FAQ's
[Frequently Asked Questions]
- Is
it possible to get contact lenses that will
change my eye color?
- Disposable
lenses are supposed to be discarded after
a single use. Can I continue to wear my lenses
if they are still comfortable after the recommended
wearing period?
- I have dry
eye problems. Can I wear contact lenses?
- Which type
of contact lens is best for me?
- I wear contacts
only occasionally, at most once or twice a
week. Which type of contact lens may be best
for me?
- My doctor
told me I couldn't wear regular contact lenses
for presbyopia. Why not?
- Wearing contact
lenses while traveling by plane can be uncomfortable.
Why, and what can be done to lessen the discomfort?
- Can contact
lenses be "blinked" out?
- Is it OK
to swim while wearing contact lenses?
- Is it OK
to play sports while wearing contact lenses?
- Which type
of lens care system is best?
- Is it necessary
to use protein remover tablets in additions
to my normal daily cleaning procedure?
- Can my contact
lens be "lost" behind my eye?
- Can contact
lenses block ultraviolet light?
- Can contact
lenses be fit if I have had refractive surgery?
- How often
should contact lenses be changed?
- How do I
know if my contact lenses are 'worn out'?
- Can I wear
my contact lenses if my eyes are bothering
me?
- What are
contact lenses made of?
- How long
can you store a contact lens after it has
been removed from its package?
Q. Is it possible to get contact
lenses that will change my eye color?
A. Tinted & Colored lenses are available
to enhance or change eye color.
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Q. Disposable lenses are supposed
to be discarded after a single use. Can I continue
to wear my lenses if they are still comfortable
after the recommended wearing period?
A. Lenses should not be worn for longer than
the recommended wearing period. The purpose
of replacing contact lenses on a frequent basis
is to prevent discomfort, dryness, blurred vision
and allergic reactions that can result from
a build-up of protein and lipid deposits on
the lenses. As the deposits age and chemically
change on the lens, they contribute to these
irritations. The changes in the chemical composition
of the deposits also increase the probability
that bacteria may adhere to a contact lens,
increasing the health risk even without any
subjective deterioration in comfort. Check with
your eye care practitioner for the lenses and
lens replacement frequency that are most appropriate
for you.
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Q. I have dry eye problems.
Can I wear contact lenses?
A. You’re less likely to have success
with contact lenses than someone who does not
have this condition. This does not mean that
you cannot wear contact lenses at all. It simply
means you may have a shorter contact lens wearing
period than normal or that you may choose to
wear your lenses only occasionally. You can
increase the comfort of your lenses by inserting
eye lubrication drops. As always, it is best
to consult your eye care practitioner for the
best advice regarding whether you should wear
contact lenses and what type of lenses may be
suitable.
Biocompatibles' Proclear lens has been designed
specifically for marginally dry eye problems.
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Q. Which type of contact lens
is best for me?
A. Each individual is different, although there
are some broad guidelines that may be followed.
If you are interested in initial comfort, soft
contact lenses may suit you better than rigid
gas permeable (RGP) lenses. On the other hand,
RGP lenses tend to last longer. However, it
is easier for dust to get behind RGP lenses,
causing irritation and discomfort.
See the 'Lens Fitting Process' for more information.
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Q. I wear contacts only occasionally,
at most once or twice a week. Which type of
contact lens may be best for me?
A. A soft (hydrophilic) lens is more appropriate
for occasional wear. Often customers find daily
lenses the most convenient - no solutions and
cases to bother with. Comfort is better from
the outset and adapting is easier. Some types
of these lenses are Acuvue 1 Day & Focus
Dailies from Cibavsion.
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Q. My doctor told me I couldn't
wear regular contact lenses for presbyopia.
Why not?
A. Presbyopia is a vision condition in which
the eye cannot focus on near objects. In most
cases, reading glasses or bifocal glasses are
prescribed to correct presbyopia. But contact
lenses can be prescribed also. Special bifocal
contact lenses are available, such as the Acuvue
Bifocal. As an alternative, many practitioners
prescribe a system called monovision where one
eye is fitted with a distance lens and the other
with a reading lens. Approximately two-thirds
of patients adapt to this type of contact lens
wear, with the brain automatically switching
to the eye more clearly in focus.
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Q. Wearing contact lenses while
traveling by plane can be uncomfortable. Why,
and what can be done to lessen the discomfort?
A. The low humidity in aircraft cabins contributes
to dry eye symptoms and contact lens discomfort.
It may help to put lubrication drops in your
eyes before you enter the airplane or during
flight. If symptoms persist or become severe,
it is probably easiest and best to wear eyeglasses
when flying.
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Q. Can contact lenses be "blinked"
out?
A. With normal use, contact lenses will stay
firmly in position. However, they can come out
under certain conditions. High winds can cause
the eyes to water and pull the eyelid tight
against the eye, increasing the chance of lens
loss. A sharp blow to the head may dislodge
rigid gas permeable lenses. And rubbing your
eye carelessly may result in a lost lens. Describe
to your eye care practitioner all of the circumstances
in which you are likely to wear your contact
lenses. This will help him or her prescribe
a type of lens that is less likely to be dislodged
given your activities.
