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Successful Contact Lens Wear

Successful Contact Lens Wear. Contact Lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices worn on the eye to correct vision problems They are made of specialized materials that are designed to be compatible with the eye and allow for the passage of oxygen

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Successful Contact Lens Wear

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  1. Successful ContactLens Wear

  2. Contact Lenses • Contact lenses are medical devices worn on the eye to correct vision problems • They are made of specialized materials that are designed to be compatible with the eye and allow for the passage of oxygen • There are two categories of contact lenses: soft and gas permeable

  3. Contact Lenses • There have been many advances in contact lens technology • These have resulted in improved comfort, safety, vision and convenience • Lenses are now available for most visual defects including astigmatism and bifocal correction

  4. Contact Lenses • Contact lenses can also change the appearance of eyes with a variety of colors and patterns

  5. Soft Contact Lenses • Soft contact lenses are made of a very pliable material • There are many different kinds of soft lenses

  6. Soft Contact Lenses • They are generally described by the frequency of replacement of the lens • Lenses may be replaced every day, weekly, every two weeks, every month, every 3 months or annually

  7. Gas Permeable Lenses • Gas permeable lenses are made of a more rigid material • They are usually replaced every one or two years

  8. Successful contact lens wear • Proper fitting of the lenses • Proper handling and lens care • Regular ongoing progress checks

  9. Contact Lens Fitting An initial contact lens diagnostic examination allows an optometrist to determine the correct design, type and power of contact lenses which will maintain eye health while giving maximum comfort and the clearest vision possible

  10. Contact Lens Fitting • Your optometrist will decide what lens and wearing schedule is best for you with information gathered from your initial fitting and progress checks • You will also receive instruction on the proper techniques of inserting and removing the contact lenses and lens cleaning

  11. Contact Lens Care • Proper contact lens cleaning is necessary to: • remove deposits, mucous and micro-organisms which cling to the lenses through normal wear • disinfect the lenses to prevent complications due to contamination by any remaining micro-organisms

  12. Progress Checks • A series of follow-up progress checks are required to ensure continued safe and comfortable contact lens wear • An optometrist may vary the contact lens parameters, power, solutions and wearing schedule in order to match visual needs and maintain eye health

  13. Complications There are many potential complications from wearing contact lenses that can be prevented with proper care.

  14. Corneal Abrasions • Corneal abrasions can occur if: • a contact lens is not fitting properly and moves excessively • the lens is damaged • the lens is not inserted with the proper technique

  15. Toxic/Allergic Reactions • Some people can have sensitivity reactions to certain contact lens solutions • One severe type of hyper-sensitivity reaction is GPC (Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis) which is a reaction to lens protein deposits

  16. Hypoxia • Corneal hypoxia (a lack of adequate oxygen for the corneal cells) can occur if: • lenses are over-worn • lenses are inadequately cleaned • the lens material is incompatible • This can lead to neovascularization (the growth of new blood vessels) in the cornea

  17. Infections • Inadequate lens cleaning, poor hygiene and handling techniques and lens over-wear can lead to bacterial conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers

  18. Recent Developments • There are now contact lenses available that allow so much oxygen to pass through the lens that some wearers can safely wear them on a 30-day continuous basis, with proper supervision

  19. Recent Developments • Some patients can also wear gas permeable contact lenses that are designed to be worn overnight so that they gently re-shape the cornea of the eye on a short-term basis and allow the wearer to see well throughout the day • Ask your optometrist if these lenses may be right for you

  20. Over The Counter Lenses • Some retailers are now offering colored or cosmetic contact lenses “over-the-counter” without any assessment or follow-up care. • The Canadian Association of Optometrists is working to have these lenses properly regulated because of the significant risks from wearing contact lenses, cosmetic or otherwise.

  21. Successful ContactLens Wear Optometrists are your partners in safe and successful contact lens wear

  22. YOUR EYES deserve AN OPTOMETRIST!

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