Definition

Having a pair of bright eyes is everyone's dream! Since the launch of PMMA hard contact lens in the 1950s, they had been widely used for refractive correction. In the 1970s, soft contact lenses were introduced into the market, and their thin, light and comfortable features have transformed the contact lenses for purely medical purposes into visual correction tools with focus on appearance and convenience.

Due to a wide variety of contact lenses, easy access and the change of motivation for wearing contact lenses, the comorbidities caused by wearing them have become a serious problem.

Eyes are delicate tissues and must be taken care of for hygiene. Contact lenses are not suitable for those who live or work in a dusty environment, have poor personal hygiene habits, and are too young to clean their own lenses.

Contraindications for contact lenses

• Keratitis
• Conjunctivitis
• Dry eye syndrome
• Conjunctival blebs in those undergoing glaucoma surgery

Contact lens material

It can be divided into hard and soft materials, among which the hard type can be subdivided into non-gas permeable rigid contact lenses and rigid gas permeable contact lens. Their advantages are good hygiene, durability, easy maintenance, and being suitable for patients with conjunctival allergies and fewer tears, and the effect of astigmatism correction is better, while the disadvantage is longer adaptation periods, which must be overcome patiently.

The soft type can be divided into daily wear and extended wear. Its advantages are comfort and short adaptation periods, while the disadvantages are being easy for dirt and allergens to build up on the surface, inconvenient maintenance, short life (about 1-1.5 years), and poor effect in correcting astigmatism. Now there are decorative contact lenses that make the cornea look larger on the market, which will hinder the supply of corneal tears and oxygen nutrients, and have a greater impact on corneal health.

Which contact lenses are right for you?

Ophthalmologists should evaluate the condition of the eyes, check the vision, and consider the patient's environment and hygienic conditions to make choices for comfort and health.

Signs of contaminated lenses

• Eye irritation and discomfort shortening the life of contact lenses.
• Corneal edema, bruise, skin break, conjunctival allergy in mild cases.
• Corneal ulcer and vision loss in severe cases.

Sources of lens contamination

• Lipids, proteins, mucus and calcium secreted by the eyes
• Dust in the air
• Eye cosmetics
• Rinsing lenses with tap water
• Expired, contaminated solution
• An unclean case
• Microbial infection

Therefore, "cleaning," "disinfection,” "preservation" and "protein removal" are the only and indispensable ways to maintain contact lenses.

Taiwan's air quality is poor; even for extended wear contact lenses, they must be removed daily, gently rubbed and rinsed, and placed in a case. Never sleep in your contact lenses for safety. Don’t wear contact lenses when swimming or paddling in the sea to prevent microbial infection.

How to make contact lenses your close partner?

• A professional ophthalmologist will prescribe you contact lenses.
• Use them correctly and do not wear them for prolonged periods of time.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect them.
• They are regularly examined by ophthalmologists.
• Immediate medical treatment for discomfort can reduce complications.

Contact lenses are epoch-making optical products, providing us with good eyesight, convenient use and beautiful appearance. As long as we pay more attention and spend a few minutes, it is believed that having a pair of bright and healthy attractive eyes is no longer a dream.