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Dos and don’ts of contact lens wear

Rohan Basu, a 36-year-old from Kolkata, is a regular contact lens wearer. He was experiencing problems such as itching, burning or stinging sensation and watery eyes for quite some time. Finally, he decided to visit an eye hospital. Upon seeing an eye doctor he realised the mistakes that he had been making while using contact lenses. From wearing contact lenses to bed to wearing them to swimming pools, he had been using the contact lenses in the wrong way.

Dos and don'ts of contact lens wear

If you too are a contact lens wearer, it is important to know the dos and don’ts so that you do not put yourself at risk of developing eye infections. As a leading eye hospital in West Bengal, we share with you a few Do’s and Don’ts you must follow if you wear contact lenses. 

DO’s:

  • Do keep your hands clean. Your hands may be covered with germs, so always wash and rinse them thoroughly before touching the contact lenses. 
  • Do clean the lenses. Also, clean the lenses after removal as instructed by the eye care professional using the recommended solution. Also, keep the lens case clean. 
  • Discard all the lens solutions after the expiry date, even if there is any solution remaining.
  • Do carry your lens storage case and solution at all times if possible.
  • Keep your spectacles up to date. You can immediately use them if you lose your contact lenses. Or in case your doctor advises you to not wear contact lenses.
  • Wear swimming goggles while swimming with contact lenses. Also, wear protective glasses if you are dealing with dust, sand grit, or other foreign material. 
  • Always remove lenses before removing your eye make-up. Remove make-up with a good oil-free hypo-allergenic remover.
  • Clean your lenses immediately if you get any make-up on your contact lenses.

DON’Ts:

  • Don’t use tap or running water to rinse or soak your lenses.
  • Don’t rub your eyes vigorously while wearing contact lenses.
  • Don’t mix up your lenses. Always keep the right eye contact lens away from the left lens. This is especially important if the prescription numbers of both eyes are different. 
  • Don’t expose your contact lenses to sunlight.
  • Don’t apply any eye cosmetic products if you have swollen or red eyes or eye infections.
  • Don’t allow make-up to come in contact with your contact lenses. 
  • Do not share your contact lenses, even if they are zero power.

See an eye doctor if you experience an eye problem 

Contact lenses are convenient. However, improper use of contact lenses can raise the risk of an eye infection. If you experience any itchiness, redness, swelling or any other symptom in the eye, visit an eye hospital to get your eyes checked. Being one of the leading eye hospitals, we at Disha Eye Hospitals, have some of the best and highly experienced doctors, who will attend to your problem.

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Cosmetic Safety Practices for Contact Lens Wearers

It is natural to be alert when wearing contact lenses, but you must take extra precaution if you are wearing eye cosmetics, besides contact lenses. Using eye makeup products when wearing contact lenses could cause harmful reactions which, in turn, could cause eye problems.

contact lens precaution

Listed below are a few tips to help you to maintain eye health when wearing eye cosmetics and contact lenses:

1) Don’t use eye makeup products past their expiration date

One of the basic yet important safety measures is to avoid using your eye makeup products way past their expiry date. Expired eyeliners, mascaras, and eyeshadows could cause irritation which will be troublesome to contact lenses. Apart from this, expired eye makeup products are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria

2) Avoid applying eyeliner to the inner edge of your eyelids

The one area of your eyes where you should avoid applying eyeliner when wearing contact lenses is the inner edge. Doing this could cause the eyeliner to come in contact with the lenses. The contact may lead to eye irritation and infection because of a chemical reaction with the contact lenses.

3) Avoid glittery, shiny eyeshadow when wearing contact lenses

Unlike regular eyeshadows, frosted/glittery eyeshadows flake in a short period of time, which may cause eye irritation and increase the risk of eye infection. It’s best to exchange these for regular eyeshadows with a mild formula when wearing contact lenses.

4) Discard old mascara applicators and other eye makeup brushes

Using old mascara applicators increases the risk of eye infection. This is because, the older the eye makeup applicators, the more susceptible they become to bacterial growth. Therefore, it is advised to replace old applicators with new ones.

When using the applicators, make sure that they do not touch your contact lenses or scratch against them. Wash your eye makeup brushes properly every once in a while to make sure there’s no bacterial growth in them.

5) Keep contact lenses away from certain cosmetic products

It is advisable to keep contact lenses away from certain cosmetic products such as perfumes, cologne, nail polish, nail paint remover, and false eyelashes. These cosmetic products chemically react with contact lenses and damage them.

If you are facing discomfort in your eyes when wearing your contact lenses or eye makeup, consult with one of our eye doctors at Disha Eye Hospitals. They can help you to learn about your general eye health and guide you in taking proper eye care, including early treatment.

As one of the renowned eye hospitals in Kolkata, Disha Eye Hospitals is committed to providing comprehensive eye care with a team of well-qualified eye specialists.  To book your appointment online, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/. The hospital offers advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures for corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, uveitis, squint, and refractive errors. The eye care services are made affordable to suit the needs of people from different walks of life.

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Things You Should Know Before Using Coloured Contact Lenses

Whether you want to cosplay on Halloween or wish to get the same colour of eyes like that of your favourite celebrity’s, coloured contact lenses could fetch you the best scores. It’s possible to achieve a subtle or bold hue as shown in makeup videos, with a little help from these lenses. They are available in different colours namely blue, green, hazel, brown, violet, opaque, grey, etc. If you are insistent on buying a pair of coloured contact lenses for yourself, then you need to be mindful about the following:

Things you should know before using coloured contact lenses

  1. Never share your contact lenses: Sharing is caring but not when it comes to your contact lenses. It is never a good idea to share your contact lenses with anyone, be it your nearest relative or your best friend! Sharing contact lenses can increase the chance of transmitting harmful bacteria that might be a serious threat to your eyes, causing infections

  2. Use only lens care product: Just like other contact lenses, your coloured contact lenses should be disinfected, cleaned and stored properly as instructed, either by the manufacturer or the eye doctor. Use appropriate lens care products, like lens cleaning solutions, to maintain hygiene and avoid any kind of contamination.

  3. Never wear contact lenses when you have eye problem: If you have recently developed an eye problem like red eyes, stye, conjunctivitis or any other form of eye infection, then it is advisable to avoid wearing lenses as it might increase the discomfort.

  4. Don’t use expired lenses: Coloured contact lenses come with an expiration date and it is recommended that you do not use them beyond that period. The solution containing the lenses could spoil, and in turn cause discomfort to your eyes.

  5. Consult your doctor: Do not invest in lenses made of cheap quality. Before you buy coloured lenses, it is important for you to consult a doctor regarding the kind of lenses that will suit your eyes. There are a bunch of options to choose from, each varying in colour and design, and one must always purchase them against a prescription.

Schedule an appointment with some of the best eye doctors in Kolkata

Disha Eye Hospitals, one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, provides the best solutions for cataract, glaucoma, corneal diseases, uveitis and paediatric squint at affordable rates. Besides Lasik and refractive surgery, the hospital is also equipped in treating diabetic retinopathy. If you or any of your family members have been coping with diabetic retinopathy, then you can easily book an appointment at Disha. To know more about our services, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/.