Contact lenses Pt:2

Dear readers, Last week I mentioned that about 30% of the world’s lens users wear contact lenses. The estimated figure is about 80 million contact lens wearers worldwide. I would like to mention that over 74% of these contact lens wearers are between the ages of 18 and 48.{{more}}

Just like spectacles, contact lenses can correct farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. I mentioned some advantages of contact lenses such as no need for irreversible eye surgery. They also provide a totally unobstructed field of view which is fantastic for sports.

They have been around for over 100 years. So many technological advancements have taken place since then. So, if you were told that contact lenses were not right for you in the past, it is quite possible that with the latest type of lenses there may be a new option for you.

If contact lenses are new for you, the first thing to do is to see your eye doctor. Just like pharmaceuticals, contact lenses are a prescription item and they must be prescribed and properly fitted by eye care professionals. Your eye care professional evaluates your eye and tear structure and your visual needs in order to determine which lens is best for you.

Contact lenses can be grouped according to the following. Their design, what they’re made of, how long they can be worn without removal and how often they should be disposed of.

The best contact lenses are made from silicone hydrogel. These are soft lenses and are the lenses of choice for most eye care practitioners. This is because they do not dry so easily on the eye and they allow oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye.

Daily wear contact lenses are lenses that have to be removed and cleaned every night. In 1979 extended wear contact lenses were introduced. These are lenses that can be worn overnight. Some of them can be worn for seven consecutive days without removal. There is one special type of contact lenses that can be worn for 30 consecutive days without removal. This type of contact lens is called “continuous wear”.

Even with the best care, contact lenses should be disposed of at frequent intervals in order to prevent the buildup of lens deposits and also contamination that can lead to an increased risk of infection.

Next week we will discuss the disposal interval for most contact lenses. We will also discuss design and other features.

Stay tuned and have a great weekend.

Dr Kenneth Onu is a resident Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Beachmont Eye Institute/Eyes R Us. Send questions to: Beachmont@gmail.com

Tel: 784 456-1210