First-Time Contact Lens Experience: What to Expect
Contact lenses have many benefits unlike glasses and it has become more common than glasses among individuals with eye problems. Wearing contacts, the right contacts, aid perfect vision in a comfortable and flexible way.
Your First Day with Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses for the first time can be overwhelming as you try to adapt to the sensations in your daily routine. It is important to have good hygiene practices and put extra care into handling contact lenses.
The Anticipation and Preparation
The first step to wearing contact lenses for the first timers is consulting an eye doctor. The doctor examines the eyes to ensure it is fit to carry contact lenses then, a fitting is done where necessary adjustments are made, and trial lenses are given for a period of time.
This will help make the whole wearing of contact lenses easier as it will prepare you as you practice putting on, removing, and cleaning your lenses.
Sensory Adjustments
There is a level of discomfort that comes with wearing contacts for the first time and the eyes will take its time adjusting to the lenses. There is an adjustment period for the different types of contact lenses and it could be a few hours or weeks before the eyes fully adjust to the contacts.
Navigating the Basics: How to Properly Insert and Remove Your Contacts
Wearing contact lenses for the first time takes a lot of precision and care as a wrong move can lead to eye issues so it is important to understand the art of properly wearing contact lenses and removing them.
Clean hands Clean vision
Wash your hands properly and thoroughly with antibacterial soap to get rid of dirt and gems. Wipe hands clean with a neat lint-free towel to prevent lint from being on the surface of the lenses.
Place the lens on the index finger of the dominant hand. Holding up the upper eyelid with the middle finger of the non-dominant hand, use the middle finger of the dominant hand to hold down the lower eyelid and gently insert the lens into the eye.
These careful steps help contact lens wearers avoid eye infections like minor irritation, eye fatigue, strain and even worsening the condition of the eyes.
Mastering the Care Routine: Cleaning and Storing Your Lenses
After a long day’s workload, tiredness can get the better of anyone and you might want to skip the night routine but if you are not using disposable contact lenses, it is important to remove your contacts to avoid eye infections.
Wash your hands for a few seconds to remove all the dirt, bacteria, and oil that is on the surface of your palms. Make use of antibacterial soaps as other soaps will make your contacts cloudy. Dry hands with a clean towel free of lint.
Fill the storage case with a fresh contact solution as the used solution can lead to discomfort or eye infection. Take one of your contact lenses and place in the palm of your hand. Apply a few drops of the contact lens solution onto the lens and gently rub the solution on the lenses with a finger.
Rinse out your lens material by pouring the solution on the lenses to completely remove any dirt residue that you can expect to have missed out on.
Place the lens in the right chamber of the lens case as the contact lens description varies for each eye. Secure the storage case of your contacts and repeat for the other eye.
Let the contact lenses soak overnight. Before wearing contact lenses in the morning, ensure hands are clean and rub contacts with fresh solution then place it right in.
Use saline solution (salt water solution) to rinse the lenses. Do not wear contacts outside the wearing and replacement schedules the doctor sets for you. The storage case can be emptied, rinsed and placed on a paper towel to dry.
Understanding Wear Patterns: Following Your Eye Doctor’s Schedule
For first-timers of contact lenses, a doctor’s recommendations on the best way to insert their contact lenses for the first time. There are two classifications for contact lenses: daily wear and extended wear.
Daily wear: Disposable contact lenses are used and disposed of at night. They are replaced on a regular schedule which reduces the need for extensive cleaning. The recommendations of the doctor on a replacement schedule should be followed to maintain eye health.
Extended wear: Contact lens wearers who have busy schedules will appreciate this pattern. They can be worn overnight and up to a period of 30 days without the need for removal. They require proper hygiene and regular check-ups.
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Recognizing Red Flags: When to Consult Your Eye Doctor
Before wearing contacts, whether new contact lenses or already wearing glasses, good hygiene and the advice of an eye care practitioner should be followed precisely to avoid irritations but when it happens, it is important to consult your doctor.
Prolonged Irritation and Eye Fatigue
There are activities that require a great amount of eye usage and this can ultimately lead to eye strain or eye fatigue. The following side effects indicate eye strain or fatigue which includes irritated or sore eyes, blurred vision, and trouble focusing.
Reduced vision quality: Wearing contacts that have not been properly cleaned can lead to buildup on the glasses and this is how foreign object is introduced into the eye and this can lead to minor irritation.
Dry eye: Dry eyes happen when tears are not properly produced by the eyes which helps to keep them moist. This can lead to infection and also makes it difficult for dust to leave the eyes thus leading up to irritation. Stop contact use and see an eye care professional so temporary tears can be administered to manage the condition of the eyes.
In case of prolonged irritation or burning sensation, make use of recommended eye drops. Apply a few drops to the eye.
Vision Disturbances and Unusual Pain
Diplopia: This is also known as double vision. When you see more than one object when it is actually one, you are suffering from diplopia. Monocular diplopia occurs when a physical change happens to one’s lenses over the eye or the cornea and it only occurs in one eye. Binocular on the other hand occurs in both eyes and it could be as a result of nerve damage or poorly aligned eyes.
Blurred vision: Blurry vision could be a result of a change in one’s eyesight or unaligned eyes. When this is noticed over a period of time, consult the eye doctor for immediate treatment as it could also be caused by unknown conditions.
Color blindness: This can be caused by optic neuritis, inflammation of the optic nerve and even exposure to certain chemicals. When noticed, immediately consult the doctor for immediate treatment to avoid it getting too serious to maintain.