6 Things You Should Know Before Getting Contacts
Contact lenses are a convenient choice for people with poor eyesight who don’t want to deal with glasses. But it can also be intimidating, especially for those who find the idea of touching their eyes every day frightening. With practice, mastering the application of contact lenses will become second nature. If you’re still unsure, here are six things to consider before getting contacts.
The Eye Exam
Don’t expect an eye exam for contact lenses to go as quickly as one would for obtaining glasses, as the routine is more complicated than that. Yes, you need a separate exam for your eyes if you’re interested in getting contact lenses. Your optometrist needs to determine your prescription while assessing the health of your eyes, inside and out. Once that’s complete, your doctor will begin fitting you with trial contact lenses to gather the proper measurements and find the most comfortable fit for you. Leave yourself enough time for your eye exam, as you never know how long it will take.
It Takes Practice
You won’t be a pro at inserting and removing contact lenses in the hour or two you’ve been wearing them. If they’re inserted incorrectly, it could lead to dangerous complications for your eyes. This is why you’ll practice taking them on and off in front of your optometrist before leaving the eye clinic. This is one of the reasons contact lens appointments can take an hour or more.
Hygienic Preparations
When starting out with contact lenses, it’s best to have shorter nails that are properly cleaned and smoothed before your appointment. This will make the task of repeatedly inserting and removing the lenses easier. You’ll also decrease the risk of scratching your eye while practicing. And skip the eye makeup, as applying it afterward will ensure it stays intact rather than smudging it during your eye exam.
Choosing the Right Lenses for Your Lifestyle
Soft contact lenses are the most common and are available with varying lifespans, including daily disposable lenses, 14-day, and 30-day lenses. Daily disposable lenses are more expensive, especially if you’re wearing them almost every day. If you choose anything other than daily disposable lenses, know that you’ll have to clean them with a contact solution after every use. You also have the option of getting rigid gas-permeable lenses (harder, smaller lenses that last for a year or two), scleral lenses (larger lenses, best suited for people with severe dry eyes), and toric lenses (soft lenses to correct football-shaped eyes).
Booking a Follow-up Appointment
After about one week of wearing your new contact lenses, you’ll have a follow-up appointment with your optometrist to determine whether you want to continue wearing the lenses. If you want to keep your contacts but find the prescribed ones are uncomfortable, your doctor will offer different brands to try. During the week, note any discomfort you may be feeling from the lenses so you can tell your optometrist.
There are Restrictions
No matter how tired or lazy you’re feeling, know that once you decide to wear contact lenses, you can’t sleep, swim or shower in them. In general, avoid water activities that make contact with your eyes while wearing contacts. Whatever’s in the water will end up sticking to your lenses, and therefore your eye, causing an infection.
At Blink VisionCare, we take pride in helping customers improve their vision through the various prescription eyewear options we provide, including specialty eyewear, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and glasses for the whole family. Since 2010, we’ve offered the latest lens crafting technology at Blink VisionCare. Located in Brampton, Ontario, our licenced opticians are experts in their field, so call to book an eye exam with us today!