Contact Lenses Info --- Help appreciated?!
Question: Contact Lenses Info --- Help appreciated?
1) Are contacts an actual alternative for glasses? In other words, how long a day can you wear contacts?
2) Are there any eye conditions that preclude you from wearing contacts? I've never had any eye trouble, only mild astigmatism.
3) How long does it take to get used to contacts, on average?
Answers:
Firstly contacts are really good and Im hoping you will find them as marvellous as I have for 40 years.
1. You do need glasses as backups as there are always points when you can't wear contacts such as if you are ill. Wearing times vary but you are told these days that about 14 hours is the maximum you should have as they do restrict oxygen supply to the eye. However you can always wear the odd day longer and then cut your wearing time the next day. With modern disposables you can also take then out for a couple of hours midday and then wear in the evening. You have a lot of options.
2. The optician checks for eye conditions which stop you wearing. Dry eyes are the real problem and contacts dont' wear well in front of computer screens as computers dry your eyes anyway. However they aren't that much advantage in front of screens either.
3. Astigmatism means the optician will probably give you toric lenses which are a special form for astigmatism and they are slightly more expensive than normal lenses. Now its doubly important for astigmatism to keep your eyes wet as they rely on the position to compensate. If your eyes dry they dont' give as good vision. I find eye drops for contacts help but as you are young you may have less problems.
4. Soft lenses are comfortable almost immediately unlike the old hard lenses. the optician will probably give you trial lenses. Some of the point of this is to check they ahve the fit right. Not all lenses work for all people either - your first set may be perfect, but maybe not. If there are any problems make sure you work out what they are clearly and tell the optician so he/she can fix them. It does take about a month to get the hang of getting them in and out. So dont' get down , but leave plenty of time until you have the hang of it. Try adn start at teh weekend when you aren't rushign otu to school and have them at home if there are ahy problems and take them out before you get tired so if its not quick you aren't doing it when you are tired. There are loads of tips on answers for getting lenses in/out.
good luck - they made an amazing difference to my life and hope they will do teh same for you.
1) Safe wearing time depends on the type of contact lens you wear. Some can be used continuously for up to 30 days, some can only be worn for a certain number of hours.
2) Yes, but if you've always had healthy eyes you are highly unlikely to have any of them, especially at 15 years old.
3) A matter of minutes usually, occasionally up to a few days.
I'm an Optometrist