5 “Say NOs” of an Avid Contact Lens Wearer: Combating Risk of Infections

Though CLIDs (Contact Lens Induced Diseases) are rare, people who wear contact lenses are prone to corneal infections than those who do not. Infections with contact lenses are not inevitable, if proper care is taken off. To avoid corneal diseases, practice good hygiene & do not compromise on the quality of contact lenses you purchase.

Say No to ‘Substandard Contact Lenses’

As per the consensus of global marketers, manufacturers and by health regulatory enforcements; price range for FDA contact lenses should be USD 19 to 23 USD. Anything, lower than this; is probably substandard or counterfeit. Such fake contact lenses can deter the vision or threat corneas.

Say No to ‘Water'

When wearing contact lenses, be very careful with water. Minimize your contact with water as it contains a micro organism that is undoubtedly fatal. Remove your contact lenses when you wash your face, bathe or surf at beach.

Say No to ‘Home Made Solutions’

Use only pharmacy made solutions to disinfect your contact lenses. The commercially prepared solutions contain enough preservatives to keep the efficacy of the disinfectant intact. Homemade saline solutions should never be resorted to, unless it is an extreme emergency.

Say No to ‘Doze Off’

Sleeping with contact lenses has never been a good idea. Remove your contact lenses when you are off to bed. Contact lenses partially block oxygen permeation. Oxygen penetration is further compromised when you sleep. As per the latest study, even the extended wear contact lenses (that are actually meant to stay in eyes for long) are not safe enough to be left in eyes throughout the night.

Say No to ‘Ignore the Expiry’

Always have an eagle eye over the replacement directions. Do not wear expired contact lenses. Contact lenses may appear all the way same even after the expiry has reached. This however does not mean they are still safe to be worn.

Contact lenses have been helping people around, improving the vision and modifying the style statement. They should not budge you even a bit if they are supplied to you by an authentic seller. If upon wearing contact lenses, you notice even the slightest of the inflammation, itching, redness of sensitivity to light, immediately remove them and seek professional help if necessary.

Switch to Monthly Disposable Circle Lenses during summer

During sweltering summer, there are far more chances of bacteria composition on contact lenses. The blazing hot season is already linked with wreaking havoc on your skin, hair, body and above all eyes. Contact lenses if are not meticulously cared for may aggravate the risks of ocular infections. During summer; “hay fever” is already on the peak that induces ocular discharge and painful irritation. The discharge is responsible for contact lens contamination; requiring the contact lenses to be tossed off as frequently as possible. To reduce the CLIDs, it is suggested to replace your annual replacement contact lenses with monthly disposable contact lenses.

Since monthly disposable contact lenses do not get enough time for the development of bio-film, they are subjected to increase contact lens tolerance. Furthermore, monthly disposable contact lenses offer countless other benefits that have taken the contact lens industry by storm. They remain moist even if your own lipid layer & tear chemistry is disturbed. They are often high in water content to keep your eyes hydrated. However, the use of Rohto C Cube eye drops along with monthly disposable contact lenses may make it easier to tolerate contact lenses.

Barbie Cat Barbie Hazel Monthly Disposable Contact Lenses

They are easy to maintain. The cleaning & disinfection is done the same usual way, you clean your regular contact lenses. The thing that makes them different is the duration. Instead of 12 months, you pop open a new pair of contact lenses every month or every 3 months to make sure optimum hygiene.

 

If you have sensitive eyes or you are prone to infections and allergies during summer, doctors advise to wear monthly disposable contact lenses such as Geolica Holicat series. Don't forget to share your experience with us to help others learn & appreciate the goodness.

Contact Lenses with Proper Compliance are proved to be a Safer Option for Vision Correction- Consensus in Singapore Reveals

Contact lenses- A safer mode of vision correction 

Singapore Contact Lens Society; comprised of professional ophthalmologists, is cognizant of the importance of constant monitoring in contact lens wearers. The society lays great emphasis on the regular contact lens follow-up for people using contact lenses for vision correction.

