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FAQs and Their Answers on Eye Strain

Eye strain is a symptom, not an eye disease. Generally, eye strain is not serious. In some cases, it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. As one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal , we have curated some of the frequently asked questions and their answers on eye strain that you might find useful: 

eye strain

Question1:  How to deal with eye strain?

Answer:  Here are some tips to deal with eye strain:

  • Adjust the light: Lights should be adjusted according to the tasks you are doing. For reading and writing, the light source should be directed towards the book or notebook. For watching television, the room should be dimly lit.

  • Take breaks: While doing close work like writing or knitting or when working on the computer, take frequent small breaks to give the eyes much- needed breaks.

  • Limit screen time: Continuous exposure to blue light is harmful for the eyes.  Limit the time that you spend in front of TV, mobile screen and laptop.

  • Use artificial tears: Using a digital screen for too long can make your eyes dry. To prevent dryness, artificial tear drops can be used. Consult an eye doctor before using artificial tear drops.

  • Wear  appropriate eyewear: Wrong prescription glasses may lead to strain in eyes. So, it’s better to get your eyes tested and wear the correct prescription glasses. 

Question2: How long can eye strain last?

Answer: The extent of eye strain depends on many factors such as: 

  •  Your screen time 
  • Whether you have any eye conditions 

Generally,  eye strain goes away in a few days. If the eye strain is accompanied  with symptoms such as headaches, dry eyes or shoulder strain, it might take a little longer. If your eye strain is due to some medical condition, you must visit an eye hospital as soon as possible. 

Question3: Is eye strain reversible?

Answer. In most of the cases, eye strain is reversible. The symptoms of eye strain can get better with self-care tips that we mentioned above. 

Question4: What can eye strain lead to?

Answer:  Eyestrain can lead to:

  • Sore, tired, burning or itching eyes
  • Difficulty in opening eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Headache 
  • Blurred vision
  • Dry eyes
  • Pain in neck and shoulders.
  • Increased sensitivity to light
  • Difficulty concentrating


Question5: What are the causes of eye strain?

Answer:   Some of the common causes of eye strain are:

  • Looking at a digital screen for too long. Reading continuously without any break and with inadequate  lighting.
  • Continuous driving for a longer distance may lead to eye strain as you need to be focused on the roads to avoid accidents.
  • Exposure to bright light or glare.
  • Medical conditions such as glaucoma, refractive errors or any other issue may lead to eye strain.
  • Sometimes too much stress and fatigue can cause eye strain.

    Question 6. How to cure eye strain?

Answer: The best way to cure eye strain is to seek proper treatment. An eye specialist can evaluate your case properly and help you identify what is causing the  eye strain. Depending on that, the course of treatment can be started. 

Experiencing discomfort in the eyes: Visit an eye hospital 

If you are experiencing any eye discomfort, it is best to see an eye specialist.  We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, have a team of eye specialists and medical staff who have years of experience in providing the best patient care possible. 

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Wrong Eyeglass Prescription: Check These Warning Signs

Eyeglasses are the most effective and affordable way to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. 

Eyeglasses are easy to handle and one of the most comfortable vision-correcting methods. Wearing prescribed eyeglasses have many advantages such as:

  • Improved vision
  • Better eye protection
  • Cost-effective 
  • Easy to maintain

However, if you do not have the right prescription for eyeglasses, it might lead to uncomfortable symptoms. As one of the leading eye hospitals in Kolkata, we share with you you some of the warning signs that may indicate that the eyeglasses you are wearing the wrong prescription: 

 

  • Frequent headaches: This is one of the first signs that you will observe if you are wearing the wrong prescription glasses or contact lenses. When you have a new prescription, you may experience frequent headaches a few days after wearing new glasses. However, the headaches may disappear when you take them off. In case of a wrong prescription, the eyes will strain along with a headache. In both cases, you must visit an eye doctor and get the prescription changed.

 

  • Vertigo: Normal dizziness can be cured within hours but vertigo is much more aggressive than dizziness. Vertigo gives you a feeling of being unbalanced while standing or sitting. This condition needs medical attention. It can be caused due to blurred vision. But if you already have this condition, the wrong prescription will only worsen the situation. Vertigo can affect depth perception. Without depth perception, you are at the risk of injuring yourself.  