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Q. Is it OK to swim while wearing
contact lenses?
A. Only if you’re wearing goggles with
a firm seal. If you don’t wear goggles,
the contact lenses may float from your eyes
and/or they will absorb the pool water, one
consequence of which may be that they adhere
quite firmly to the eye. If this occurs, it
is advisable to leave the lenses alone for 10-15
minutes until the water in them has been replaced
by natural tears before trying to remove them.
Exposing your contacts to pool water also places
you at risk of discomfort due to chlorine and
infection from bacteria or other microorganisms.
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Q. Is it OK to play sports
while wearing contact lenses?
A. Wearing contact lenses for sports is a more
flexible and stable form of eye correction than
eyeglasses. If your sport involves vigorous
exercise, a soft contact lens is an appropriate
choice. Your eye care practitioner can help
determine the best type of lenses based on your
sport or activity.
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Q. Which type of lens care
system is best?
A. Recently, there has been a strong movement
to "one-bottle" systems. These all-in-one
solutions are the easiest and quickest to use.
However, if you are particularly sensitive to
chemicals, it may be better to use a hydrogen
peroxide system. In most countries, lens care
systems go through rigorous testing to meet
government regulations to ensure that they are
safe and effective. Your eye care practitioner
will recommend the care system most appropriate
for you. You should not make your own lens care
solutions, nor should you mix different brands
of solutions unless instructed by your eye care
practitioner.
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Q. Is it necessary to use
protein remover tablets in additions to my normal
daily cleaning procedure?
A. The need to use protein remover tablets
depends on the amount of protein deposits your
eyes produce and how often you replace your
lenses. Protein deposits are normal. But as
they age, they can change in chemical composition,
contributing to discomfort and poor vision or
leading to allergies. If these deposits become
a problem, your eye care practitioner may recommend
a type of contact lens that you replace more
frequently. Depending on the replacement frequency,
using a protein remover in addition to your
daily cleaning regimen may not be necessary.
Regardless of your lens replacement schedule,
however, daily cleaning is important for eye
health. Consult your eye care practitioner for
the best advice regarding your replacement and
cleaning schedules.
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Q. Can my contact lens be
"lost" behind my eye?
A. No, a thin, but strong, membrane, called
the conjunctiva, lines the inside of your eyelids
and curls back on itself to cover the white
part of the eye. Lenses cannot pass through
it. However, your contact lenses may slide under
your eyelids or become displaced. If this occurs,
try looking in the direction of the lens to
get it to move back to the correct position.
If you wear soft contact lenses, they will tend
to center automatically on the cornea. If you
wear rigid gas permeable lenses, you may need
to manipulate a displaced lens through the eyelid.
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Q. Can contact lenses block
ultraviolet light?
A. Although some manufacturers have added UV
blocking properties to some lenses, none block
all of the harmful UV light. Health organizations
state that contact lenses are not a substitute
for UV absorbing eyewear such as UV absorbing
sunglasses in part because contact lenses cover
only a portion of the eye. It is recommended
to wear UV absorbing sunglasses over your prescription
contact lenses, even if they contain UV blocking
properties. See Precision UV for a lens that
helps block UV light.
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Q. Can contact lenses be fit
if I have had refractive surgery?
A. Yes, but the refractive surgery will have
altered the contour of your eyes, requiring
a more specialized lens than normal. It is best
to consult your eye care practitioner who will
have details of your specific history and requirements.
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Q. How often should contact
lenses be changed?
A. The recommended life of contact lenses varies
depending on the type of lenses, from 1-day,
1-week, 2-weeks, 1-month, and longer. With any
contact lens, you should follow the prescribed
wear and care instructions that include guidelines
for replacement.
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Q. How do I know if my contact
lenses are 'worn out'?
A. Typical signs that a lens is approaching
the end of its life are hazy vision, discomfort,
and lens discoloration and deposits. These can
lead to allergies and other complications. Today,
frequent replacement lenses, are prescribed
to be replaced before problems can develop rather
than after as sometimes these complications
are difficult to reverse. It is important that
you replace your lenses according to the product
labeling or your eye care practitioner's directions.
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Q. Can I wear my contact lenses
if my eyes are bothering me?
A. It is not advisable to wear contact lenses
if your eyes are bothering you, particularly
if the discomfort is related to contact lens
wear. If you experience discomfort related to
contact lens wear, consult your eye care practitioner.
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Q. What are contact lenses
made of?
A. Today's contact lenses are made from a number
of different materials called polymers. These
polymers ensure comfortable lens wear by allowing
the eye to breathe normally and maintain their
shape on the eye.
Modern soft lenses offer excellent comfort
and are soft because they contain water. Typically,
the water content of lenses varies from about
40% to 70%.
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Q. How long can you store
a contact lens after it has been removed from
its package?
A. This varies according to the cleaning and
disinfection routine that you use before storing
the lens. For specific details consult the package
insert of your lens care system.
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