YAMOUT OPTICAL CENTER

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Soft Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can only be provided with a optometrist  written specifications. A contact lens prescription is not the same as a spectacle prescription. Contact lenses come in different curvatures, powers, diameters, colors and brands. It is important that every factor is correct for the lenses to fit properly.

Interpreting Your Contact Lens Prescription

A contact lens prescription is NOT the same as an eyeglass prescription. In addition to lens power, correct lens material and fitting parameters must also be included in a contact lens prescription. The overall base-curvature and diameter of the cornea must be established during the pre-fitting exam. These measurements are then included in the lens specifications in order that a safe and proper lens fit be ordered for the patient.

The refractive power of the lens is determined by the overall curvature of the front and back surfaces. If the shape of the lens is convex (plus power), it corrects farsightedness (hyperopia). If it is concave (minus lens), it corrects nearsightedness (myopia). These lenses are called spherical lenses and are used when correction for astigmatism is not necessary. To correct astigmatism, cylinder lenses are necessary to provide sharp visual acuity. These cylindrical lenses are called toric lenses. There are a variety of other lenses available to correct different refractive errors....

• Soft Contact Lenses: lenses made of water absorbing (hydrophilic) flexible plastic materials.

• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) contacts: lenses which correct irregular corneas. RGP lenses are made of plastic materials that allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through the lenses.

• PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) contacts: the original plastic polymer contact lens. These lenses are rarely used today, and have been replaced by oxygen permeable lens materials.

• Bifocal contacts: lenses which correct presbyopia

• Tinted contacts: lenses to change the color of the eyes

• Conventional contacts: lenses which can be worn for up to one year and are not disposable.

• Disposable contacts: lenses which are worn for a limited time before discarding. (Please see wearing schedule below)...

Lens modifications may be made to your prescription in order to provide optimum vision for your specific needs. A monovision contact lens prescription is such an example. Monovision corrects distance vision in one eye, and corrects near vision in the other. A qualified contact lens fitter will aid in determining which lenses will work best with your overall prescription and visual performance needs.

Lens Replacement Schedules

Disposable Replacement:
Daily, extended, and flexible wear contacts are replaced within one to fourteen days. Contacts are not enzymed.

Planned Replacement:
Daily, extended, and flexible wear contacts are replaced every one to three months. Contacts are cleaned, disinfected, and enzymed.

Contact Lens Care

Preparing The Lens For Wearing

It is essential that you learn and use good hygienic methods in the care and handling of your new lenses. Cleanliness is the first and most important aspect of proper contact lens care. In particular, your hands should be clean and free of any foreign substances when you handle your lenses.

The procedures are:

· Always wash your hands thoroughly with a mild soap, rinse completely, and dry with a lint-free towel before touching your lenses.

· Avoid the use of soaps containing cold cream, lotion, or oily cosmetics before handling your lenses, since these substances may come into contact with the lenses and interfere with successful wearing.

· Handle your lenses with your fingertips, and be careful to avoid contact with fingernails. It is helpful to keep your fingernails short and smooth.

Start off correctly by getting into the habit of always using proper hygienic procedures so that they become automatic.

Handling the Lenses

· Develop the habit of always working with the same lens first to avoid mixups.

· Remove the lens from its storage case and examine it to be sure that it is moist, clean, clear, and free of any nicks or tears. If the lens appears damaged, do not use it. Use the next lens in the multipack or vial.

Verify that the lens is not turned inside out by placing it on your forefinger and checking its profile. The lens should assume a natural, curved, bowl-like shape (Fig. A). If the lens edges tend to point outward, the lens is inside out (Fig. B). Another method is to gently squeeze the lens between the thumb and forefinger. The edges should turn inward. If the lens is inside out, the edges will turn slightly outward.

Fig A	Fig B

Placing The Lens On The Eye

Remember, start with your right eye.