 

  • Blurred vision: Blurred vision after prescribed corrective glasses can also mean the adjustment of the eyes to new lenses. This will get corrected after a few days but if the blurriness continues, you must visit the eye doctor to get the prescription correct. A wrong prescription may lead to further eye issues.

 

  • Eye fatigue: When you start feeling eye fatigue after the prescribed new glasses, this might be a sign that the prescription is wrong. 

Looking for an eye specialist in Kolkata? 

If you are experiencing any eye-related problem, get your eyes checked by an eye specialist. We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, have some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata on board. We offer quality eye care at an affordable price.

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Know Your Risk Of Developing Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that affects the eyes. This condition occurs in people suffering from type1 and type 2 diabetes. In this condition, the blood vessels in the retina get damaged.  The retina senses the light and sends images to the brain, helping the eyes to see. However, if not timely treated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss. Those with uncontrolled diabetes are at high risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. 

Symptoms 

 In the beginning, you might not experience any symptoms or only mild vision issues. With time you may experience symptoms such as:

  • Dark floaters in the vision
  • Blurred and fluctuating vision
  • Dark areas in the vision
  • Vision loss during advanced stages

Risk factors: 

Diabetic retinopathy can occur in any person suffering from diabetes. Other risk factors that may lead to this condition are: 

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Tobacco use
  • Pregnant women with gestational diabetes 

Prevention:

You can’t completely prevent diabetic retinopathy. But visual loss from diabetic retinopathy is preventable and can be treated. Medical management of diabetes, early detection of the condition, and timely treatment can reduce the risk of visual loss.

If  you have diabetes, reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by doing the following:

  • Make a healthy diet part of your daily routine.
  • Attempt to get something like 150 minutes of light to moderate, exercise such as walking, yoga, or aerobics every week.
  • Take diabetes medicines as prescribed.
  • Screen your glucose level regularly. You may have to check and record your glucose level a few times each day.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of diabetes-related complications, including diabetic retinopathy.

Taking an active role in diabetes management can go a long way toward preventing eye complications. If you have diabetes or you know someone who is suffering from diabetes, it is important to get regular eye exams. 

Looking for the best eye doctor in Kolkata? 

At Disha Eye Hospitals, we have some of the best retina specialists who can help treat diabetic retinopathy, retinal tear, and retinal detachment. If you are looking for the best eye doctor in Kolkata, book an online consultation or visit our eye hospital. 

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What causes melanoma of the eye?

You must have heard of melanoma. However, you must have heard about it in the context of skin cancer. Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops in the pigment that gives colour to the skin, eyes and hair. But do you know melanoma can also form in the eye? Just like skin cancer, eye melanoma also develops in the pigment-producing cells that lend eyes their colour. If the melanoma starts in the eye, it is called primary eye cancer. If melanoma begins elsewhere in the body and spreads to the eye, it is called secondary eye cancer.

Symptoms of eye melanoma 

Eye melanomas often form in that part of the eye that is easily visible. This makes eye melanoma difficult to detect. Moreover, there are early warning signs or symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they include 

  • Floaters 
  • Growing dark spot on the iris
  • Change in the shape of the pupil
  • Blurry vision in one eye
  • Loss of peripheral vision

Causes of eye melanoma 

The exact cause of eye melanoma is still not known. It occurs when errors develop in the DNA of healthy eye cells. What causes cells to grow and multiply out of control is not known. 

Here are some risk factors for melanoma 

Some people are at higher risk of developing eye melanoma than others and the risk factors include: 

  • Light eye colour. People with light coloured eyes are at higher risk of developing eye melanoma. 
  • Age: With age the risk of eye melanoma increases. 
  • Certain skin disorders: People who suffer from dysplastic nevus syndrome are at risk of developing melanoma on the skin and eye. People with abnormal skin pigmentation around the eyelids are also at risk.
  • UV exposure: It is not conclusive but ultraviolet exposure to UV light, may increase the risk of eye melanoma.
  • Genetic factors. Certain genes passed from parents to children may increase the risk of eye melanoma.

 

Complications related to eye melanoma include

  • Glaucoma: A growing eye melanoma may cause glaucoma by increasing the ocular pressure within the eye. 
  • Vision loss. Growing eye melanomas can lead to vision loss. In some cases, they may cause retinal detachment, which if not treated in time can lead to irreversible vision loss. While small eye melanomas can cause partial vision loss, advanced eye melanomas can cause complete vision loss.
  • Affect other organs: Eye melanoma can spread beyond the eye and can even spread to the liver, lungs and bones.

