Eye Health:

Contacts

 

General Information	Contacts
How Your Eyes Work	Common Vision Problems
Eye Exam/Vision Testing	Common Eye Conditions
Corrective Lenses	Protecting Your Eyes
Glasses	Frequently Asked Questions

 

Contact lenses work in much the same way as glasses. They correct your vision by focusing light on the back of the eye, or retina. The difference is that contacts sit on your eyeball, instead of in front of your eyes.

 

Because contacts are worn in your eyes, they can be dangerous if not used properly. Keep reading to find out how contacts work and how to keep your eyes safe when wearing contacts.

 

What are contacts?

Contacts are small, plastic discs that sit on your cornea-the eye's clear surface. More than 24 million people in the U.S. wear contacts. Like glasses, contacts can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

 

There are different types of contacts, but most people wear soft lenses. These lenses are thin and usually feel comfortable on your eye. Soft contacts can be worn once and thrown out or reused for weeks or months, depending on the type of lenses you buy.

• Single use lenses are worn for only one day and then thrown out, but are more expensive.
• Daily wear lenses are worn during the day and taken out at night. You throw them out after many weeks. They are less expensive but need to be cleaned frequently.
• Extended wear lenses are worn day and night for a certain number of weeks. They have a higher risk of infection and other eye problems.

Are contacts right for me?

Contacts are not right for everyone. People with certain eye conditions or who are prone to infections should wear glasses instead of contacts. If your doctor doesn't think contacts are right for you, he or she will give you a prescription for glasses.

 

Contacts are harder to take care of than glasses. They also take more time to clean and to put in your eyes. If you're going to wear contacts, you have to be willing to put in the extra time and energy to keep your eyes healthy.

 

Some people have trouble touching their eyes. If you don't like touching your eyes, it may be difficult for you to put in and take out your contacts. You may have to practice doing this before you feel comfortable wearing contacts or you may find that glasses are a better choice for you.

 

Reasons contacts may not be right for you:

• Allergies
• Eye infections
• Dry eyes
• Don't have the time to take care of lenses
• Trouble touching your eyes

What happens when I get contacts?

Your doctor may prescribe contacts for you during your eye exam or you may have to come back for another visit to get your prescription.

 

Finding the right contacts for your eyes is called a contact lens fitting. This may take two to three hours as your doctor finds a contact lens that fits your eye and feels comfortable. During the fitting, the doctor may put different contacts in your eyes and examine how they look while you're wearing them.

 

Your doctor will show you how to take your contacts in and out and how to take care of them. Then you will practice with the doctor until you feel comfortable doing it on your own.

 

The doctor may have your contacts in the office or will have to order them. A follow-up appointment is usually scheduled for a week after you start wearing contacts, so the doctor can check how your eyes are doing.

 

How do contacts feel?

Wearing contacts may feel strange at first. You may feel like there is something moving on the surface of your eye. It takes 10-15 minutes for contacts to settle into place when you first put them in your eyes. Once they stop moving, you will probably feel nothing.

 

If you wear your contacts for too long or your eyes are dry, the contacts may feel uncomfortable.

 

If this happens:

• Use wetting drops to moisten the contacts (Do not use eyedrops. They can damage your contacts.)
• Take out the contacts and give your eyes a break.

Some lenses are larger, like the ones that correct for astigmatism. It may take longer to get used to these lenses because they may feel uncomfortable at first.

 

How do I put contacts in my eyes?

Put in your contacts in the morning, after you shower or take a bath or wash your face.

1. Stand in front of a mirror in a well-lit bathroom.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them on a clean, lint-free towel.
3. Take one lens (either right or left) out of the case and place it in the palm of your hand. The lens should look like a bowl sitting on its base, not an upside down bowl.
4. Add several drops of fresh contact solution to the lens.
5. Rub the lens gently with your figure up and down and then back and forth for 30 seconds. Do not rub the lens in a circle. This can damage the lens.
6. Place the lens on the tip of your middle finger on the opposite hand of the eye you're going to put the lens in. If you have the lens for the right eye, place the lens on the tip of the middle finger in the left hand.
7. Use the middle finger of the opposite hand to gently pull back the upper eyelid of the eye you're going to put the lens in.
8. With the hand holding the lens-use the two fingers on either side of the middle finger to gently pull down the lower lid.
9. Look straight ahead as you gently place the lens on the colored part of your eye (iris) with your middle finger. Make sure the lens follows the shape of your eyeball.
10. Rinse the lens case out with fresh solution. Place it upside down to dry.
11. If the lens feels uncomfortable for more than 15 minutes, it may be inside out. Follow the steps for taking out your contacts. Gently flip the lens right side out and put the lens back in.

