What should be considered when using contact lenses? What are the four easy steps to put in and take out your contact lenses?
In addition to choosing contact lenses suitable for eye structure, it is also very important to pay attention to the rules of lens use and hygiene.
Emphasizing the importance of using the right lens as well as choosing lenses that offer an important solution in many treatments, experts say, “Infections that may occur if necessary measures are not taken in contact lens use can produce results leading to blindness.”
Millions of people around the world benefit from the use of contact lenses to correct visual impairments, change eye color or treat corneal diseases.
However, due to mistakes made in selection and use, 80% of contact lens users are at risk of infection, experts said.
“The lens type, degree, base curve and diameter to be used in the examination should be determined and the eye harmony of the lens should be maximized. Failure to carry out the examinations carefully may cause the preferred lens to be too tight or loose.”
“However, simply following these steps will not be enough for the use of a healthy contact lens. Another important topic in the use of lenses is hygienic and accurate lens use. It invites the formation of many risks of infection, especially during cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, installing and removing contact lenses.”
Using the right contact lenses in 3 steps
Experts stated that especially 3 steps should be observed from the purchase process to the use of the lenses and periodic checks should be carried out every 6months. Contact lenses purchased without the use of a test lens and without physician control are much more likely to cause problems on the eye surface.”
“In the second step, a lot of attention should be paid to hand, face, eyelash cleaning especially in the use of contact lenses. Hands should be washed for at least 1 minute before wearing and removing lenses. In the last step, in order to ensure the correct lens use and minimize complaints, lenses should not be worn until the infection has passed in conditions such as colds, flu, upper respiratory tract infections.”
The greatest danger is ‘Acanthamoeba Keratitis’
“Acanthamoeba Keratitis is an amoeba infection that usually occurs in hot water pools, bathtubs, contact lens fluids,” experts said, noting that the most dangerous disease that can occur if hygiene is not observed in the use of contact lenses.
“Although the disease is very rare, if it is not controlled for a long time, it causes ulceration, loss of vision and even results that can end with blindness and enucleation in the cornea.
The most important symptoms of the disease are pain in the eye, redness, discharge, stinging, impaired visual clarity and sensitivity to light. Acanthamoeba keratitis disease is very difficult to diagnose, so early diagnosis is of great importance in the treatment of the disease.”
How to put in contact lenses in 4 steps:
1- Before you start: Wash your hands with soap (preferably non-perfumed, anti-bacterial liquid soap), then rinse and dry your hands with a lint-free towel.
2- Check that the lens isn’t inside out: To do this, just put the lens on the tip of your finger and hold it up to the light. If the edges flare out, it’s inside out. Some lenses have a 1, 2, 3; indicator — make sure the digits aren’t backwards. It should look like a bowl with straight edges.
3- Using your right hand: Gently hold your upper eyelid with one finger so you don’t blink or get your eyelashes in the way, and carefully pull down your lower eyelid with your other fingers.
4- Move the contact lens: Toward your eye steadily. Look upward as you place it on your eye, and slowly release your eyelid and close your eye for a moment to allow the lens to settle. Repeat for your other eye.
How to take out your contact lenses in 4 steps:
1- Ensure your hands are clean and dry, and start with your right eye, then look up and carefully pull down your lower eyelid with your middle finger.
2- Bring your index finger to your eye slowly until you touch the lower edge of the lens, and slide the lens down to the lower white part of your eye.
3- Gently squeeze the lens between your thumb and index finger and remove it. Repeat for your left lens.
4- Discard daily disposable contact lenses. If you wear dailies you can toss them out, but make sure you clean and disinfect bi-weekly and monthly contact lenses.