Contact Lenses Eyeglasses

There are different types of contact lenses available now in the market and you can custom make them too — they are as good as one’s own lens but they are artificial. Laser operations are available for the people for who even lenses do not work but they are very expensive and not done in all countries. Nowadays lenses are more breathable and softer and come in different colors even different styles for theatrical purposes, however it does take time to get used to the lenses. We also get daily disposal lens which are to be discard every day and do not need any cleaning and are very hygenic. The other types of lens available in the market are 2 Weekly Disposables - needs to be cleaned and stored in lens cases when not being used & Monthly Disposables - should be used as per the instructions on them and disposed after a month and all the above mentioned lens can be used only during waking hours.

Other kinds of contact lenses include - Toric lens - for people suffering with astigmatism, Multifocal lenses - they are for people who cannot see close and far and Extended wear lenses - designed to be worn during both day and night. The last three mentioned are normal type of lenses that need proper care throughout their life span!

The contact lenses  have to be kept clean and disinfected at all times. Before you clean the lens, clean the lens case. Clean the case with hot water only and let it dry by itself. Use a contact lens cleaning solution but never hold the bottle at the tip, always hold the bottle toward the end. Wash your hands before you start cleaning the lenses with an antibacterial soap and dry them naturally. Clean just a single lens at a time. Take one lens in a sterilized container, pour the cleaning solution and let it stand for 20 seconds, you will see all the dirt setting aside. Rub the lens and then rinse it in the rinsing solution, dry them and store it in the case. Repeat the same step for the other lens but use fresh cleaning solution and also rinsing solution. Never use water to clean the lens or its case as water does not have the necessary disinfectant to clean the lens. Secondly water has sodium it might contaminate the lens giving you an eye infection.

Disinfect the lens as per the requirement of the lenses. Disinfection is important to kill micro organisms that may potentially cause an eye infection. You can use tablets or solution to disinfect the lens. After you have cleaned the lens, place them in a lens holder and add the disinfecting solution to the top. Tighten and turn the cap. Soak them for minimum 6 hrs or overnight (the instructions on the Disinfectant will give some more directions always read the instructions first and in case of confusion call or go to the pharmacy from where the product was bought). Rinse the lens again before using them. Discard the disinfecting solution from the cup rinse and keep the holder open to dry. Always re-wet the lens before using, this will take away any discomfort if the lens is hurting. Enzyme cleaning is optional and is based on eye care professional’s recommendations only. While using medicated eye drops always take the lens out or it might damage the lens and use the drops are prescribed only. One must always make use of the aftercare service that the contact lenses manufacturer provides to know the contact lens better. It is advised not to wear contact lens for more then 10-12 hours in a day and more then 5 days in a week, and always make sure you keep the lenses and the contact lens case sanitized, disinfected and clean! Here’s a video for further instructions:

The contact lens technology is the most popular replacement for eyeglasses. If you have an impaired vision, then going with modern contact lenses have become one of the most popular choices.

When do you have a vision problem? When your cornea - the natural lens inside your eye that has existed since you were born - changes its curvature or experiences a change in its refractive capability, the external light rays do not fall onto the right vision spot (”yellow spot” and its surroundings) inside your eyes. As a result, your vision becomes blurred. The job of your contact lens is to provide the additional refraction so that the focus of the external light entering your eyes is centered on your yellow spot, and you gain back your accuracy of vision. To understand what sort of contact lenses would work the best for you, you need to understand the above-mentioned process in more detail.

Historically speaking, the scientists of the past had observed the refractive properties of glass as well as of water, and had wondered whether such properties could leverage weakened human vision. A series of experiments led to the discovery of eyeglasses. This concept further evolved to place the glass right on the surface of the eye, and eventually this led to the birth of contact lenses. So fundamentally, both eyeglasses and contact lenses work based on the same principle - by providing compensation for the changes in the refractive index of your eyes.

The changes in your eyes can happen in two different ways. Either the shape and/or the refractive index of your eye changes such that the light entering your eyes focuses before the yellow spot, or the light focuses beyond the yellow spot. This leads to nearsightedness or farsightedness. For accurate vision, this light must focus exactly on your yellow spot.

The corrected refractive index provided by the contact lens will let you do exactly that. Once the lens fits your eyes, the light first has to travel through the lens and only then can it reach your eyes. The lens would change the direction of the light such that with your current refractive index of your eyes the focus happens exactly on the yellow spot of your eyes.

Now you understand the reason why your ophthalmologist would examine your eye to figure out exactly how much your eye has deviated from its expected vision levels. Based upon the desired refractive index found and also based upon your habits, lifestyle, and possibly profession, s/he will prescribe the appropriate type of contact lenses for you.

Contact lenses are evolving as technology evolves. So, knowing how the contact lenses fundamentally work and being aware of the different kinds of lenses available, you can make the right choice of your lenses.

Whether you are a new contact lens wearer or you have been using them for years to correct your vision, you may be wondering how can you tell if a contact lens is inside out. If you suspect you may be wearing your contact lenses incorrectly or they just feel uncomfortable, here are some ways you can determine this to avoid the problem in the future.

Look at the Lens

Before placing the lens in your eye, hold it on the tip of your index finger and look at it carefully from the side. Is it shaped like the letter “U” or it is flared on the sides, like a soup bowl? The correct shape of a soft contact lens should be like the letter “U”. If it’s shaped like a soup bowl, then it’s inside out. Some people also recommend the “taco test” whereby you gently squeeze the lens so that the edges touch. If they touch completely, then the lens is right side out. If the edges flare out and don’t touch fully, then it’s inside out. Simply flip the lens around and it will be positioned correctly for wearing.

Another way to determine if your contact lens is right side out is to look at it from the top. This is especially important if you are wearing the colored enhanced type. The edge of a tinted lens will be look very blue. If it looks greenish, then it is inverted and you should carefully flip the lens around in order to wear it properly.

Find the Engraving

Some contact lenses have factory engraving on them, done by special lasers. This can include the manufacturer information, model number, brand name or grade of materials used. While this is not detected by the human eye when wearing, it can be of help when trying to determine if you are wearing your contact lenses correctly. Some brands have a “1-2-3″ engraved on them, so you would make sure this is the side facing downwards on your finger as you place the contact into your eye. If you can read this label, then the lens is inside out. You can remove it safely without damaging your eyes and flip it around for replacement.

Ask the Professional

Of course, please check with your eye doctor if you experience any discomfort with your contact lenses. They can often help you more with this perplexing problem or demonstrate to you further what to do. Common sense should tell you if you are wearing your contact lens incorrectly. If they feel uncomfortable or you feel slight pressure on your eyes, it’s probably because you have placed the lenses incorrectly on your eyes. You may want to practice a little when first getting a new set of contact lenses to see what works best for you and to get used to the feel of them. Once you do, you should enjoy months of enjoyable experience with your new lenses.