Many millions of people in the UK have difficulty with their eye sight a some point during their lives. This may be down to an inherited condition, as part of the natural aging process or due to the nature of the types of hectic and busy lifestyles we now live.
Furthermore advances in technologies, as well as continuous researches and studies into eye care means that we are becoming more aware of the factors which can contribute to taking more care of our overall health, including our eyes.
The advances in contact lens manufacture also means that more and more people are using either daily contact lenses, which include the latest multi-focal contact lenses, or the more traditional hard lenses. Taking daily care of contact lens and eye hygiene is essential to avoid infection. Despite popular misconceptions not all people are able to wear contact lenses. This not only due to the huge variations in people’s eye sight but also due to the condition and health of the eyes.
Having eyes which are naturally dry may mean that you will not be able to wear contact lenses on a daily permanent basis, as the lenses can starve the eye of vital oxygen which does more harm than good to the eye. Those who have been wearing contact lenses for years will be all to aware of the potential and actual consequences of not taking lenses out whilst sleeping, if this is advised and recommended by opticians, as their eyes will become dry, irritated and sore. They may also be more prone to eye infections if the meticulous hygiene ‘rules’ are not adhered to correctly.
Most people who wear contact lenses will also be advised to have eye drops which are used in conjunction with wearing their lenses. These will lubricate the eye and enable the lenses to feel more comfortable as well as helping them to glide more easily into place when being put into the eye.
Hereditary conditions such as astigmatism does not mean you will not be able to wear contact lenses as the latest technologies include lenses which have been specifically designed for those with an astigmatism. This condition is common and is usually present from birth, it occurs when the cornea, the front part of the eye, is not a regular or symmetrical shape and rather than being round in shape is more oval. To put this into perspective it means that rather than the cornea being the shape of a football it is longer in one direction and looks more like a rugby ball.
Due to irregular shape of the cornea, if you have an astigmatism, the eye has difficulty in focusing correctly. The vision may be blurred and focusing to read may be a struggle. People who have an astigmatism may also complain of dry eyes which feel tired and sore and may also experience headaches. Whether the astigmatism is corrected via glasses or contact lenses, using an eye lubricating liquid can be beneficial as these will reduce the dry feeling and soreness.