WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU START WEARING CONTACT LENSES Millions of Americans suffer from different optical ailments but are still reticent to wear glasses.
Table of Contents
From Glasses to Contact Lenses Lenses....1 The Joy of Daily Contact Lenses Lenses.....6 Spotting Presbyopia Symptoms Symptoms.....11
From Glasses to Contact Lenses A person’s vision is important and yet is often taken for granted. Millions of Americans suffer from different optical ailments but are still reticent to wear glasses. Maintaining a personal image is
Comfortable contact lenses
important to us when we’re out in public. At one time, all that was available to correct vision ailments was glasses or uncomfortable contacts. Thankfully, this has changed. Today daily contacts are widely available to provide comfort and style for all those with less than perfect vision. Regardless of what type of contact lenses you wear, knowing when you need them, how to insert them and how to clean them is vital if you want your lenses to give you the clear eyesight you deserve. Page 1
From Glasses to Contact Lenses There comes a time when we realize our eyes are not what they once were and assistance is required in order to see objects more clearly. If you have already reached that stage, are wearing glasses and
Great variety of contact lenses
would like a change, make sure to schedule a visit to your optician. These days there are a variety of daily contact lenses to address a variety of optical problems. Believe it or not, there are some people whose eyes are simply not suited for contacts so it is essential to have a thorough eye exam. Your optician will then choose a suitable pair of lenses for you. He or she will also demonstrate how to clean them. It is a normal practice to wear the lenses for a week as part of a trial period to Page 2
From Glasses to Contact Lenses See if they are a good fit. Once this has been determined, you are likely to receive three or more months’ supply. Before you insert your contact lenses, it is vital to wash your hands in warm water
Check lenses before you use them
and soap and dry them thoroughly. This is to ensure that no bacteria get onto the lenses. Check the lenses before placing them in your eyes to ensure they are not damaged or broken. Make sure they are positioned with the correct side up. Then while holding your upper eyelid to stop any blinking, place the lens on your eye. Then position the second lens on your other eye. When removing your lenses, wash your hands first. Then make Page 3
From Glasses to Contact Lenses sure the lens is positioned in the middle of your eye. Pull down your eyelid and use your forefinger and thumb to extract the lens. It is important never to wash the lenses in water.
Take care of your lenses with specific products
If you are using daily contact lenses, there is no need to worry about storage as they will be discarded after one use. Lenses designed to last longer, however, must be cleaned with the solution that accompanied the lenses. Each lens should be rinsed thoroughly and placed carefully in its case which should also be filled with solution in order to disinfect the lenses. When the time comes to re-use the lenses, clean out the case and allow it to dry in the air. Page 4
From Glasses to Contact Lenses Making the transition from wearing glasses or nothing at all to contact lenses is not easy but your eyes will acclimate after a short period of time. Whether you are suffering from astigmatism or presbyopia, a pair of contacts can relieve that irritating blur and allow you to see the beauty that lies before you.
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The Joy of Daily Contact Lenses While traditional glasses perform a great service for those with less than perfect vision, they are often be poorly designed and cumbersome. Despite the fact that glasses now have thinner rims which
You can wear contact lenses while practicing your favorite sport
makes them lighter and more attractive, few are as attractive as wearing none at all. So, it’s no surprise that the desire for contacts is growing among a significant portion of the population. For years, the only alternative to glasses was a pair of contact lenses that could be worn all day and needed to be cleaned at night. While this took care of matters for those wishing to be rid of glasses, having to rinse the lenses constantly was a burden and losing a contact was far too easy and costly. Daily contact lenses Page 6
The Joy of Daily Contact Lenses are a welcome alternative. With so many options available and the overwhelming benefits of disposable lenses, it is no wonder millions of Americans are actively seeking them out.
