Beauty

The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Eyes Healthy and Beautiful While Wearing Contact Lenses

When it comes to wearing contact lenses, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure eye health and comfort. Join us as we explore these essential tips and tricks to keep your eyes happy and healthy.

Administrator

15 July, 2024

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Contact lenses offer numerous benefits to individuals with refractive errors. However, proper eye care is essential when wearing lenses to maintain eye health and refractive errors in check. Let’s explore this topic further.

1. Potential Complications with Contact Lens Use

While contact lenses provide convenience and improved vision, they can also lead to complications if proper eye care is not maintained.

Corneal Oxygen Deficiency

This occurs when contact lenses, typically made from polymer polymethyl methacrylate, do not allow sufficient oxygen to reach the cornea. The cornea receives oxygen through a process of diffusion, but contact lenses can restrict this process, leading to dry eyes, a feeling of grittiness, and other discomforts.

Corneal Neovascularization

The cornea is normally a transparent, avascular structure. However, the presence of blood vessels on the cornea indicates a problem. This complication often arises from chronic corneal oxygen deficiency due to contact lens wear. If neovascularization occurs, it is crucial to discontinue lens use immediately.

Changes in Corneal Curvature

Prolonged contact lens wear can lead to corneal deformation and changes in its curvature. This may be due to oxygen deficiency or wearing lenses with an inappropriate curvature for your cornea. As a result, you may experience blurred vision.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is a condition where the conjunctival blood vessels become congested, causing swelling and redness. This issue is often associated with improper contact lens use, as lenses tend to absorb allergens, leading to conjunctival inflammation.

Keratitis

Keratitis is a condition where the cornea becomes swollen or inflamed, resulting in red, painful eyes and impaired vision. Individuals who frequently wear contact lenses are at risk of bacterial keratitis, with the risk increasing tenfold if lenses are worn overnight.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes with Contact Lens Use

Insufficient tear production or inadequate lubrication while wearing contact lenses can lead to discomfort, a gritty feeling, blurred vision, and other symptoms associated with dry eyes. Additionally, not using eye drops regularly to moisturize the eyes can exacerbate this issue.

2. Tips for Healthy Eyes while Wearing Contact Lenses

Maintain Lens Hygiene

It is crucial to clean your contact lenses regularly. If not properly cleaned, lenses can become a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to eye infections. Always use a contact lens cleaning solution, and soak your lenses for at least 5 minutes after each use. Then, store them in a fresh solution until the next use.

Clean Hands before Handling

Clean Hands before Handling Contact Lenses

Since you use your hands to insert and remove contact lenses, it is essential to maintain proper hand hygiene to avoid introducing bacteria and other pathogens into your eyes. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses.

Insert Lenses before Applying Makeup

It is important to insert your contact lenses before applying makeup. Putting on lenses after applying makeup can cause them to stick to makeup particles or eye shadow dust, leading to bacterial growth. Additionally, wearing lenses before makeup reduces the risk of smudging your carefully applied cosmetics.

Remove Lenses after Use

Remove Contact Lenses after Use

Prolonged contact lens wear can lead to oxygen deprivation in the eyes, causing dryness and other eye problems. Therefore, it is advisable to remove your lenses as soon as you no longer need them to give your eyes a break.

Protect Eyes from Water Splash

Water can contain bacteria such as Bacterial keratitis and Acanthamoeba, which can cause keratitis and even lead to blindness. When wearing contact lenses, take precautions to avoid getting water in your eyes, especially when it’s raining.

Use Eye Drops

If you experience dry, tired eyes from wearing contact lenses, using eye drops can provide much-needed moisture and relief.

Wear Protective Eyewear Outdoors

Smoke, dust, and chemicals are prevalent in the air we breathe. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants can damage your eyes. Always wear protective eyewear when outdoors to minimize the impact of air pollution on your eyes.

Supplement with Vitamins

Vitamins such as , , and are excellent for eye health. They help keep your eyes bright and healthy while providing antioxidants that protect against the harmful effects of pollution and sunlight.

Regular Eye Examinations

Regular eye examinations, at least every six months, are essential to detect any eye problems early on and reduce the risk of infections and allergies associated with prolonged contact lens use.

These tips will help you maintain healthy and beautiful eyes while wearing contact lenses. Give them a try and share your experiences with us!

Frequently asked questions

It’s important to practice good hygiene and develop healthy habits. Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses, use lens solution to clean and store them, and avoid touching your eyes excessively. Maintain eye moisture with artificial tears, and give your eyes a break by wearing glasses occasionally.

Wash your hands and dry them with a lint-free towel. Handle the lenses with clean fingers, placing them on the tip of your index finger. Look upward or sideways, and pull your lower eyelid down with your middle finger. Gently place the lens onto the iris, and blink slowly to settle it in place.

Always disinfect your lenses before and after use. Replace your lens case regularly, and avoid wearing lenses while sleeping. If you experience eye discomfort, redness, or blurred vision, remove your lenses immediately and consult an eye doctor.

Do: Wash your hands before handling lenses, use fresh solution each time, and replace your lens case often. Don’t: Wear lenses while swimming or showering, expose lenses to water, or wear lenses beyond their recommended duration.

Keep your eyes moisturized with artificial tears, especially in dry environments. Remove your lenses if you experience discomfort, and give your eyes a break by wearing glasses for a few hours each day. Maintain regular eye exams to ensure your lenses are suitable and comfortable.