After care

A page of SENSE and COMMON-SENSE!

Some people still harbour misconceptions that Contact Lenses are fraught with dangers. This is so wrong, and always has been!

Any experienced observer will confirm that the biggest risk factor in Contact Lens wear is the wearer themselves - what practitioners call 'non-compliance'.

EYE INFECTIONS

Some people call it "a cold in the eye". Conjunctivitis is an infection which can affect anyone regardless of whether they wear Contact Lens or not!
For a Contact Lens wearer Cleanliness is the important watch word. Regardless of whether lenses are brand new out of a blister pack, or are being re-worn having been stored correctly overnight, they will be safely disinfected ready for insertion.

IF THE WEARER HAS CLEAN HANDS AND WORKING SURFACE AND HANDLES LENSES CORRECTLY, THE CHANCE OF THEM BECOMING UNSAFE BETWEEN CASE AND EYE IS VIRTUALLY NIL.

Once inserted the tears contain their owner bactericidal agent, which kills any germs

As long as sufficient oxygen reaches the corneal surface under a Contact Lens no adverse changes occur that could potentially threaten the health of the eyes.

How Do We Check This?

At least annual after care checks are vital so that with our expertise and sophisticated equipment including microscopes we can search for even the smallest signs of changes before they become a potential problem. We pride ourselves in being one of only a handful of Specialist Contact Lens Practices to have invested in a Specular Microscope. This unique instrument allows us to observe 400 hundreds time magnified the single cell layer on the back of the cornea which controls the oxygen getting to the cornea. Any variation from normal tells us to change the lenses to allow more oxygen to the eye to ensure no problems develop.

WHY DO YOU HEAR OF PROBLEMS?

Patients often fail to heed advice to return for regular check ups.

Patients cut corners - change care products without professional advice.

Even though straightforward and simple some patients often become lax or blasé about disinfecting their lenses properly.

Patients are sometimes wearing lenses with too little oxygen permeability oxygen.

Patients change - eyes change in shape regularly -that's why you need new glasses so if the lenses are not changed problems can result.

As we get older our tears can change and, lenses, which have been perfect for years, may need up dating to a more modern material

ARE MY CURRENT LENSES STILL THE SAFEST FOR ME?

The latest rigid/flexible lenses need replacement at least annually and no soft lens should really be worn for more than 6 months - this is why specialists offer frequent replacement care plans.

Remember that as you get older and have worn lenses for years, updates to the very latest materials will be needed to ensure your eyes continue to get the most oxygen possible. If your current lenses are over a year or two old then already they may not be as efficient as the very latest ones now available - another reason for consulting a specialist regularly.

WHAT ARE THE BEST & SAFEST LENSES TO WEAR?

This really varies from patient to patient! Because there are so few specialists and soft lenses are so easy to fit only about 3% of new lenses fitted across the Country are RIGID or FLEXIBLE Oxygen permeable designs.

In our practice only around 70% of new fits are soft lenses simply because there are now so many advanced designs of rigid/flexible lenses that far outperform soft lenses. We now have rigid lenses that can be more comfortable than soft, which offer far better vision and can be slept in! Whilst most Opticians don't fit rigid lenses through lack of experience, at The Contact Lens Practice, between the 3 specialists we have over 90 years rigid lens expertise to offer our patients.

When soft lenses are the best option many find it unbelievable but, taking everything into consideration, the safest are the new generation of SILICONE-HYDROGEL SOFT LENSES which are intended for 30 day continuous SLEEP-IN (but are also just as effective as just a daily wear lens).

They let more oxygen to the eye than it gets during sleep without even having lenses in.
They let up to 5 times more oxygen to the eye than most daily wear lenses.
Even the most cautious scientists agree that they give up to TWICE the oxygen needed to safely sleep in lenses.

Touched only 12 times in a year, compared to 365 times for other lenses, the risk of any infection is virtually eliminated.

THEIR BIGGEST APPLICATION IS FOR THE PATIENT WHO WANTS THE ULTIMATE IN SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE AND PERMANENT FREEDOM FROM GLASSES, WITHOUT THE DAILY HASSLE OF INSERTION AND REMOVAL

For the very few patients who want the freedom but who we can't fit with 30 Day or any other type of lenses then we discuss Eye Surgery click here for Eye Surgery