Contact Lens Users (about 45 %) Have Quit Wearing Them

A survey found that many people have stopped wearing contacts because of dry or irritated eyes, which can stem from cutting corners in caring for the lenses.

If you’ve ever tried contact lenses, you might be reading this with glasses instead: An online reader survey of some 7,700 corrective-lens wearers, conducted last spring by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, found that 45 percent who tried contacts in the past decade have quit wearing them. And more than one-fourth of current contact users said they now wear them less than they used to.

You can boost your chances of sticking with your contacts by using them properly, which helps prevent infection as well as dryness and irritation, the two most common reasons for giving up contacts. It’s particularly important not to cut corners in cleaning and storing your lenses.

Contact users should see their eye doctor at least annually. If you often wear lenses overnight, consider semiannual checkups. In this survey, 28 percent of contact users said they hadn’t had an eye exam in the past 11 months.

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Contact Solution Linked to Nasty Eye Infection Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Beware contact lens wearers. If you’re using AMO Complete Moisture Plus Multi-Purpose Solution, be aware that it’s been linked to a rare eye infection.

Government officials from the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are looking into 138 confirmed cases, and in the meantime, it is recommended that anyone using the solution throw the bottle away, along with your lenses and contacts case. All three of these may contain the infecting amoeba.

The solution is apparently a factor in the occurrence of a nasty infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. It is a painful eye infection which can lead to serious problems such as permanent vision loss and total blindness. Advanced Medical Optics Inc., the company that makes the solution, has issued a “voluntary recall.” Confirmed cases have been reported as far back as January of 2005.

Eighty-five percent of Acanthamoeba keratitis cases are in contact users, but normally it's extremely unusual. However, even contact users who are conscientious about their lens care can contract it, as well as non-contact wearers.

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You Need to be Careful While Wearing Contact Lens

While wearing contact lenses and you run the risk of getting an eye infection. That's why you need to be careful how you handle them.

Good hygiene means always washing your hands - with soap and warm water and then drying them with a clean towel - before you touch your lenses or your eyes.

Wear and replace the lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your doctor.

You should remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, such as showering, swimming or going into a hot tub.

Dr. Robert Teiche, an optometrist at Virginia Mason Medical Center, says, it's important to follow the manufacturer's cleaning and disinfection guidelines. And don't forget the lens case.

Some people with extended-wear contacts keep them in when they go to sleep. The eye doctors at Virginia Mason don't recommend that. Your chance of an eye complication is much greater when you do sleep in contact lenses.

Remember, an eye infection can be more than painful, it can threaten your vision. So if you experience any unusual symptoms, contact your eye doctor right away.

For More Information:

Caring for your contact lenses

Contact Lens Care: Tips from the College of Optometrists

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Important Guidelines for Contact Lens Users

Sometime it becomes very difficult for contact lens users to find out a proper guide of handling contact lens. Here are some important tips for successful lens wear and care.

If you want a clear vision, better eye health and maximum comfort you should do:-

1. Wash and rinse your hands before you handle your lens. Clean, rinse, and disinfect your lens each time you remove them.
2. Handle your lens with your fingertips, avoiding any contact with your fingernails.
3. Apply hair spray before inserting your lens.
4. Apply make-up after inserting your lens.
5. Store lens in a leak-proof lens case when they are not being worn, and disinfect before use.
6. Clean and disinfect one lens at a time to avoid mixing up the left and right lens.
7. Use a lens case that clearly indicates left and right.
8. Replace your lens and your lens case on a regular basis - visit your eye practitioner to discuss the most suitable lens replacement schedule for you.
9. Store all contact lens solutions at room temperature (59-86ºF).
10. Keep the caps of your solutions closed when not in use.
11. Use solution before expiration date marked on bottle.
12. Schedule yearly appointments with your eye care practitioner.
13. Contact your eye care practitioner if you have questions or concerns.

Do not do

1. Do not re-use any lens care solutions.
2. Do not use saline to disinfect your lens.
3. Do not use eye drops or solutions not intended for use with contact lenses.
4. Do not mix any eye medication with lens care solutions except under medical supervision.
5. Do not wear your soft contact lens when working in the presence of harmful or irritating vapours or fumes.
6. Do not use eye make-up in the inner margin of the eyelids as small particles could be transferred onto the surface of your lens.
7. Do not allow soaps, cosmetics or other substances to come into contact with your lenses.
8. Do not touch the tip of the bottle to any surface as this may cause contamination.

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