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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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8 Facts on Cornea and Corneal Disease

8 facts on cornea and corneal disease

The cornea, apart from being one of the main components of the eye, is sensitive and prone to complications. Maintaining a good eye health goes a long way in keeping the cornea healthy and lowering the risks of corneal diseases.

These 8 interesting facts about cornea and corneal disease can help you take better care of your eyes:

1. Where is the cornea located in the eye?

The cornea is located in the outermost dome-shaped layer of the eyes. Cornea covers the front part of the eyes and plays a crucial role in focus of the vision.

2. The cornea is a highly organised tissue:

The cornea may seem a clear covering but the tissue is much more than that as it is made up of three multiple layers, including Epithelium, Bowman’s Layer, Stroma, Descemet’s membrane, and Endothelium.

3. Tears are important to the cornea:

The cornea is different from most of the other tissues in the body; it doesn’t contain any blood vessel which can nourish it. Instead, it’s the aqueous humor and tears that nourish the cornea.

Every time we blink, the tears get distributed across the cornea to keep the eyes moist, protect against infection, and help heal wounds.

4. Importance of cornea:

One of the main purposes of the cornea is to focus light on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The cornea refracts the incoming light onto the lens which, in turn, refocuses to the retina. Apart from redirecting light, the cornea protects the lens and the retina from the harmful ultraviolet rays present in sunlight. The cornea also provides an overall protection to the eyes by acting as a barrier against germs, dirt, and other particles.

5. The cornea can heal itself:

The cornea can heal in its own from minor scratches and injuries. However, serious injuries can cause scarring in the cornea which, in turn, can lead to vision impairment. Some of the common implications of serious injuries in the cornea include:

  • Reduced vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Pain in the eye
  • Headache
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Inflammation in the eye
  • Redness in the eye

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you can consult with our eye specialists in Kolkata at Disha Eye Hospital. To book an appointment, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment.

6. Different types of corneal diseases:

There are various disorders that affect the cornea. Some of the common ones include Keratitis, Corneal Ulcer, Keratoconus, Bullous Keratopathy, Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy, Recurrent Corneal Erosion, Corneal Perforation, Corneal Neovascularisation, Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome, and Corneal Dystrophy.

7. Common causes of corneal disorders:

There are several causes of corneal disorders. The common ones include infections, trauma, allergies, thinning (Ectasia), nutritional deficiencies, and autoimmune disorders. Damages to the cornea can also be caused by common eye conditions such as glaucoma, eyelid disorders, and dry eye (tear film abnormalities).

8. Complications of corneal disorders:

Corneal disorders, if not treated, can worsen and lead to complications such as eye pain and vision loss. If you have a corneal disorder, it is crucial to review the treatment options with an eye specialist.

Taking good care of your eyes doesn’t have to cost a lot

At Disha Eye Hospital, some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata, come together and strive to improve eye health of people from all walks of life. Learn more about the eye care services we offer at http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Contact Lens FAQS and Answers

Contact Lens FAQS and Answers
If you are using contact lenses for the first time, then there might be a lot of questions running through your mind. From taking care of the contacts to replacing them, here we have tried to address all the concerns related to contact lenses.

1. What are the different types of contact lenses and which one’s best for my eyes?

There are daily disposable lenses, monthly and two-week disposable lenses. Also, contact lenses come in a wide range of materials. Some materials used in the contact lenses are less prone to drying while some materials may better resist deposits than others. There are lenses for correcting astigmatism along with farsightedness and near-sightedness while some provide extra reading correction. The lens that is best for you depends mostly on your visual needs, your budget, and how often you want to replace them. The lenses that need frequent replacement are a little more expensive as you will be using a lot more of them. However, they need less cleaning and maintenance.

2. Does it takes longer to get used to them?

It depends mostly on the type of lenses you are using. Most of the lens users get used to soft (silicone or hydrogel) contacts pretty easily or in a few days. However, if you are using hybrid contact lenses or rigid gas permeable lenses, it might take a few weeks or longer for your eyes to get used to them. In very rare cases, you may not ever feel comfortable while wearing contact lenses.

3. Can I lose contact lenses behind my eyes?

Not at all. At worst, you may have trouble finding the lenses as they may get under the upper eyelid when you rub your eyes. This can dislodge the lens. Talk to your eye doctor in case you need help in locating and removing the lens.

4. Is it wise to wear disposable contact lenses?

Often, doctors suggest disposable contact lenses. In terms of health, these are the good choice as there are fewer opportunities for bacteria to grow on the lenses. Also, if you are wearing these lenses, you will be discarding them at the end of the day. And as such you don’t need to buy contact lens solution and clean them regularly. These are hassle-free.

5. Is there a great difference between extended wear and daily wear contact lenses?

Yes, there’s a huge difference. Extended wear contacts are made using special materials and they allow more oxygen to enter your eyes. |
6. Who can wear contact lenses? What’s the perfect age to start wearing one?

Anyone can wear contact lenses. They can treat vision issues such as astigmatism. Multifocal contacts, on the other hand, can help treat presbyopia. Children too can wear contact lenses if they are mature enough to take care of the lenses and maintain personal hygiene.

7. How long can I wear the lenses?

Most people can wear the lenses pretty comfortably throughout the day (usually 16 hours). If you are prone to dry eyes, then you may have to limit your wearing time. Some contact lenses are good for longer wear. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing a particular lens, you can try other options and different lens.

