Contact lenses consist of a safe alternative to wearing prescription glasses, provided they are used under medical advice and following cleaning and care rules to avoid infection or other vision problems.
When compared to prescription goggles, contact lenses have advantages because they do not become blurry, they do not weigh or slip and are more comfortable for those who practice physical activity, but their use may increase the risk of conjunctivitis, red and dry eyes or ulcers in the cornea, for example. In addition, the use of lenses can cause some doubts and insecurities, clarify your doubts in Myths and Truths about Contact Lenses.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Contact Lenses
The use of contact lenses presents its advantages and disadvantages, when compared to the use of glasses of degree, that must always be taken into account:
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
| Do not get wet or foggy | Can easily tear if mismanaged |
| There are no annoying reflections or distortions in the image | Can make eyes dry and irritated |
| Do not weigh or slip | Have a higher number of infections or eye complications compared to grade goggles |
| They facilitate the practice of physical activities and eliminate the risk of | They need daily care and constant maintenance |
| They give a natural look and increase self-esteem | They are more expensive than glasses |
In addition, contact lenses correct not only myopia, but also astigmatism and farsightedness, the difficulty in seeing closely, and can be used by anyone at any age, including children and adolescents.
What Health Problems Can Cause
Conjunctivitis, tendon, red eyes, or dry eyes are some of the complications that may occur due to the use of contact lenses, but none of them are serious and can be treated in a short time.
In more severe cases, other ocular complications such as ulcers in the cornea or ulcerative keratitis may also occur in people who have a prolonged use of lenses, who do not respect recommended hygiene or who usually sleep on lenses. These problems, when not treated correctly, can cause permanent blindness.
So when symptoms such as itching, redness, tearing, feeling of discomfort in the eye and changes in vision occur, you should immediately stop using contact lenses and consult your ophthalmologist so that the problem can be identified and treated. See the main causes and what to do in case of eye pain.
How to Buy and Choose Contact Lenses
To buy contact lenses you should start by consulting a medical ophthalmologist so that he can evaluate your vision and indicate what degree you need and what type of lens is best for you.
Contact lenses can be purchased in opticians or online stores and are usually daily, biweekly, monthly or annual, with a validity of 1 day, 15 days, 1 month or 1 year. In addition, there are lenses produced with different materials, which adapt and react in different ways in the eye.
It is very important that the chosen lenses are comfortable and fit well to the eye, and that the foreign body sensation in the eye is not present. The shorter the duration of the safer lens it becomes, because the risk of infections, complications or harmful bacteria developing is less. However, the less time a lens lasts, the more expensive it becomes, and this investment is not always possible or necessary, since the monthly lenses, when used correctly, while maintaining proper hygiene and times of use, are also safe.
Cleaning and Care of Contact Lenses
Who regularly wears contact lenses is important to have some rules of cleanliness and care to avoid infections or other problems, which include:
- Wash hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial liquid soap and dry with paper or a lint-free cloth before touching eyes or lenses;
- The lens case disinfectant solution should be changed whenever you need to store lenses, rinsing well with new solution to remove the debris. In addition, you must first place the solution in the case and then the lens.
- The lenses should always be manipulated one at a time, to avoid confusion or change, since it is common for eyes not to have the same degree.
- Whenever you remove the lens, you should put in the palm of the hand, add a few drops of disinfectant solution and with your fingertip should gently rub the front and the back of each lens in order to thoroughly clean its surface. After that, you should rinse the lenses again with a few drops of liquid and then store them in the case.
- Whenever you are using the lenses, you should wash the lens-disinfectant case with the lenses disinfectant, let it air dry upside down and on a clean cloth.
- If you do not use your lenses every day, you should change the solution from the kit at least once a day.
In addition, it is also important to remember that contact lenses should not be used more than 8 hours in a row and that these should be placed and removed from the eyes following a few recommended steps. Learn step-by-step instructions on Carrying and Removing Contact Lenses.
Other important care includes replacing the lens case monthly to avoid accumulation of impurities and contaminations.
