lenses. Be very meticulous and take all measures to maintain good hygiene for eye health.

Precautionary Measures: Styes & Contact Lenses

Dirty Contact Lenses

If you wear contact lenses, always ensure to regularly disinfect them. Dirty contact lenses can also be the reason of styes’ growth. Remember; the root cause is bacteria & chances are that that bacterium is clinging to the surface of your circle lenses that could undoubtedly facilitate the transmission of bacteria to your eyes.

Dirty Hands

Always wash your hands properly before touching your contact lenses. When you have styes, you unconsciously touch your eyes. The finger pads pick up the bacteria from the styes and transmit it to circle lenses when you touch them. Therefore, always wash your hands, dry them with a lint free towel & then handle your contact lenses

Toss off Contact Lenses & Makeup

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It is advised to avoid circle lenses during styes over eye lids. Styes drain the puss that can contaminate the contact lenses. Toss of the circle lenses & replace them with the new. Also, avoid using the same eye makeup accessories you used during the time of infection once it has healed completely.

According to Dr. Andrew Dahl, having an experience of 49 years in Ophthalmology; it is safe to start wearing circle lenses again after 2-3 days of styes’ healing. Do not share your towels and contact lenses to stop the recurrence & the wide- spread of the infection.

5 Safety Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Contact lens wearers are vulnerable to contagious ocular diseases if proper care is not taken off. Fortunately, only very rarely contact lens related injuries are registered every year in hospitals. Since contact lenses are approved medical devices, handling them with care is mandatory. Being meticulous about diligent cleanliness & disinfection is what keep your contact lenses safe from bacteria accumulation.

Follow these 5 Safety Tips to Guard your Eyes against Infections

1. Okay, this is no brainier. washing your hands by an oil-free soap is crucial. Rub and cleanse your finger pads, dry them with a lint-free cloth before even thinking to touch your contacts.
2. Circle contacts should never be shared, swapped, or resold after use. Even the lens that you first inserted in your right eye should not go into left. As under-wears & tooth brushes are meant for personal use; circle lenses should also be confined to one’s self only.
3. People prone to allergies should learn effective management of contact lenses with the changing weather. Pollen in spring & dry weather in winter can instigate irritation that can be reduced using eye drops. People with allergies should be very vigilant about disposing off their contact lenses right on the time as they cross the expiration date.
4. Don’t allow your circle lenses to get in contact with water. Always put them of before going for a swim, at beach or before diving into a hot tub bath or a shower. Water contains microorganisms that cling to the surface of contact lenses & might eat your cornea if transmission happens.
5. Replace your contact lens cases every 3 months. Yes, every 3 months. Contact lens cases are breeding beds of germs and must not be taken for granted. If you can’t somehow replace your cases sterilize them before using them further. 

Make Eye Health a Priority (First Contact Lens Week: Health Reminder 3)

People who wear contact lenses should be very cautious about the health of their eyes. Eye health needs to take the status of “priority” in your life than being an “option”. Elderly & children both, alike need a comprehensive check-up once a year. Contact lens wearers should keep a track on how their eyes are performing against contact lenses, through regular follow-up sessions.

FDA approved contact lenses and circle lenses that have acquired CE certifications & other medical approvals pose no threats usually. However, negligence, ignorance & improper use of contact lenses may lead to serious eye infections and even corneal abrasions. This is why; ophthalmologists and contact lens experts emphasize on the importance of “Contact Lens Follow-ups”.

Also Read: How important are contact lens follow-ups?

Human being makes mistakes inadvertently; and with contact lenses there are increased chances of developing the habit of indulging oneself into “shortcuts”. Falling asleep with contact lenses with an intention of taking just a 20 minutes nap, not disinfecting them on daily basis, topping off solution in the lens chambers & not replacing them past their expiry are common pitfalls for every one wearing contact lenses in a routine. These ignorant attitudes of consumers may trigger serious health hazards about which the patient often stays oblivious of. Contrary to this, regular follow-ups of contact lenses let you detect an infection at the early stages; ensuring the most competitive treatment.

It has been observed that it is the improper usage of contact lenses that contribute to the 1 million eye infections alone in the US every year. To be on a safer side preventive & routine eye care should be your top priority than resorting to your eye care professional only when something goes wrong. From a medical stand point, eye checkups do more than just correcting vision problems. Contact lenses are classified as medicaldevices and should be dealt accordingly for safer eyes. 

Can I wear Ripped/Torn Contact Lenses?

The question should not be whether you can wear torn contact lenses or not; but rather it should be why on earth would you want to wear ripped contact lenses? This is definitely a bad idea; hence must not be given a second thought.

Also Read: Why do Circle Contacts Rip?

Contact lenses and circle lenses are water-loving medical devices. When they are deprived of enough moisture they turn dry which results in ripping them. Contact lenses though if not touched in their dry state; can retain the prior position when lubricated using multi-purpose solution. After; re-lubricating them, always inspect them closely for any scratches, cuts, notches & rips on the surface before attempting to wear them again. However; we warn you to wear such circle lenses that have been dried out even once.

Also Read: Can I wear Dried-out Circle Contacts?

What happens if I wear Torn Contact Lenses?

According to Dr. Andrew Shatz; certified Ophthalmologist “Torn contacts have sharp edges that can scratch the eye. This can in turn allow bacteria from the contact or eye surface to get under the skin and cause a serious eye infection. Do not use a torn contact lens”

Torn circle contacts cause severe stinging, burning sensation which sometimes may lead to potential damages such as corneal abrasions. One must avoid wearing circle contact lenses with any type of flaws in it since we all are aware of the fact that contact lenses are far more than mere fashion accessories. They are medical devices and should be dealt accordingly. It is advised to toss your torn/dried circle contact lenses immediately to prevent mixing them up with fresh pair of contact lenses.