All lenses have a particular replacement schedule. There’s a schedule for how many days you can wear them before they are discarded. Usually, the replacement schedule is like every day or every 14 days, or every 1 month.

We hope that these answers will help you get an idea about the usage of contact lenses.

Have eye problems? Consult eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospital in Kolkata
At Disha Eye Hospital, we strive to take care of your eyes in the best possible way. We have a team of expert eye specialists who can suggest an effective eye treatment for you. Get an appointment today http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment

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26 Ways to Care for your Contact Lenses and Eyes

Disha Eye Hospital

Eyes are vulnerable to infections; especially when you wear contact lenses. If you do not use contact lenses as directed or do not take proper care of it, you could be damaging your eyes. The most important thing that you can do is to keep your lenses clean. Other than that, there are a number of things that you can do to take proper care of your eyes and contact lenses. Take a look:

Take Care of your Contact Lenses

Here is how you can take care of your contact lenses

1. Wash your hands with soap before. Pat them dry using a lint-free towel before you handle your contact lenses.

2. Keep the contact lenses away from water. Remove lenses before going to swimming or while bathing.

3. Avoid using saline solution and rewetting drops for disinfecting your lenses.

4. Wear lenses as per guideline. Replace them according to the schedule as prescribed by the eye specialist.

5. NEVER put your contact lenses in your mouth to get them wet.

6. When cleaning, rub the contact lenses using fingers first. After that, rinse the lenses with a solution and then soak them. As per the eye experts, this “rub and rinse” method is the best way of cleaning the contact lens. Even if the solution is a “no-rub” variety then also you can use it to rub the lenses.

7. Follow proper guideline for cleaning and storing the lenses. Ask the eye specialist for the guidelines.

8. NEVER rinse or wash your contact lenses with water. Do not even think of keeping them in water instead of the solution.

9. If you are storing the lenses in the case for a longer period, follow the instructions to determine if you need to re-disinfect the lenses before wearing them again. In any case, avoid wearing a contact lens after storing it for at least 30 days without re-disinfecting the lenses.

10. ALWAYS rinse the contact lens case using fresh solution. NEVER use water. Leave the empty case open and air-dry it.

11. Never let the tip of the solution bottle to come in contact with any other surface. Tightly close the bottle after use or when not in use.

12. Replace the contact lens case at least every three months. These can be a source of infection. NEVER use damaged lens cases.

13. NEVER re-use old contact lens solution.

14. Avoid transferring the contact lens solution into any other container. This affects the sterility of the solution, and this might cause an eye infection.

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care

Take Care of Your Eyes

If you wear lenses, then take proper care of your eyes to avoid any kind of infection. Here is how you can keep your eyes safe:

15. Wear your contacts as per your doctor recommends. Wear them as long as the doctor thinks it’s necessary.

16. In case you cannot keep track of the time when to change your lenses, ask your eye doctor to give you a chart for tracking your schedule. Or else, make a chart for yourself.

17. NEVER EVER wear someone else’s contact lenses, especially if its wearer already uses those lenses. Using other’s contact lenses can get you eye infections or other foreign bodies from their eyes to yours.

18. NEVER sleep with your contact lenses in. Avoid doing it unless you have an extended-wear lens. When you close your eyelids, your tears don’t get much oxygen to your eyes compared to when it’s open. So, take the lenses off before going to sleep.

19. When going out, wear sunglasses with complete UV protection. You can even wear a hat. Contact lenses make your eyes light-sensitive.

20. Keep your eyes moist and use a rewetting solution (if only recommended by your doctor).

21. Often people accidentally wear contact lenses inside out. Although this doesn’t hurt it doesn’t feel good even. In order to avoid this keep the lens on the tip of your finger so that it forms a cup. Now, look at the contact from the side. If the cup of the lens appears like it flares out at the top and has a lip that means the lens is inside out. And if it appears like the letter “U,” then it is the right side out.

22. If wearing contact lenses gets your eye irritated, take out the lenses. Talk to your doctor and do not wear them until as suggested by the doctor. If you continue wearing them, your eye will get infected.

23. In case you have sudden vision loss or have a blurred vision that won’t get better; if you experience light flashes, swelling and unusual redness in your eye, go to your eye doctor right away.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/caring-contact-lens

24. If you smoke, then quit smoking. Coontact lens wearers who smoke are more likely to get eye problems than non-smokers.

25. Do not use any decorative lenses. Avoid buying lenses that are sold at the at costume shops. These lenses can damage your eyes permanently.

26. Get your eyes regularly checked. If you wear contact lenses, you should visit an eye care specialist quarterly or annually as per your need and as suggested by the doctor.

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care

You are suffering from a contact-lens related infection if you experience these following symptoms:

  • blurry vision
  • unusual redness of the eye
  • feeling like there is something in your eye
  • pain in the eye
  • light sensitivity
  • tearing or heavy discharge from the eye

Do not avoid these symptoms as contact lens-related eye infections can cause severe complications and even cause vision loss. Rush to an eye specialist if you wear a contact lens and experience all these symptoms.

Source: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/contact-lens-infection-symptoms

Let Disha Eye Hospital Take Care of Your Eyes

We have dedicated eye specialist to take care of each need of your eyes. Our specialists are committed to their promise to keep your eyes safe and help you see well. Book an appointment today at 03366360000. For booking, you can also visit http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment.