Risks of Contact Lenses

If you are debating whether or not contact lenses are right for you, you may be wondering what the risks are associated with contact lenses and with wearing contact lenses.  Through this article, we visit with you about some of the more common risks that have been known to be associated with contact lenses.  Of course, if you have specific questions about the risks associated with contact lenses, you should contact an eye care professional.

Contact Lenses:  Safer Today than Ever Before

While many of the risks involved with wearing contact lenses have been rectified, lessened, and even debunked, some remain. It’s important to know which are still of concern, and which are either no longer applicable or purely false.

Myths About Contact Lenses

Some of the myths of contact lens wear include the lens getting lost in the eye, popping out of the eye, that they all hurt, and that they can get stuck to the eye. The protective membrane that covers your eye actually attaches to your eyelid and prevents materials from sliding back behind the eye. Fittings for rigid gas permeable contact lenses have improved greatly, and the risk of lenses falling or popping out are almost nil. Comfort has also seen market improvement with the invention of soft lenses and better fittings, and stubborn lenses that don’t seem to want to come off only need a little more coaxing-they’re not stuck.

Contact Lenses:  Easier to Care for Today

While the lenses are not as much of a problem to care for as they used to be, it’s still important to have clean hands and sterile solutions when placing them in the eye. Eye infections can still happen from dirty hands or solutions that are no longer clean. It’s also important to have all debris cleared from the lens. Eyes are easily scratched if there is dirt on the part of the lens that will come into contact with the eye, leaving it even more susceptible to infection.

The Importance of Cleanliness

With soft contact lenses, it’s important to keep them clean and moist for your vision as well as eye health. One of the problems associated with the soft lenses is the dryness. They are also called “hydrophilic,” while means they love water. When soft contacts start to become dry, they will take the moisture from your eye and make them feel tired and sore. The dryness also makes vision slightly cloudy. There are lenses recently developed, such as Acuvue Hydraclear, that help combat dry eyes.

Children and Contact Lenses

Hygiene is also a concern with children who wear contacts. If they have been outdoors or are involved in sports, their hands can be rough and dirty. They must be vigilant in keeping their hands clean and smooth so they don’t scratch rigid gas permeable lenses or tear soft ones. Daily disposables are often a good choice for children and teens.

Sharing Contact Lenses:  A Childhood Problem

Younger children who wear contact lenses are often tempted to let a friend wear them for fun. This is a mistake for both children, and can result in eye injury, scratches, and infections. Those considering contact lenses for younger children should make sure they are aware of the hazards involved in sharing them.

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