Choosing The Right Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can change your life.  They are a convenient and comfortable alternative to glasses for many people.  They can make sports, work, nights out and general day to day life easier and more comfortable. 

So once you’ve made the decision to try them, it can leave you wondering which ones to use. We recommend always consulting your optometrist to help your decision, as they will be able to recommend lenses that match your prescription, the shape of your eyes and that will suit your lifestyle. By consulting your eye care professional, you will be well informed about the proper hygiene rules to keep your eyes healthy.

Here’s the lowdown on your lens choices.

Soft Lenses
The vast majority of contact lens wearers use soft lenses for the sole reason that it is easier to adapt to this type of lens compared to rigid lenses because they become comfortable almost instantly. They are the simplest lenses to put in and take out. This is the option most often recommended for those who have never used contact lenses before.

Rigid Gas-Permeable Lenses
These lenses allow more oxygen to pass through than soft lenses. They might feel more comfortable for someone who experiences dry eyes on a regular basis. Since they are placed directly on the cornea, they also correct astigmatism more precisely than other types of lenses. A rigid lens wearer must take extra care of the lenses because they can be used for a long period of time, sometimes up to two years. These lenses usually require a few weeks of adaptation before reaching optimal comfort.

Reusable Lenses (Biweekly or Monthly)
These lenses must be changed every two weeks or every month, depending on the type. They must be cleaned after every wear. To do this, simply rub and soak them in a disinfecting solution overnight. This type of contact lens is more budget-friendly for those who need them regularly, as their daily usage cost is lower than the cost of daily use lenses.

Coloured Lenses
If you want to change the colour of your eyes for a special occasion you might want to use coloured contact lenses.  The opaque lenses will completely change the shade of your irises while translucent ones will enhance your eye’s natural colour. Some lenses can even aesthetically correct abnormalities such as lack of iris, called aniridia, or a deformation of the pupil, which is called dyscoria.

1-Day Disposable Lenses
In this case, a new pair of these lenses should be used every day. Unlike reusable lenses, they do not require maintenance at all. These contact lenses are useful for those who wear them only occasionally, for example for sports, travelling or nights out. Using a new pair each day also reduces the chance of eye infection.

Monthly Lenses 
It is possible to wear these lenses during day and night for up to 30 days. They can be an interesting solution for those who often forget to remove them before going to sleep. However, it is not uncommon to experience dryness when continuously wearing contact lenses. The advice of the optometrist must also be followed carefully in order to avoid infections. Indeed, complications are much more common for those who wear lenses during both the day and night. To avoid complications, make sure to use a new pair each month and to attend the follow-up exams recommended by your optometrist.

But you must remove them when required, and if they’re not disposables you must clean and care for them correctly or you could end up with a nasty eye infection.

People who wear contact lenses have a higher risk for keratitis, an infection of the cornea, the clear outer covering of your eye.

It’s also easier for you to catch pinkeye, or conjunctivitis when you wear contacts. These infections come from a bacteria or virus in the thin membrane covering the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids.

Stop wearing your contact lenses immediately if you have these symptoms: Eye Infection Symptoms

• Redness

• Swelling

• Blurry vision

• Light sensitivity

• Itching, burning, or feeling like something’s in your eye

• Eye pain

• Extra tears or sticky, gooey stuff coming from your eye

Call your eye specialist as soon as possible if any problems occur. Some can be quite serious and need treatment right away to save your sight.