10 Safety Tips If You Are Going To Wear Contact Lenses

Many people wear contact lenses to avoid restrictive frame around their visions. Some choose to wear contact lenses over eyeglasses because they find the latter unsuitable, especially in most sports as they can easily fall off. Some are tired of wearing eyeglasses because of the reflections and distortions they get in wearing them, blurry vision they get when water splashes on it, and steaming up when entering a warmer place. Most of the time, people choose contact lenses over eyeglasses because of the comfort it provides. Your vision is a lot sharper with contact lenses and you can have peripheral vision in wearing them.

safe use of contact lenses compared to eyeglasses

However, to wear contact lenses, you are required to place it directly to your iris. The downside in wearing them is they put you at much greater risk of infection and eye damage. A common mistake made by users is that they don’t follow instructions on how to clean and disinfect the contact lenses and storage case diligently which increases the risk of eye infection.

A common eye-infection that contact lens wearers are at risk for is Acanthamoeba keratitis. It is a rare disease in which an amoeba, Acanthamoeba, invades the cornea of the eye. Acanthamoeba are naturally occurring amoeba commonly found in water sources such as tap water. Using contaminated tap or well water in cleaning contact lenses is one of the factors that increase the risk of having this type of eye-infection. Acanthamoeba keratitis, although a rare disease, can lead to permanent blindness.

To ensure your safety when wearing contact lenses, follow these tips:

Always consult your optometrist or eye doctor for contact lens prescription. One-size-fits-all is not suitable when it comes to contact lenses. Not only is it uncomfortable but it can seriously damage your eyes. You can ensure a comfortable fit and prevent eye infections such as corneal abrasion when your contact lenses are properly prescribed by an optometrist.

Never touch your contact lenses with dirty hands. Always wash your hands when touching your contact lenses. Germs can be prevented by washing your hands. An anti-bacterial soap is essential for keeping your hands clean and germ-free.

• The storage case must be kept clean. Bad hygiene practices are often associated with contamination of microorganisms. To avoid this, discard old solution from the case, rub the case with a clean finger, and rinse the contact lenses with a disinfecting solution. Following these simple steps can avoid the microorganisms from contaminating your contact lenses and the infections caused by these microorganisms.

• Only use a disinfecting solution in cleaning your contact lenses. Do not use a saline solution, simply sterile water. Saline solution will not clean or disinfect your contact lenses. Do not use tap or well water either for they may contain pathogens that might infect your eyes.

• Never sleep with your contact lenses on. Wearing contact lenses for an extended period of time impedes the oxygen flow, more if you have contact lenses and your eyelids are closed. When you do that, it will alter the physiology of the eye which causes the cornea to swell up leading to eye irritation.

• Remove your contact lenses when taking a bath or swimming. The sources of water we use in bathing, such as tap and well water, and bodies of water where we swim can be contaminated with pathogens commonly found in water sources.

• Never reuse contact lens solution. Reusing old solution or cleaning your contact lenses with an old solution has often been linked to cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Replace your contact lens case at least every three months. Even if you clean and disinfect it by changing the solution, bacteria may still remain. Over time, germs from your fingers and the surrounding environment build up in the case which is why the need for new contact lens case ever three months is essential.

Replace your contact lenses regularly. Substances found naturally in basal tears such as mucin, lipids, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lipocalin, and many more can build up in your contact lenses making it prone to infection. Old contact lenses can also warp over time resulting in a poor fit and discomfort.

• See your optometrist or eye doctor regularly. Infections that are related to contact lens are mostly caught during a routine examination. If you feel an irritation or discomfort in your eyes, remove your contact lenses and see a doctor. It is not healthy to have these irritations as it can be a sign of an infection.

Follow these tips to ensure that your contact lenses will bring benefits only and no harm to you and your eyes.

Common Eye Tests Done During A Regular Eye Exam

Regular eye exam is advisable for all ages. It should not just be for adults. Do you know that there is an increasing number of young people who are already diagnosed to have eye problems? This is the reason why everyone, regardless of age, should consider getting eye exam on a regular basis.

A comprehensive eye exam will only take roughly an hour. This is done by an optometrist or eye doctor. During the eye exam, you will undergo several types of tests that are designed to measure your vision and eye health.

Ottawa optometrist performing regular eye exam

There are many different tests depending on your individual needs, but these are the most common:

Cover Test

When the eyes don’t work together, it causes eye problems such as lazy eye, crossed eye, or lack of depth perception. Lazy eyes is medically termed as amblyopia. It is when the eyes are not lined up. Sometimes one eye is farsighted and the other is not. Other times, one eye is blurry and the other is clear.

Crossed eye, on the other hand, is medically termed as strabismus. This is the condition wherein the eyes can’t look at the same direction at the same time. The cause for strabismus is poor eye muscle control. Another common cause of crossed eye is extreme farsightedness.