How do I take contacts out of my eyes?

Take out your contacts at night before going to bed. Do this before your wash your face or take a shower. Do not leave your contact in overnight or while you take a nap. This may cause eye infections.

1. Stand in front of a mirror in a well-lit bathroom.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them on a clean, lint-free towel.
3. Fill the lens case with fresh contact solution.
4. Gently pull back the upper eyelid with the middle finger of the hand on the same side as the lens you are taking out. Use your right hand if you are taking out the right lens.
5. With the opposite hand, gently pull down the lower lid with your middle finger. Use the thumb and index finger to gently push the contact toward the nose, until it lifts out off the eyeball.
6. Place the contact in the palm of your hand. The lens should look like a bowl sitting on its base, not an upside down bowl.
7. Add several drops of fresh contact solution to the lens.
8. Rub the lens gently with your figure up and down and then back and forth for 30 seconds. Do not rub the lens in a circle. This can damage the lens.
9. Place the lens in the right compartment of the lens case. Make sure it is covered by fresh solution. Replace the cap and screw tightly into place.
10. Repeat with the other lens.

Be very careful when removing your contacts. Pressing too hard or scratching the eyes with your nails may cause serious injury.

 

How long can I wear my contacts?

1. Only wear your contacts during the day. Take out your contacts at night before you go to bed or before you take a nap.
2. Ask your doctor how long you can use your contacts before changing to a new pair. Some contacts are thrown out after a day and others after weeks or months.
3. Mark the date you need to replace your contacts on your calendar. If you use a calendar on the computer, set an automated reminder so that you won't forget to replace the contacts.
4. When it's time to replace the contacts, simply throw out the old ones and open a new pack. Make sure you put the right lenses in each eye, if your eyes have different prescriptions.

How can I keep my eyes healthy when I wear contacts?

Keeping your eyes healthy while you wear contacts takes time and energy. However, proper contact care prevents eye infections and other problems.

1. Keep your lenses clean to reduce the risk of eye infections.
2. Wash your hands before you handle your contacts.
3. Don't shower or wash your face while you're wearing contacts. Take them out first to prevent infections.
4. Keep your nails short to keep from scratching or harming your eyes while taking out your contacts.
5. Don't smoke while you're wearing contacts. If may cause eye problems.
6. See your doctor every year for an eye exam. Bring your contacts with you. Your doctor will check and see if you need a new prescription.

Contact Lens Solution

1. Always clean and store lenses with fresh solution. Do not reuse old solution or use another type of liquid.
2. Only use contact solution to store and clean your contacts. Homemade solutions, hydrogen peroxide, saline solution, or other liquids can damage your eyes or contacts.
3. Keep the tip of the solution bottle from touching anything and the bottle tightly closed.
4. Buy trial size bottles of contact solution for travel. Do not put solution into an empty bottle. This may cause infections.

Wetting Drops

1. Use only wetting drops while you're wearing contacts. Regular eye drops may damage your contacts or eyes.

Replacing Lenses

1. Replace your lenses according to your doctor's and the manufacturer's instructions. Some lenses can be used for weeks and others for months, depending on the brand.
2. Throw out torn or damaged lenses. They may not work properly and could hurt your eye.
3. Only wear your contacts during the day and take them out at night, even if you have extended wear contacts.
4. Do not store contacts for a long period of time. Replace lenses after 30 days if they have not been worn.

Lens Case

1. Rinse out your contact lens case with contact solution and let it dry while you're wearing your contacts. This keeps the case clean.
2. Replace your contact lens case every three months to keep the lenses clean and prevent infections.

When should I see a doctor?

It's important to see a doctor right away if you have any problems with your contacts.

 

See a doctor immediately if you have:

• Blurry vision
• Pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Excessive tearing
• Sensitivity to light

Never Cool: Circle Lenses

Decorative lenses, also called circle lenses, are worn for fashion or as part of a costume. Decorative lenses are not prescription lenses. They do not correct vision problems and are not prescribed by a doctor.

 

Decorative lenses change the color or shape of your eyes. They are usually much larger than prescription contact lenses. They also have not been tested for safety. They are sold in costume shops or over the Internet. The manufacturer may say that the lenses are "one size fits all" or that you don't need to see a doctor to wear these lenses.

 

The truth is that decorative lenses are potentially very dangerous. Because they are larger than contact lenses, they prevent oxygen from reaching the eyes. They are not disinfected and can cause serious infection or even blindness.

 

The only safe way to wear decorative lenses is to not wear them at all.

 

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Written and reviewed by the CYWH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

 

Updated: 11/19/2010