How to diagnose melanoma of the eyes? 

Early detection of melanoma of the eye can help increase the chances of better treatment. The best way to detect melanoma early is to get the eye checked annually. A comprehensive eye check up involves the examination of the outer part of the eye as well as the inside of the eye. 

Looking for an eye doctor in Kolkata? 

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor if there’s any symptom or sudden changes in vision. From routine eye tests to critical surgical interventions, Disha Eye Hospitals offer holistic care and treatment for your eyes. We offer a wide range of surgeries – LASIK, refractive surgeries and cataract surgery. To book an online consultation with our eye doctor in Kolkata or visit the nearest branch.  

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How to manage your eyesight when waiting for cataract surgery?

Following the pandemic, many things have taken a backseat and routine eye surgeries such as the ones for cataracts are no exception. This may mean to experience an extended period of delay in getting your cataract surgery. Though delay in cataract surgery doesn’t put your vision at permanent risk or doesn’t increase the risk of any surgery complications, it is important to take care of your eyesight while waiting for the surgery. As one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, we share with you some important information on managing cataracts while you wait for surgery:

How to manage your eyesight when waiting for cataract surgery

 

  • Remove or reduce tripping hazards: When the vision is deteriorating, simple tasks inside the home can be hazardous. It is, therefore, important that you look around your home and identify things that may pose a tripping and falling hazard. Make sure your house has anti-slip rugs not just in bathrooms and kitchens but also in the living room and other areas. Ensure that there are no uneven surfaces and there is adequate lighting in the entryway and staircase. Remind family members not to leave objects in the walkways.

 

    1. Seek help to read: The cloudiness and sensitivity to light caused by cataracts can make reading difficult. If you are struggling with reading, audiobooks and podcasts are good alternatives. There are many popular newspapers and magazines that are available in digital formats wherein you can increase the font.
    2. Watch accessible TV shows: For many people, TV is an entertaining pastime. However, cataracts may interfere with it and make it difficult to see finer details. Watching shows with audio description is a great way to enjoy television without missing what is happening on the screen.
    3. Avoid harsh lights: Light sensitivity is a common symptom of cataracts. The glare of bright lights can be painful in some cases. Use thick curtains or blinds to block bright sunlight. Avoid the use of fluorescent lighting at home. Use warm white LEDs to cut the glare.

 

  • Quit smoking: Smoking has a direct negative effect on eyes. The free radicals in smoke from cigarettes and other tobacco products weaken the protein and the vital cell membrane of the eyes’ lens. You should try to quit smoking. You must also refrain from smoking immediately after the surgery.
  • Seek help with household chores: A healthy lifestyle is really important for your overall good health. If you are struggling with household chores such as cooking and cleaning, seek help from a friend or hire a professional. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly play an important part too in eye health.
  • Discuss your medications with your eye doctor: Let your eye doctor know of any medications that you may be taking for other health conditions. . Also, if you are struggling to see your medication, seek help from a family member to organise your medication in such a way that you can take them safely. Otherwise speak to your pharmacist and use a medication organiser, https://neurofitnessfoundation.org/xanax-alprazolam/.

 

After cataract surgery, vision can be significantly improved. Our experienced doctors at Disha Eye Hospitals perform cataract removal surgeries using the latest techniques and technologies for favourable outcomes. To know more about cataract surgery, get in touch with us.

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Everyday Habits That Are Hurting Your Vision

The eyes are major organs and they need proper care and attention. However, often people take their vision for granted – they do things that might be damaging their vision. As one of the top eye hospitals in Kolkata, we discuss with you a few everyday habits that can hurt your vision and cause eye discomfort, pain, and even eye infection. 

Everyday Habits That Are Hurting Your Vision

Habit 1: Rubbing your eyes: 

  • This may seem like a harmless thing to do, but rubbing your eyes vigorously can actually affect your eye health.
  • When you rub your eyes, there is a chance of keratoconus – which can weaken the structure of the cornea. 
  • Every day your hands come in contact with many bacteria and germs. When you rub your hands with dirty hands, you increase the risk of transferring the germs into your eyes, thus increasing the risk of eye infection.