Vast array of contact lenses
Having such a vast array of contact lenses available is both positive and negative. Obviously, it is wonderful to have choices but the sheer number of lenses available make it challenging to select the right ones. Unlike the purchase of shirts or slacks, it is vital to buy the right lenses otherwise you could cause lasting damage to your eyes. Clearly, you need to visit your optician to determine if you suffer from astigmatism, presbyopia, farsightedness, nearsightedness or any other problem. There are Page 7
The Joy of Daily Contact Lenses lenses available specifically designed for each of these conditions. Regular lenses can be expensive and they are easy to lose during the cleaning process. Daily contact lenses eliminate
Test your contacts
this problem as they are inexpensive, plentiful and still ensure you have great vision. They are also ideal for individuals wearing contacts for the first time. Simply buy enough lenses for a week or two as a test. If you don’t like wearing them, no significant damage is done to your bank balance. It is also much easier for a beginner to toss old lenses in the trash rather than learn the whole process of rinsing them in special solution and placing them carefully in a specific container. Page 8
The Joy of Daily Contact Lenses The many benefits of disposable contact lenses make them the obvious choice for those wishing to switch from eye glasses. Contact lenses are often very fragile and easily cracked or ripped. If you are
Visit the optician to get a prescription
wearing a pair of regular lenses at work and they get lost or damaged you’re stuck with faulty vision until you get home. Disposable lenses are available in packs of various sizes so you should be able to carry a spare pair or two with you. The entire package is custom made to fit your eyes so instead of having to visit the optician to get a new pair fitted, all you need to do is renew your prescription and carry on with your day.
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The Joy of Daily Contact Lenses Daily contact lenses allow those with optical problems to live their life in the same manner as the did before they needed help with their vision. Modern lenses are becoming so comfortable that wearers often forget they have them in their eyes. Disposable lenses are inexpensive, convenient and there is a huge selection to choose from.
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Spotting Presbyopia Symptoms Presbyopia is an incredibly common problem among Americans today. More than one in four people suffer from some form of it. Those who complain of this issue are unable to see things close up and often have to hold items at arm’s length in
Presbyopia occurs because the flexibility of the eye reduces with age
order to get a clearer view. This condition worsens with age and can develop in anyone. While other ailments concerning the eye like astigmatism involve the shape of the eye, Presbyopia occurs because the flexibility of the eye reduces with age. Although people who are approaching retirement age often suffer from this problem, it can occur in people who are only in their 40’s. Other symptoms related to this problem include an inability to focus, squinting and Page 11
Spotting Presbyopia Symptoms headaches. The onset of symptoms often creep ups slowly, seemingly without prior warning. But there are a number of early signs that may suggest you have Presbyopia. For
Don’t ignore headaches
example, if you find you are holding a newspaper or restaurant menu at arm’s length, it is a clear sign that your eyesight is starting to wane. Of course, this is an obvious example of discovering you have visual problems. There are a variety of other symptoms that may seem innocuous or unrelated at first; but are, in actual fact, sure signs of optical issues. You may start to suffer headaches but ignore them in the belief that they are just related to fatigue or stress. The fact is that straining to Page 12
Spotting Presbyopia Symptoms read items often causes headaches and a sense of tiredness. Another common complaint among those with this problem is that headaches start to manifest after completing specific tasks like writing,
Make the reading test today
knitting, or any activity that requires close concentration on a specific object. A person will squint and focus extremely hard on the task at hand and yet may not notice the strain. A quick test to determine if you have poor vision is to try on a pair of non-prescription reading glasses in a pharmacy. Bring a book with you and start reading. If you are able to read normally with the glasses then this is a sure sign you have Presbyopia. Page 13
Spotting Presbyopia Symptoms Once you have been diagnosed with this problem there is no course of treatment to completely return your eyes to their original healthy state. This problem is a normal result of aging. There is no way to
Presbyopia worsens with age
halt it without halting the aging process itself. In order to ensure your vision remains at a functional level, try a pair of reading glasses or contact lenses. LASIK surgery which involves lasers is an extreme method of trying to correct your eyesight and often those who have undergone this procedure find they still need lenses or glasses afterwards.
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For more information about contact lenses, please check out daily contact lenses.