Most asked questions about contact lenses
Most of us have heard about contact lenses at one point or another. However, did you know that the average Doctor forgets to ask their patients about contact lenses? If it came as a shocker to you, then you know how I felt when I first read that. The truth is that most people are great candidates for contact lens wear.
The following are contraindications to contact lens wear:
Active inflammation
Active infection
Degenerative diseases of the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, sclera or iris
Recent eye injuries
Recent eye surgery
Structural anomalies of the lids, conjunctiva, or cornea
Now there are an assortment of other scenarios that exist where contact lenses may not be a great idea, but can generally be resolved. For example, if someone has dry eyes we want to resolve the dry eyes, but this does not mean they can’t wear contact lenses. In fact, there are contact lenses designed specifically for dry eye disease. If ever in doubt, ask your eye Doctor if you are a good candidate. Now that we have cleared the air and know that most of us are good candidates for contact lenses, let’s move on to the most asked questions about lenses!
Do contact lenses hurt?
Contact lenses are designed to be comfortable and pain free. It may feel weird when you first insert them in your eyes if you’ve never worn them before, but after a few short minutes you will likely forget they are even in there. If your contact lenses ever become painful, remove them from the eye and see your eye Doctor as there may be something more serious going on.
Is it difficult to insert contact lenses?
Everybody has a bit of difficulty at first since, but the learning curve is exponentially easier. I have patients that are merely 6 or 7 years old and have learned how to insert and remove the lenses. Tight lids and the fear of touching your eye make it harder. But you’re in luck! Most eye clinics will do a contact lens teach for you to ensure you are comfortable with the process before you take them home. So long story short, it can be hard at first, but with time you will become an expert!
Can contact lenses go behind the eye?
This is a question I have gotten many times! The answer is simple for this one. They can’t go behind the eye because your inner tissue of the eye lids have a crease and there is orbital tissue preventing this from happening. The lens can go on the upper or lower part of the eye, but generally won’t stay there if you roll your eyes around and blink hard a few times. This is because the lens curvature is designed for the front surface of your eye and naturally wants to go there.
What should I do if I wore the lenses for longer than permitted?
Everybody makes mistakes and forgets at times. If this happens to you, remove the lenses right away and don’t wear them for the next 24 hours. Give your eyes some time to breathe and recover. Call your eye Doctor and book an appointment to make sure an infection hasn’t started cooking up. One of the worst infections you can get is called microbial keratitis (google images gives you an idea of what it is), but the trouble is that any time you don’t follow the wear regimen you are gambling with infections.
Can I still use a contact lens that I dropped?
Of course! Simply sterilize it by cleaning it off properly with the solution and it should be good to go. Also make sure there is nothing inside the lens (hair, dirt, etc.).
Can I sleep in contact lenses?
No way! Steer clear of wearing contact lenses while you sleep. Some lenses say they are approved for that, but strictly speaking the risk of eye infection increases when wearing any soft contact lens while sleeping. Orthokeratology contact lenses are the only permitted lenses for sleeping in. However, note that those lenses aren’t worn during the day so the eyes get a chance to breathe and recover then.
Can I wear contact lenses if I have astigmatism or need multifocals?
Good news is that yes you can! There have been lenses to correct both astigmatism and presbyopia for quite a while. Astigmatism lenses exist up to significantly high values, but generally if you have astigmatism higher than -2.50, it may be worth while to consider scleral contact lenses. These are hard lenses that will provide superior vision compared to soft lenses for high astigmatism. Multifocal contact lenses exist as well, and they can also correct for astigmatism as well. These lenses can work very well if fit properly, but there are still some patients that have difficulty tolerating them. Multifocal contact lenses are a great way to get away from glasses and still see clearly in distance and near. It may not be as clear as your glasses, but it can come pretty darn close!
How old do you have to be to wear contact lenses?
We can start contact lens wear as young as 5 or 6 years old. It all depends on the ambition levels of the child. And they can be worn well into the late years of life.
Do I have to choose between glasses and contact lenses?
Not at all! In fact, we recommend you have a pair of glasses to give your eyes a break every once in a while too. Some people choose to do part-time wear. This is a great option for sports, date nights, or simply desiring some freedom from glasses for a day.
What are the available wear regimens and what is the best one?
You can get contact lenses that are dailies, bi-weeklies, and monthlies. Dailies are worn for the day and thrown out at the end. Bi-weeklies can be reused for 2 weeks then thrown out. As you probably guessed, monthlies can be reused for the month before being thrown out. The healthiest option is the dailies as they carry the lowest risk of infection. They also tend to have the better technologies for comfort and will likely make you happier with your lenses. Dailies are also a great option for part-time wear since they are generally more cost effective and you don’t have to worry about cleaning them.
Hopefully you feel slightly more comfortable about contact lenses after reading all of the above! They are a really great option for most people and I have personally seen patient’s quality of life shift for the better because of them.
