1. Types of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are classified based on the material they are made of and the wearing schedule of each type of lens. We fit all of the listed contact lenses and our Optometrists are experienced in the fitting of hard gas permeable contact lenses which include specialised fitting of patients with Keratoconus.
Materials
• Rigid Gas Permiable Lenses
• Soft Hydrogel Lenses
• Soft Silicone/Hydrogel Lenses
Wearing Schedule
• Daily disposable
• Two weekly disposable
• Monthly disposable
• Extended wear disposable
• Conventional soft lenses: 12-18 months
• Permanent hard contact lenses
2. New Products
The newest development in contact lens materials is the silicone-hydrogel material allowing optimal oxygen transmission for the healthiest, whitest eyes and longest possible wearing time. If you have previously struggled with dry eyes or redness towards the end of a day this material is the answer.
Extended wear lenses have been on the market for more than 4 years.This lens is also a silicone-hydrogel material and is designed to wear lens for a month without taking it out when sleeping. Because of the properties of the lens, enough oxygen is provided to the cornea to keep it healthy and hydrated. If you have a very active lifestyle or struggle with lens handling,this product is ideal.
Presbyopes (Patients over the age of 40 struggling with their reading distance) who previously couldn’t wear contact lenses without compromising their distance prescription, now have the option of Multifocal Contact lenses.
3. Caring for Your Lenses
On collecting your first set of trial contact lenses,you will receive a thorough contact lens instruction to show you how to insert and take the lenses out,as well as the cleaning and storing of the lenses.
Useful tips in Contact lens care:
- Do not change the type of solution you use without consulting your Optometrist.
- Do not change the wearing schedule of your lenses without consulting your Optometrist.
- Rub your lenses every time you clean them to ensure that you have removed most deposits on the lens. If you are prone to have more protein deposits than normal, your Optometrist will advise you on products to prevent build-up of deposits.
- Have a corneal health screening every 6 months to assess the health of the cornea and prevent future complications due to contact lens wear. An annual full eye examination is advised.
- Be aware of the signs and symptoms of eye infections and stop lens wear immediately. Consult your Optometrist if your eyes are abnormally red, itchy, scratchy, burny, sandy, light sensitive or show any form of discharge.
4. Rules for Contact Lens Wear
- Always wash your hands before handling your lenses
- Never use tap water with your lenses, unless they are hard lenses
- Do not boil or heat sterilise your lenses
- A peroxide cleaning system should be used only if you have had a proper instruction by one of our staff members and shouldn’t be used directly on the eye before the solution has been nutralised
- Make-up and hand creams should be applied after insertion of lenses
- Do not use eye drops with lenses in, without consulting your Optometrist first
- Do not sleep with lenses in your eyes, unless it is an extended wear schedule lens and prescribed by your Optometrist
- Always put a plug in the basin if you are cleaning your hard lens under a tap
- If the lens is chipped, cracked or torn it should not be put in the eye
- Dispose of your lens holder monthly to prevent contamination
Tips for insertion/removal of lenses:
- Position yourself comfortably and place a dark coloured towel on the table
- The lens should be positioned at the tip of your finger
- Open your eye as wide as possible and grab the lashes of each lid to make sure that you cannot blink easily
- Your finger that you use to insert the lens should be dry so that the lens doesn’t cling to it. Make sure that you bring your finger towards your eye at an angle of 90 degrees
- Only let go of your lashes once you’ve moved your eye ball around a bit for the lens to settle. The best time to let go of your lashes is while you’re looking down, to prevent it from being blinked out
Soft lenses
- The lens must be the right way around. Look at the edge of the lens, it must look like a cup-shape and not a saucer. The very edge will seem flat if it is the wrong way around
- Do not try to push the lens onto the colour of your eye,but rather “let go” of the lens onto your eye. It is also possible to place the lens on the white of the eye and then move it over the colour of the eye. The lens won’t scratch your cornea
- Use the flesh of your thumb and index finger to pull the lens out, again holding onto your lashes to prevent blinking
- After rubbing the lens with clean solution, place the lens in the correct holder (right or left) and cover with solution. Close the cap
Hard lenses
- Use a plunger to remove the lenses. This will prevent the lens from warping over a long period of time
- Rubbing the lens also helps to remove most deposits together with the cleaning and disinfecting solution
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