Habit 2: Too much screen time:

  • Staring at digital screens all day can cause eye discomfort.
  • During the  Covid-19 pandemic, the digital screen timings have increased as education, work and entertainment have moved online.
  • According to a study, nearly 23% of the Indian population saw their eyesight weakening due to the increased screen time during the pandemic. The study found that in 2020, the average Indian spent around 6 hours 36 minutes staring at a digital screen. 
  • When you are spending too much time on TV, browsing the internet, or staring at your phone, you’re less likely to blink, which means your eyes can get dry, red and itchy. 
  • To avoid dry and itchy eyes, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

Habit 3: Not wearing sunglasses outside

  • Extensive exposure to UV rays damages the retina, putting the eyes at the risk for eye conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygium, and photokeratitis. 
  • Always buy sunglasses with UV protection.

Habit 4: Wearing old contact lenses or not storing them properly 

  • Wearing old contact lenses increases one’s risk of suffering from eye infections. 
  • Other reasons for eye infections include sharing contacts with others, sleeping in your contacts, and wearing ill-fitting contact lenses.
  • Store and keep your contact lenses in a hygienic way. Keep the case clean and replace the case every 3 months. 
  • Wearing contact lenses while showering or swimming can cause eye infections.

Habit 5: Using expired eye makeup

  • Discard expired eye makeup. Using expired or old eye makeup can lead to eye irritation and infection. 
  • Before applying an eye makeup product, always check its expiry date.

Habit 6: Skipping regular eye exams

  • Regular eye checkups can help in the early detection of eye conditions. Some eye conditions do not show any early signs and they can be detected only through comprehensive eye exams.

Note: If you are looking for a top eye hospital in Kolkata for an eye check-up, visit or book an online appointment with Disha Eye Hospitals.

Habit 7: Uncontrolled smoking

  • Smoking is injurious to health. It can cause health problems such as cancer or lung disease and can also harm your eye health. 
  • A few of the eye conditions related to smoking are glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, and macular degeneration. Gradually quitting smoking can help save your vision as well as your overall physical health.
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Why are dry eyes an increasing problem?

If you’ve ever experienced irritation, itching, or scratching sensation in your eyes,  you are not alone. These are the symptoms of dry eyes. Dry eyes is an eye syndrome that occurs when tears fail to provide adequate lubrication to the eyes. 

Why are dry eyes an increasing problem

Dry eyes may sting or burn. In some cases, dry eyes are uncomfortable, disrupting day-to-day activities. Dry eye syndrome is on the rise, affecting around 344 million people across the globe. 

Note: We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to help diagnose and treat dry eye syndrome. We have some of the best doctors, ophthalmologists, and eye surgeons in Kolkata on board .

Causes of dry eye: 

  • Weather conditions: Different weather conditions, such as cold climate and exposure to winds can result in tears evaporating too quickly, further leading to dryness in the eyes. Dry air can also lead to dry eyes. 

 

  • Air conditioning: Today, air conditioners have become a part of homes and offices, especially in areas with high humidity. While air-conditioned homes and offices make your indoor environment more pleasant, it also drains the humidity from the air, resulting in loss of moisture in the eyes. This can result in dry eyes. 

 

 

Extended screen time: One of the noticeable and recent effects on eye health is extended screen time. Blinking helps in keeping the eyes lubricated. When people look at a screen for extended periods, they tend to blink less. This causes faster evaporation of the film of tears that protects the surface of the eye, leading to dry eyes. 

 

Wearing contact lenses: Contact lenses can also put one at risk of dry eyes. Wearing contact lenses for more than the recommended hours per day can increase the risk of developing dry eyes.   Not handling contact lenses properly can result in dry eye issues and can also exacerbate dry eye symptoms for those who are already suffering from the condition. 

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Things to know about an eye strain headache

People often experience eye strain. The term is often used by people to describe symptoms such as mild pain or discomfort in the eye. Usually, eye strain occurs when your eyes get tired due to overuse, such as driving for a long period of time or staring at the computer or mobile screen for too long. This can cause discomfort.  Eye strain is also known as asthenopia or ocular fatigue. Eye strain can sometimes also trigger headaches, the severity of which depends on the cause. They are known as eyestrain headaches. 

eye strain headache

Eye strain headaches are basically the pain behind one’s eyes. Below we share a few signs of eye strain headache:

What are the signs of eye strain headache?

  • Dry eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Blurry vision
  • Sour eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Neck, shoulder or back pain

What causes eye strain?

  • Continuous use of the digital screen: Staring at a digital screen for a long period of time is the most common cause of eye strain. 

