Features of Contact Lenses



The lenses are made from different types of materials - soft and rigid - and come in a variety of designs and colors. These include disposable, colored, astigmatic, aphakic, presbyopic and keratoconic lenses. The initial fitting and follow up care are important parts of contact lens usage to give maximum benefits of vision, appearance, comfort and tissue integrity.

An old lens that becomes uncomfortable may be developing deposits on the lens, scratches or nicks in the lens, or problems with the tears lubricating the surface of the lens. People are different with how long a given lens will remain comfortable, and good care of lenses will usually extend the life of a lens. Having to replace lenses frequently due to rapid protein deposit formation or other problems is a good reason to consider disposable lenses.

How to maintain your lenses

Don't leave your lenses lying around. When not in use, store them in the appropriate container with the cleaning solution. A dusty atmosphere and chemical fumes may damage your lenses, if they are left uncovered.

Utmost hygiene must be maintained as contact lenses come into direct contact with your eyes. Always wash your hands before you handle your lenses.

Daily sterilisation of your lens is a must for soft lens users. Sterilisation refers to cleaning of the lenses with the prescribed cleaning solution, which are sold along with the lenses.

Contact Lens Allergy

A common source of allergy is a preservative found in the contact lens solutions. Thimerasol was used frequently as a presevative in the past, but severe allergic problems developed. Now, benzalkonium choride and EDTA are common preservatives found in contact lens solutions. If one develops an allergy or sensitivity to these preservatives, symptoms of allergy (redness, itching, discharge) frequently develop especially when the lens is first inserted, or when rewetting drops containing these preservatives are used.

Soft contact lens helps in surface disorders by preventing recurrent surface breakdowns and by restoration of optical integrity of the surface. The present study is aimed to highlight the efficacy of high hydrophilic extended wear soft lens in the management of surface disorder.

Have dry eyes or problems with the cornea. People who have Sjogren's syndrome (a condition that causes a lack of tears and dry eyes) often are not able to wear contacts. People who have chronic or recurrent infections or sores on the cornea cannot wear contact lenses.

The usage of contact lenses may give rise to problems like eye infections, allergic reactions to lens care solutions and deposit on lenses, redness of the eyes, scratched corneas, alteration in corneal shape and structure and abnormal blood vessels growing in the apparently clear cornea. You should consult your eye specialist without delay if there is burning, extreme sensitivity or hazy vision or pain.