Contact lenses allow for improved sight and more functionality compared to glasses wear. Within the first few days of wearing contact lenses, you will notice a vast improvement in vision as you can notice small details as well as an improvement in your peripheral vision. Contact lens wear can be slightly intimidating for a first-time wearer as there are a lot of steps that are involved. Contact lenses are considered medical devices that are available to help improve one of your most important senses…SIGHT. There are a few steps that will put you on the correct path to success and comfort with contact lens wear.
- Stay Calm – Many people worry that they are going to scratch their eyes when inserting or removing their contact lenses. Keep Calm! With one-on-one training on how to properly insert and remove your lenses, the risk of scratching your eye will be slim to none. Plus, the more that you do it, the easier it will be. Some patients also worry that their contact lens will get stuck behind their eyes. The inside of your eyelids are connected to the back of your eye, so there is no potential for a contact lens to get stuck.
- Keep your lenses clean – Shortcuts should not be taken when it comes to cleaning your lenses. Your doctor will give you specific directions on the care regimen that is appropriate for you. Contact lens solution should never be topped off. Storage cases should be thoroughly cleaned every time lenses are removed from the case.
- Properly disposing of contact lenses and packaging – If you are wearing disposable contact lenses including daily, bi-weekly or monthly, the lenses should be disposed of at their appropriate time increments. Lenses should be thrown into waste receptacles and should never be thrown down the sink drain.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations – There are many products that are sold on the internet and at local health stores for contact lens care. You should only use products that are recommended by your eye doctor. There may be a certain solution that works best with your lenses and a substitute may not clean your lenses as well. You should also keep all follow-up appointments in order to maintain optimal health of the eye.
- Adhere to the prescribed wearing and replacement schedule – Contact lenses should only be worn for the amount of time that your doctor thinks it’s safe for you and your eyes. Lenses should be replaced according to the appropriate replacement schedule. Do not try to increase the wear of your lenses by an extra day or week as this can lead to infections and injury to your eyes. Contact lenses should also never be slept in.
Contact lenses will take time to get used to just like anything new. Once you get the regimen down and become more comfortable with your lenses, they will become a part of your daily routine. If you would like to further discuss contact lenses or would like to schedule a contact lens teach, please call 860-233-2020 to speak with an eye care specialist today.