1. Place the lens on the tip of your forefinger. BE SURE THE LENS IS CORRECTLY ORIENTED (see "Handling The Lenses").

2. Place the middle finger of the same hand close to your lower eyelashes and pull down the lower lid.

3. Use the forefinger or middle finger of the other hand to lift the upper lid.

4. Place the lens on the eye.

5. Gently release the lids and blink. The lens will center automatically.

6. Use the same technique when inserting the lens for your left eye.

Note: If you need to rinse the lenses before you insert it into your eye, use only fresh sterile saline solution. Never use tap water.

Your vision may be temporarily blurred immediately after inserting your contact lenses, and should improve quickly as excess tears and solution blinked or wiped away. If vision does not improve, check the following....

1. Cosmetics or oils on the lens. Dispose of the lens and insert a fresh new lens. If wearing conventional lenses, clean the lens thoroughly and rinse with saline before reinserting into eye.

2. The lens is on the wrong eye.

3. The lens is inside-out (it would also not be as comfortable as normal).

If you find that your vision is still blurred after checking the above possibilities, remove both lenses and consult your eye care practitioner.

Removing The Lens

Always remove the same lens first.

1. Wash, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly.

2. There are two recommended methods of lens removal: the Pinch Method and the Forefinger and Thumb Method. You should follow the method that was recommended by your eye care practitioner.

Pinch Method:

1. Look up, slide the lens to the lower part of the eye using the forefinger.

2. Gently pinch the lens between the thumb and forefinger.

3. Remove the lens.

Forefinger and Thumb Method:

1. Place your hand or towel under your eye to catch the lens.

2. Place your forefinger on the center of the upper lid and your thumb on the center of the lower lid.

3. Press in and force a blink. The lens should fall onto your hand or the towel.

4. Remove the other lens by following the same procedure.

CAUTION: Always be sure the lens is on the cornea before attempting to remove it. Determine this by covering the other eye. If vision is blurred, the lens is either on the white part of the eye or it is not on the eye at all. To locate the lens, inspect the upper area of the eye by looking down into a mirror while pulling the upper lid up. Then, inspect the lower area by pulling the lower lid down.

Tips

Tips for carefree use of conventional and disposable contact lenses:

· Follow the manufacturer's instructions for inserting and removing the lenses.

· Always wash and rinse your hands before inserting and removing lenses. Washing your hands reduces the number of microbes on them by at least ten times.

· Clean the lenses by rubbing and rinsing them in a sterile solution. This removes the majority of the microbes leaving sterilization to destroy the rest. Always use fresh cleaning, disinfecting and rinsing solutions.

· Do not use solutions specified for hard contact lenses unless they are indicated for dual use.

· Never store your lenses in saline rinsing solution for long periods; this will not prevent microbes already on the lens from growing.

· Never use tap water or saliva to moisten lenses.

· Always remove your lenses at night or follow the manufacturer's guidelines on overnight use.

· Empty and rinse the lens case daily with fresh sterile solution and allow to air dry. Replace the lens case at least every 3 months.

· Replace any lens that becomes dried out or damaged.

· If in doubt, take them out. If you are experiencing any discomfort or visual difficulties, take the lenses out and consult an eye-care professional.

Things To Avoid

Here are some things to avoid while wearing contact lenses

· Aerosol products such as hair spray and noxious and irritating vapours.

· Swimming, saunas or Jacuzzis.

What Causes Lens Discoloration?

Lens discoloration may occur with prolonged use of certain oral medications, improper cleaning and disinfecting solutions, and environmental exposure to chemicals. The table below lists the most common causes for these types of lens discoloration.

Visit your doctor if you experience the following:

· You are becoming sensitive to light.
· You are becoming less tolerant of your lenses .
· Your eye(s) is irritated or unusually red.
· You are developing an itchy eye(s).
· Your lenses become unusually dirty during contact lens wear.

It is critical that the doctor's instructions are followed. Follow-up care is very important to ensure that the prescription is correct and the lenses are fitting properly. An improper fit can cause corneal abrasions, ulcers and eye infections. Should symptoms of eye irritation, pain, redness or blurred vision occur, you must remove the lenses and call your doctor immediately.