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aggravation, blinking, bowl, case, cataract surgery, cleaning fluids, cleaning solution, contact lens wearing, contact lenses, daily lenses, daunting, eye health, eye make up, eyelashes, fingers, gently, glassses, healthy, hold, hospital, hurt, index finger, infection, inside out, irritation, keep a steady hand, light, lower eyelid, mix, nervous, optician, pain, predicament, prevent infection, public places, redness, regular basis, repeat, safe routine, sleep, sleep wake, slide, squeeze, story, swap, swimming, tap water, thumb, uncomfortable, upper eyelid, vision loss, wake, walk away, wash and dry your hands
A recent story to hit the headlines was about a woman who was found to have 27, yes 27, contact lenses stuck in her eye. Ouch!
The 67 year was scheduled for cataract surgery but instead, a blue mass of lenses was pulled from her eye, unlike anything the hospital had seen before.
While this was an extreme case, it highlights the need for care to be taken when putting in and taking out lenses and for wearers to ensure they have a healthy, safe routine to ensure their eyes are well cared for.
To make sure you don’t end up in the same predicament, we have put together some top tips to help you get contact lens wearing right.
Seems so obvious, but always make sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly before putting anything into your eyes or removing from them.
Try not to be nervous. Putting contact lenses in and taking them out might seem daunting but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy so take your time. The key to success is to keep a steady hand and if it doesn’t work first time, walk away and try later.
Before you put a lens in, make sure it isn’t inside out. To check this, place the clean lens on your finger tip and hold it up to the light. If it is the right way round it should look like a bowl but if the edges flare out, it’s inside out and needs to be adjusted.
To put the lens into your eye, hold your upper eyelid with one finger and then gently pull down your lower eyelid with your other fingers. This will stop you blinking and will stop your eyelashes getting in the way.
To take your lenses out, simply look up and carefully pull your lower eyelid down using your middle finger. Gently put your index finger to your eye and when you touch the lower edge of the lens, slide it down to the lower white area of your eye – note that this should not hurt. Finally squeeze the lens, very gently, between your thumb and index finger and finally take it out. Repeat on the other eye.
At this point, daily lenses can be thrown away, otherwise clean bi-weekly and monthly lenses as advised.
Remember, never use tap water to clean your lenses or their case. Use the recommend cleaning solution and following the instructions to the word.
Whatever is happening in your life, only wear your lenses for the time specified and don’t ever sleep in them or you will wake up feeling very uncomfortable.
As well as replacing your lenses to prevent infection, it is also important to use new cases and cleaning fluids on a regular basis.
We suggest that you don’t apply your eye make-up before putting contact lenses in, as this can sometimes cause aggravation and infection.
Contact lenses and swimming are not a good mix, so swap for glasses at the pool but make sure you take the same care taking them in and out as public places are full of bacteria and germs.
If there are any signs of pain, irritation, redness or vision loss, get in touch with your optician ASAP.
On this note, it is important to have regular checks with your optician so they can check on your eye health and ensure you are using the right lenses for you.
Team Pure Beauty