Get yourself a new pair of colored contact lenses for as low as $1. Do not risk your eyes; they are precious!

Can Colored Contact Lenses Cause Eye Floaters?

Colored contact lenses neither cause eye floaters nor can they make it worse. Eye floaters are small moving protein blobs that drifts about in the field of your vision. They look like grey specks, strings or cobwebs. They are very normal and should not cause any hindrance in the vision. However; if they suddenly increase in numbers, one should immediately arrange a visit to eye doctor.

Floaters

Effect of Colored Contact Lenses on Floaters:

“Eye floaters” is an age-related problem; thus it occurs as you age. Floaters are more common in people between 50 to 75 years. It occurs when the gel-like substance (vitreous) in the eye become more liquid. Colored contact lenses have directly no relation with worsening the floaters. Therefore, it is completely safe to wear colored contact lenses for prescription purposes even if you are diagnosed with floaters.

According to Eye Professional John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO, “There is no cause-effect relationship between floaters and contact lenses”. Therefore; wearers of colored contact lenses should feel no fear or hesitation; since they do not need to discontinue wearing colored contact lenses due to floaters. They must however should stick to cleanliness & maintenance along with timely replacement of colored contact lenses.

Avoid Expired/ Old Colored Contact Lenses

Old colored contact lenses or those that have passed their expiry must be avoided. Such colored contact lenses are already possibly contaminated with viruses/ bacteria. Furthermore; protein deposits on old colored contact lenses may bring havoc to those having vision problems.

Also Read: Do Circle Lenses Really Expire?

People with floaters are recommended to stick to monthly disposable circle lenses that are meant for a month use or last three months at maximum.

“Contacts do not cause floaters to become larger, although you might become more aware of them with visual improvement. Contacts also do not cause flashes. If you have flashes and/or an increase or change in floaters, especially suddenly, this may be a sign of a more serious problem within the eye, having nothing to do with the contacts. You should have a dilated eye exam by a Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist) to be certain that you don't have problems within the eye”; Says Ivan Schwab-Ophthalmologist at American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart.

Reference:

WebMd- Eyefloaters (Benign)

Contact Lens’ Effects on Floaters

3 Facts Circle Lens Wearers Ignore: Stay Focused to Improve Eye Health

Circle Lenses and Contact Lenses are fun to wear, but in order to enjoy the fun even when you remove them; you must stay focused on improving the safety of your eyes. We all know the circle lenses are not mere fashion accessory but are medical devices that require maintenance & careful handling. Most often contact lens wearers are observed paying all of the attention towards the brand/manufacturer only. Unfortunately they forget that the lens care is equally important. Neglect regular cleansing of your circle lenses if you love putting your eyes at risk. The 3 common facts that majority of the circle lens wearers ignore create obstacles in proceeding towards healthy life style.

1. A Strong Multi-Purpose Solution

Lens care products are as important as is the brand of the circle lenses. Say you purchase a branded pair of circle lenses worth $22 but ignorantly cleanse it using a low quality saline solution – This does not only reduce the quality of circle lenses but continuing to it may even damage the eyes.

A decade back, there had been a laborious regime for cleaning circle lenses, which through the advancement in technology has now been replaced by “Multi-Purpose Disinfectant”. The advanced multi-purpose disinfectant allows greater cleansing with all-in-one “rub, rinse &disinfect” formula. Therefore, a good multi-purpose solution is strong enough to cleanse a lens from deposition & stubborn protein accumulation and as well as gentle enough to go straight into the eyes without harming them. To accomplish this task, measures should be taken by circle lens & contact lens wearers to preserve the concentration of the disinfectant. The disinfectant bottle should never be left opened as it facilitates the evaporation of the preservative that kills bacteria. This affects the efficacy of the multi-purpose disinfectant. This also rings bell for those careless wearers who habitually top off the contact lens solution.

Also Read: How to Clean Contact Lens Cases for Better Eye Health?

2. Monthly Disposable Circle Lenses

Fortunately; you can find circle lenses as per your requirement and eye types. Though monthly & daily disposable circle lenses are a bit pricey to afford for some; they are far more effective when you are trying to switch to better health conditions from poorly-managed life style.

The multi-purpose disinfectant as mentioned above cleanse and free circle lenses from lipid accumulation but you will be considered on the right path only if you disinfect your circle lenses regularly.

If you find it hard to follow the whole process every night religiously, don’t worry. You can try disposable circle lenses. To reduce dropouts of circle lenses, optometrists recommends “Monthly Disposable Circle Lenses”. These types of disposable circle lenses are also a good start for the people with sensitive eyes.

Also Read: Why Monthly Disposable Circle Lenses?

3. Wettability of Circle Lenses

When circle lenses & contact lenses are not disinfected properly; they begin to turn dry. This happens because lipids accumulation & other depositions can cause reduction in lens wettability & disruption of the tear film which may further deteriorate the condition by causing frequent eye blinking & blurred vision. Lubricating drops may not be able to help because the deposits compromise the wettability of circle lenses as they develop dry patches on the surface of contact lenses.

Read Also: Are Circle Lenses Really Worth the Risk?

This is therefore very important to ask yourself at the end of the day “How comfortable my eyes felt whilst wearing circle lenses today?” The same question should be asked at the beginning & end of every circle lens cycle to determine if the flaw is in the circle lenses or is actually a medical issue caused by your criminal negligence.

If you have had the comfortable wears of circle lenses in the beginning but not in the end of the lens cycle, most probably you are also one of those careless circle lens wearers who over-look these 3 facts.