When you focus on the screen, you blink less often, which can lead to dry eyes and cause irritation  

  • Prolonged focus on a single task: Your eyes get tired when you continually focus on a single activity for a long time, for instance, driving, reading a book or even drawing.

 

  • Vision problems:  You may experience eye strain if you have vision problems. When you have problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, your eyes work harder to see things, making the eyes tired and leading to an eyestrain headache. 

 

 

  • Bright or dim lights: If the light is too bright or too dim, it is difficult to see clearly. Trying to focus in such situations is tough, making your eyes tired and strained.  

How to prevent eye strain?

  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule:  Try to take frequent breaks when using digital screens. According to this rule, look at something at least 20 feet away for around 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
  • Avoid using digital screens in the dark: Your eyes need to do extra work when you stare at a digital screen in the dark, making your eyes tired sooner than they should. Therefore, avoid using a digital screen in the dark.
  • Blink often: Blink more than you do now.  Blinking moisten your eyes, keeping the risk of dry eyes away.
  • Keep your screen at a distance: Always  your screen at least 25 inches away from your eyes and position it slightly below eye level.
  • Do not wear eye contact lenses for a longer period of time: Wearing contact lenses for a long time can cause eye irritation and strain your eyes. 
  • Adjust the brightness of your digital screen: Make sure that your screen is bright enough to not have shadows, and also not too bright that it’s hard to discern contrast.
  • Keep your surroundings clean: Keep your surroundings free from dust, which can disturb your tear ducts and lead to dry eyes.
  • Get enough sleep: Try to get around 6-8  hours of sleep. Stay hydrated and drink up liquids to avoid dry eye discomfort.
  • Wear anti-reflective lenses: The best way to save your sensitive eyes from eye strain from digital screens is to wear anti-reflective glasses. 
  • Get regular eye checkups: Weak vision can cause headaches, eye strain and blurred vision. So, even if you don’t have any eye problems, you should visit an eye specialist and have your eyes examined at least once a year.

Looking for an experienced eye specialist? 

Getting your eyes checked by an eye specialist regularly can help stop vision problems from getting worse. As one of the reputed eye hospitals in West Bengal, we have some of the best eye specialists on board.  Our eye specialists are highly experienced and well-versed with the latest medical procedures. You can consult our eye specialist either in person or opt for online consultation. 

 

 

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Cataract Surgery And Your Options

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgeries performed around the world. Approximately, 10 million cataract operations are performed each year in the world with a high success rate.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is the procedure of replacing the lens of your eyes with an artificial lens. A cataract is clouding of the natural lens of the eye. The surgery is carried out to remove the damaged lens and replace it with an artificial lens. It is usually performed under local anaesthesia  where the patient will be awake but will not feel any pain during the procedure. 

Cataract surgery and your options

Benefits of cataract surgery 

1. Improves vision

2. Helps in seeing things in focus

3. Improves the quality of life

4. Protected eye health

Here we have shared a few things you should consider while opting for cataract surgery:

 

  • Deciding on the time for surgery: Cataracts are removed when it makes it difficult for the person to carry out normal activities, such as driving or reading. An ophthalmologist is the best person to suggest the best time for surgery.
  • Pre-operative assessment: An eye doctor carries out a pre-operative assessment before the surgery.

1. The general health evaluation of the patient includes checking the patient’s blood pressure levels, current medication, allergies, and other medical conditions. 

2. The doctor will further check the visual acuity of the patient. The refractive errors, dioptric error, and intraocular pressure of the eye are also measured before the surgery. 

 

  • Choosing the type of intraocular lens: Another option you need to consider for your cataract surgery is the type of intraocular lens (IOL). The doctor will remove your natural lens and replace it with any of these types of IOLs:

 

 

1. Monifocal lens

2. Multifocal or accommodative lens

3. Toric lens

What is vision correction cataract surgery? 

While undergoing cataract surgery, the surgeon can also correct the vision, giving the patient better vision he or she had before the surgery. 

Looking for cataract surgery in Kolkata? 

If you or your family members are looking for cataract surgery in Kolkata,  you can consider Disha Eye Hospitals. As one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, we have some of the best and highly experienced doctors on board who will attend to all of your queries and guide you. The types of cataract surgery available in Disha Eye Hospitals are:

1. Phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation 

2. Manual small incision cataract surgery

3. Laser cataract surgery

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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.