Both lazy eye and crossed eye can cause lack of depth perception. Since for both conditions, the eyes are not coordinated, getting depth perception becomes quite a challenge as this requires two functioning eyes.

Cover test is used to determine misalignment and miscoordination of the eyes. The procedure is done by covering one eye first for about 1-2 seconds. While the eye is covered, the other eye is observed if there is any change in the fixation. The same thing is done with the other eye. The optometrist will be able to see if the patient suffers from heterotropia or tropia based on the observation.

Visual Acuity Test

This test measures how sharp and clear your vision is. The optometrist will ask you to read different letters in shifting sizes and distance. Each eye will be tested. One eye will be covered first then you will be asked to read the letters. After which, the cover will be on the other and the test will be repeated.

For this test, the Snellen chart is used. Sometimes a visual card is used. The standard distance for the test is 20 feet or 6 meters away; however, if the optometrist finds it necessary to test your eyes at a distance that is shorter than the usual 6 meters, the optometrist will use a specialized chart.

Eye Movement Test

This is a very easy test that entails looking at and following with your eyes the movement of an object presented by the optometrist. What is tested are the muscles of the eyes. The optometrist wants to see if the muscles are functioning properly.

Color Perception Test

This test measures your ability to identify and distinguish different colors. You will be asked to cover one eye and you will be presented a card with colored dot patterns. Inside the pattern is either a number or a symbol which you will have to identify. The number or symbol is usually hidden and a bit difficult to see. The test will also be performed on the other eye.

There are different eye tests and the ones mentioned here are the most common. Through these exams, the optometrist or eye doctor will be able to diagnose whether you have a vision or eye problem. Get your eyes checked now by your Ottawa optometrist.

 

Four Seasons Of Good Eye Health

How you keep your eyes healthy and in perfect condition may differ depending on the season. There are things that you do during summer to protect your eyes that may not be that practical during winter or vice versa.

But no matter what the season is, it is vital that you protect your eyes to maintain or even improve your vision. Here are practical tips from Ottawa optometrist on how to keep your eyes healthy throughout the seasons:

Winter:

woman wearing ski goggles to protect eyes

During winter, most people turn on their heaters at home. The heat from a heater or fireplace can lead to eye dryness. This situation can bring discomfort or pain especially if you are already suffering from a chronic eye condition like dry eyes. This is when the eyes are not properly lubricated because they do not produce the right amount of tears needed to keep the eyes moist. During winter, this condition can get worse. What you can do is keep your eyes moist by staying away from the heater or using a humidifier. If you visit Ottawa eye clinic, the eye doctor can also prescribe medication to keep your eyes moist.

It is a good idea to wear sunglasses during winter. Why? Because your eyes can get damaged if the temperature is too low. Make sure that your sunglasses has UV protection because the snow can reflect UV rays which doubles the risk.

To avoid snow and ice debris from entering your eyes, especially if the weather condition is not favourable, you should consider wearing goggles. Googles provide maximum protection compared to regular eyeglasses.

Spring:

wear goggles and dust mask during spring cleaning to protect eyes

Spring is the season for allergies. This can cause eye irritations including redness and itchiness. While you can take anti-allergy medications, it is best to consult an eye doctor and get an eye exam in case your eyes become irritated because of your allergy.

If you are engaging in spring cleaning, make sure to use goggles to avoid the dust from entering your eyes.

Even during spring time, the sun’s UV rays can still pose risks so it is still advisable to wear sunglasses with UV protection. This will help you avoid eye problems like cataract and macular degeneration.

Summer:

optometrist advises to wear swim goggles when swimming

Same with other seasons, summer is the time when you put your sunglasses to good use. Don’t let the harmful rays of the sun damage your eyes. The brightness of the day can also be very painful for your naked eyes.

Summer is the perfect time to hit the beach. Don’t forget to wear your swim goggles whether you are going to the beach or pool. Saltwater can be damaging to your eyes especially if you accidentally open your eyes while underwater. The bleach on pool water can also cause eye irritations.

For outdoor activities, make sure to use eye protection. The dust and heat from outside can both cause eye damage. Also wear a hat outside as added protection from UV rays and heat of the sun.

Fall:

woman wearing sunglasses during autumn season

Throughout the year, you will need your sunglasses. Even if you feel you don’t need it during the fall season, you still do because there is still the risk of the UV rays. Make sure to wash your hands frequently to avoid causing any bacteria to enter your eyes when you happen to touch them.

Fall is also the season of allergies, just like the spring season. Always keep an anti-allergy medication and eye drop ready in case of allergy. It is best to consult your Ottawa optometrist for eye medications that can help relieve or prevent allergy symptoms.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall – no matter what’s the season, you should always protect your eyes. These tips will ensure that you will have good eye health throughout the year.