It’s amazing to think that there are still people out there who haven’t converted from glasses to contact lenses. Contact lenses give you the freedom to wear makeup, to feel more attractive, to play sports and slice onions – the advantages are endless! With the right fit and prescription, you won’t even realize you’re wearing contact lenses. If you’re new to the contact lens world, here’s what you need to know.
1. Talk to your doctor and get the correct contact lenses for you. There are many types of contact lenses to choose from. Your eye doctor will help you figure out which is the right pair for you. You can choose from daily disposable, two week wear, extended wear, multi vision, bifocals, colored lenses, lenses that let your eyes breath, lenses that replenish moisture, lenses that are tailored for astigmatism – the list goes on! Consult your doctor to choose the pair that’s right for you.
2. Don’t get rid of your glasses! Contacts might be simple, wonderful and amazing, but even if you switch to contacts full time, you still need a pair of glasses for backup. If you contract an eye infection or suffer from any type of eye problem, you will be unable to wear your contact lenses until your eyes heal completely.
3. Keep your eyes moist! One disadvantage to contacts is that the lenses dry your eyes out. You will need to keep some type of eye drops around to be used when your contacts are in. Visine is a popular brand; you can also consult your eye doctor to see what type he/she recommends.
4. Don’t sleep in your contacts! Sleeping in your contact lenses is one of the worst things you can do for your eyes. Even though there are contacts on the market that you can wear for a week or more without taking them out, don’t make a habit of doing so. Sleeping in contacts dries out your eyes, causing the fluids in your eyes to build up on the lenses themselves. This makes the lenses harder to clean. You will have a hard time removing the contact lenses from your eyes if you sleep in them; on the flip side, your contacts may come out of your eyes while you are sleeping and you run the risk of losing them.
5. Make sure you can drive at night with your contacts in. Some contact lens wearers have difficulty driving at night while wearing their contact lenses. This can occur even if you have no trouble driving at night with your glasses on. If you see large halos around the headlights of other cars, consult your doctor. You may need to wear your glasses while driving at night.
6. Make sure they feel right. If you are wearing the right contacts and have put them in correctly, you should not feel anything in your eyes. If you do feel something, you need to remove the contacts and clean them out. Often times, a loose eyelash, a small piece of lint, a hair, a piece of dust, etc. can get under the lens. If not removed, this can lead to an eye infection. If you feel like something is in your eyes, do not rub them! This will make it worse. Take your contacts out and clean them, and flush your eyes with clean, cool water. Also stay away from excessive heat and steam, as these can melt your contacts.
7. Sanitation goes a long way! Clean and sanitary is the way to go when it comes to your contact lenses. Wash your hands with hot soapy water and pour a bit of lens disinfectant over your hands before you handle your contact lenses – this is advisable whether you are putting the contact lenses in or taking them out. Clean your lens case everyday, or use a fresh one to store your lenses in. When you put your contact lenses away, make sure that you pour enough disinfectant solution into the contact lens case to completely cover the contacts. If you wear makeup, make sure you put your contact lenses in before you apply your makeup. Do not let anyone try your lenses on. Try and keep your hands clean and out of your eyes.
Contacts can be extremely freeing for long time glasses wearers, so why not contact your doctor and set up an appointment to be fitted for a pair of contacts today? Simply follow the tips above and you’ll be glasses-free in just a few weeks!