Can I Wear Contact Lenses?
People who thought they couldn’t wear contacts now wear them and love them!
If you have had trouble in the past with contact lenses (uncomfortable or vision not accurate) – don’t give up! Patients who once thought they could not wear contact lenses have now discovered contact lenses that are a perfect fit for their eyes and their lifestyle.
New technologies have been developed in recent years to better address issues of dry eyes, astigmatism (eyes not perfectly spherical), complex prescriptions (multi-focal lenses) as well as the comfort of extended wear contact lenses. If a pre-existing condition has prevented you wearing contacts in the past, improvements in technology may mean it is now possible.
Be Patient – It’s Worth It!
It is normal for it to take a couple of visits to get the right contact lenses for your eyes. The first set of contact lenses prescribed are used as a ‘diagnostic set’.
Once a trial is underway, there are several things that can be tweaked in response to your feedback.
Sometimes a different brand of the same lens prescription may suit your eyes better, just as some brands of footwear suit your feet better than others.
For example: one brand of contacts may give you great vision but not the comfort you were expecting; another brand with the same lens prescription may be all it takes to solve the problem.
Don’t skip the follow up appointment – even if they feel good – there are sometimes refinements that can be made to ensure you have the best vision acuity.
Tips for first-time contacts wearers
After a few blinks your focus should have adjusted correctly. Give your eyes time to adjust to the presence of contact lenses after you place them on the eyes. Toric lenses (ie lenses for astigmatism) may take a few moments longer to settle because they sit differently on the eye, being weighted slightly at the bottom to correct vision caused by a cornea which is not completely spherical.
If it feels like the contact is going to flick out when you blink it may have been inserted inside out. Remove the lens and turn it other-side out before reinserting onto the eye. If your eyes become dry, teary or irritated while reinserting the contacts, give your eyes a rest for 10 minutes or so before trying again.
Give your eyes time to adjust to wearing contact lenses for the whole day. Start by wearing the contacts for 4 hours and build up to keeping them in for up to 12 hours.
Lubricating drops help remoisten your eyes and provide relief if your eyes feel a little dry. If the sensation of dry eyes persists, let us know! There are contact lenses developed specifically to reduce the effects of dry eyes- from lenses with unique water-binding properties to lenses designed to cover a larger portion of the eye to prevent the eyes from drying out.
It is healthy for your eyes to have a break, even with extended wear contact lenses. We recommend using prescription glasses as well as your contacts. If your eyes become over tired or irritated, your glasses are the perfect backup until your eyes become comfortable again.
Create good habits and enjoy contacts for a lifetime
Creating good habits caring for your contact lenses means you can enjoy the freedom of contact lenses and excellent eye health for many years. With this aim, there are a couple of very important yet simple actions you can take to make sure your eyes stay in tip top condition:
- Always discard old contact lens solution and fill your contact lens storage container with fresh solution after each wear. Please avoid the temptation to merely top it up, as placing your lens into used solution exposes your eyes to the risk of infection.
- Make it a habit to always wash your hands before inserting or removing your contact lenses.
- Replace your contact lenses with a new set once they reach the end of their life span eg: don’t wear a monthly soft contact lens beyond 30 wears
The only thing left to do is enjoy your contact lenses!
Call us today for an appointment if you would like to join those who thought they couldn’t wear contact lenses and now wear them and love them!
