Thanks to the advancement of technology and science, myopes, or also known as short-sighted person, do not have to be fully dependent on frames in order to perfect their vision anymore. Contact lenses have become to ever-so-popular with people who need their vision corrected by going glasses-free. For us ladies, that’s a hack of a relief because makeup and spectacles are not the best of friends. Lenses have become an integral part of fashion statement nowadays, spoiling people with endless choices of coloured contact lenses to enhance their outlook.
Since contact lenses nowadays are used to many purposes and not only for correcting visions, it’s only right that people understand the proper way to handle and care for these little plastic concaves. The utmost important thing anyone who wears or plans to wear these lenses need to know is that hygiene is key, because they’re in direct contact with your cornea. And trust me, you do not wanna mess with that because you could be seriously damaging your eyes without you even knowing it!
So here are some basic precautions every contact lens wearer should take note and practice.
You can be allergic to contact lenses
If you experience itchiness, redness or any sort of discomfort while wearing the lenses, it’s best to discontinue wearing them and consult an optometrist for further consultation. These could be symptoms of a passing infection due to poor hygiene, but by a rare chance, you might actually be allergic to your lenses. Until the issue subsides, it’s best to stick to the glasses to prevent further damage.
Coloured lenses are more drying than clear lenses
With the many funky eye-enlarging and diverse coloured lenses available used to enhance features, these lenses however are not the healthiest choice for your eyes. The layer of pigment in them makes them less permeable – which means that less oxygen reaches our eyes, making them more prone to dryness. Therefore, best to stick to clear lenses and reserve the coloured ones when vanity calls.
Contact lens case should be replaced every 3 months or less
When you clean your lenses before or after wearing them, take a quick second to clean your contact lenses cases too. While your lenses might be clean, the case might not be. It might be carrying germs and bacteria which can contaminate your lens.
Never swim while having contact lenses on
Ever wonder why we use a special solution to clean and store our lenses and not water? That’s because water can contain microbes and impurities, all invisible to the naked eye. Swimming pools and ocean also contain a great number of germs that can be transferred to the eyes through contacts, which could lead to an infection. Ditch the contacts and don a pair of prescription goggles instead when taking a dip.
Sleeping with contacts on is dangerous and can cause blindness
Many of us feel there’s no harm done taking a short nap while having your lenses on. This action is highly dangerous and should be done at any time. When you sleep with your lenses, it dries your eyes while limiting oxygen exchange – resulting in swelling and possible vision impairment. Also, during your sleep, our eyes go into REM mode, where our eyes move and shift around. If you happen to wear lenses while sleeping, there’s possibility for them to get shift far behind and it would be very difficult to remove. In some cases, operation is needed.
Insert your contact lenses before applying makeup
Firstly, if you get makeup in your eyes while having contact lenses on, it can sting and make your eye burn and get all irritated. Additionally, you’ll end up spoiling your makeup with tears running down your face and worse if you don’t wear waterproof mascara or liner. That said, if you do happen to get makeup in your contacts, remove them and clean them.