Ophthalmologists opine that contact lenses when followed by proper care regimen minimize the risk of infections. The society quoted a U.S study that reveals that the rate of infection induced by contact lenses is 13.9 in every 10,000 children whereas in adults it has astonishingly been reduced to zero percent. The study also reveals that there has not even been a single registered case of "contact lens related infection"; leading to permanent damage or vision loss.

The consensus further elaborates that contact lenses are safe mode of vision correction when followed by proper compliance. A clean, sterilized and FDA approved contact lens that is properly fitted ensures minimum to no risks. With proper hygiene, infections’ risk can be greatly reduced. Additionally, the follow-up sessions keep a sharp track on rising ocular abnormalities if any.

The society summarized the safe contact lens wear as follows:

1. Eyes should look good- free from redness
2. Eyes should feel good- free from itching
3. Eyes should see good- free from blurred or hazy vision

If you are an active wearer of contact lenses, keep monitoring how your eyes perform with and without them. In case, you notice an unusual secretion, itching or painful sensation; rush to your eye care professional. Follow contact lens care regimen religiously & prevent your eyes from seasonal or occasional infections that are more likely to hit people wearing contact lenses.

Related:

 Managing seasonal allergies with contact lenses

How to Manage Allergies when Wearing Colored Contact Lenses?

Every year pro-allergy season i.e. Fall & Spring trigger allergies which push people wearing prescription colored contact lenses to switch to the other alternate i.e. ‘spectacles’. Wearing spectacles might be a cheap alternative but is troublesome to many especially if you are an athlete. 

This being said; patients even when air-borne irritants are expected to be suspended most in the air, prefer to stick to wearing colored contact lenses, which of course intensifies the problem. When suffering from pollen allergy, adopt a very aggressive hygiene plan & practice strict sanitation habits.

Effective Management with Irritants causing Allergy & Prescription colored Contact Lenses

Air-borne irritants are suspended in the air & they cover everything they come into contact with. Colored contact lenses especially the soft variant are gas permeable lenses which are made so to let the oxygen pass through. Eyes draw its oxygen from the atmosphere than from the body & hence contact lenses partially assist oxygen penetration. Such irritants find prescription colored contacts a channel to reaching your eyes that later on provoke the urge of itching them. Once stimulated, the itching turn gross which unfortunately may be responsible for scratching the cornea.

Taking note of following hygiene practices; you can still wear your colored contact lenses even when allergy season is at peak.

• Always handle colored contacts after washing your hands thoroughly.
• When out in an open environment, wear protective glasses such as shades etc
• Stay away from trees. Avoid walking under woods.
• Disinfect your contact lenses carefully after each wear. Do not TOP OFF the solution. Instead have your contact lens cases’ chambers filled with a new supply every day.
• Keep your nails trimmed.
• Do not share your contact lenses ever.
• When travelling keep your contact lens case enclosed in a zipper bag. This limits the accumulation of irritants to contacts.
• Do not touch your eyes. Resist the urge of rubbing them. If it gets over-whelming, remove your colored contact lenses prior to scrub your eyes.
• Wash your eyes with clear cold water when an irritant gets into your eyes. Always AVOID scratching them.
• Keep rewetting or artificial tears. When your eyes are moist, they are most secure.

In severe cases your doctor might be better able to understand the underlying cause. Upon noticing blurred/hazy vision along with dancing floaters & slight discharge & itching, you should always remove your contact lenses. Wash your eyes, instill a drop or two of rewetting drops as it helps flushing out the irritants & let your eyes rest before you put on your contact lenses back.

Seasonal allergies are no threat, provided you are diligent about your hygiene and meticulous about the disinfection of colored contact lenses. If you think none of the above is helping you, consider meeting your eye care professional as it will rule out the chances of other serious contraindications. Or, otherwise opt for daily disposable contact lenses to reduce the buildup over contacts. “Daily disposables work really well because you’ve eliminated the care product,” Dr. Secor told PCON. 

Sometimes allergy sufferers can wear daily disposables during the peak season and switch back to another type of lens during other times of the year.