Contact lenses may be the more convenient option than glasses as they are comfortable fit and give a more natural look to your eye without causing any obstruction. Not only this, but they don’t distort your vision or reflect glare, unlike glasses. However, the process of how to use contact lenses for the first time might seem overwhelming, or even challenging.
This blog will dive into different kinds of contact lenses, and give tips on how to use contact lenses for the first time.
Benefits of Contact Lenses for Vision Correction
Using contact lenses might seem hard to adjust to at first, but it can be beneficial in:
- Better peripheral and central vision: Contact lenses can fit the curved part of your eye, and give you panoramic views without distorting your vision.
- No obstruction: Unlike glasses which can come in the way of activities like changing clothes, participating in sports, or getting a haircut, contact lenses don’t obstruct you from anything.
- A natural appearance: Contact lenses provide a more natural appearance than glasses since they’re not easily detectable.
Choosing the Right Contact Lenses
With a variety of contact lenses available, there are many factors to consider while choosing the right lens that caters to your specific eye needs.
- Material of the lens: Lenses are available in softer as well as hard materials, also known as rigid gas permeable, which offer sharper vision, although their thickness might be hard to adjust to.
- Schedule for wearing lenses: From lenses that can be worn once, to lenses that can be worn for months, it might help to consider your lens needs based on your lifestyle.
- Condition of your eye: Eye conditions like astigmatism, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy heavily impact the type of lens that may be prescribed to you.
Best Contact Lenses for Beginners
Doctors usually recommend daily disposable lenses for people wearing lenses for the first time. This is because they are convenient, comfortable, and easy to maintain. These lenses typically come as a pack of 30-60 lenses and can be worn for around 6-8 hours per day.
However, sleeping with lenses on is not advised as it causes corneal infection in your eye.
How to Put Lenses in Eyes for the First Time
It might seem challenging to put on a contact lens for the first time, especially because it is placed directly on the cornea, which we usually aren’t used to touching.
But before that, there are some steps that can make the process easier:
- Ensure that your hands are clean
- Place the lens on the tip of your finger
- Use the other hand to hold your eyelid open for easy placement
- Gently place the lens on the cornea
- If the lens isn’t placed directly on the cornea, blink repeatedly to adjust it.
We at AK Institute of Ophthalmology provide a contact lenses trial session where you are guided on which contact lenses suit you best, how to wear contact lenses correctly, and how to maintain hygiene.
Essential Tips on How to Wear Contact Lenses
Since lenses are placed directly on the eye, it is important to ensure that they aren’t contaminated by any bacteria or harmful chemicals
- Thoroughly wash your hands just before putting the lens
- Remove your lenses before swimming/bathing
- Change your lenses according to their replacement schedule
- Don’t sleep with lenses on
- Consult with your ophthalmologist for regular eye check-up to ensure correct prescription.
Can I Wear Contact Lenses Daily?
You can wear contact lenses worn daily, except for the daily disposable lenses, which can be worn for up to 7-8 hours once a day.
However, it’s important to consult your ophthalmologist to determine the correct duration of the lens.
How Long Can I Wear Contact Lenses in a Day?
Most contact lenses, including the daily disposable lenses can be worn for up to 7-8 hours per day, as they provide moisture retention for that amount of time which doesn’t cause redness/dryness till that period of time. It is advised to consult your Ophthalmologist regarding the same.
How to Store Contact Lenses to Ensure Safety and Longevity
Contact lenses require a lot more care than glasses. You need to store them in a clean, dry place and make sure that they aren’t exposed to any harmful chemicals or bacteria. Filling it with a fresh contact lens solution instead of reusing old one is also crucial. The case must also be cleaned every once in a while, and stored in a dry place.
How to Clean and Keep Contact Lenses
While it’s important to keep your contact lenses clean, it’s also important to know what materials can or cannot be used to clean them.
Use of water, saliva, or any other cleaning solution to clean lens is strictly advised against. The lens must always be cleaned by gently rubbing it with the prescribed lens solution given by the doctor.
How to Remove Lens from Eyes Without Causing Irritation
Once the lens is adjusted on your eye, removing it might seem difficult. Lenses are usually removed by gently pinching them and pulling them from your eye. You need to make sure you don’t have long nails to avoid accidentally poking your eye.
Sometimes, the lens might get stuck on the upper or lower part of the eye, in which case, you can use your upper or lower eyelid to slide the lens in the middle part of the eye.
The process of wearing and removing lenses can be challenging, but it is not supposed to cause you any discomfort. So, if you are still experiencing it, you must remove them immediately and consult your eye doctor.
Convert Eye Power to Contact Lens Prescription
Contact lenses have a different power than glasses, due to factors like their curvature, and the fact that unlike glasses, contact lenses have a direct contact with your eye.
Instead of figuring out what power lens you might need, talk to your ophthalmologist who can prescribe you contact lens based on your eye needs.
One-Time Use Lenses vs. Long-Term Use – What’s Best for You?
Choosing what kind of lenses are best for you depends on your lifestyle, and your eye condition.
Having said this, daily disposable lenses are often considered as the better option as they don’t need a lot of maintenance, and don’t have any build-up deposits from daily use unlike lenses that can be worn for several days or months
Is Contact Lens Good for Eyes?
Using contact lenses is generally considered safe unless you have dryness, redness, or any irritation in your eye. When used properly, and with regular eye checkups, they can be the best solution to your vision needs.
It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions whenever you use contact lenses to ensure proper safety.
Conclusion
Contact lenses provides you with many benefits over glasses not only in terms of convenience and ease, by letting you have a wider view, but also by allowing a more natural look on your face. Once you adapt to the techniques and understand how to use contact lenses for the first time, you can ensure successful contact lens wear.