Millions of people around the world wear contact lenses-more than 24 million in the United States alone.
Depending on your lifestyle, your motivation and the health of your eyes, contact lenses may provide a safe and effective alternative to eyeglasses when used with proper care and maintenance.
***
Contact lenses are thin, clear disks of plastic that float on the tear film that coats the cornea, the curved front surface of the eye. The health of the cornea surface and tear film are very important to your comfort and the clarity of your vision when you are wearing contacts.
Contact lenses are used to correct the same conditions that eyeglasses correct:
myopia (nearsightedness);
hyperopia (farsightedness);
astigmatism;
presbyopia.
***
You may not be a good candidate for contacts if you have:
frequent eye infections;
severe allergies;
dry eye that is resistant to treatment;
a very dusty work environment;
an inability to handle and care for the lenses.
Choose an eye care professional who is experienced with contact lenses and with whom you can discuss your needs and expectations. Your eye care professional should diagnose and treat any eye problems that may hinder healthy lens wear and be able to correct problems that arise during lens wear.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Many Adults Fuzzy on Eye Health
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Oct. 19, 2007 -- A new survey shows that many U.S. adults need to upgrade their eye care.
The survey of 1,000 adults shows that nearly half -- 47% -- worry more about losing their sight than about losing their memory and their ability to walk or hear.
But almost 30% indicated that they don't get their eyes checked by an eye doctor or an eye care specialist at least every two years.
The American Optometric Association (AOA), which funded the survey, recommends that adults aged 18-60 get their eyes checked at least every two years and annually at age 61 and older.
A little more than two-thirds of the participants reported wearing corrective lenses and/or having had eye surgery. Among those participants, 79% reported bad habits such as:
* Wearing their contacts while showering, sleeping, or swimming
* Wearing their contact lenses for longer than suggested
Also, 17% of contact lens users indicated that they had never replaced their contact lens case.
Among all participants -- including those with good vision -- roughly three-quarters didn't know that the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. is macular degeneration.
The AOA provides these tips for contact lens wearers:
* Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
* Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses as directed by your optometrist (or other eye care provider).
* Store lenses in the proper lens storage case.
* Replace the lens storage case at least every three months.
* Clean the lens case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
* Use only products recommended by your optometrist (or other eye care provider) to clean and store contact lenses.
* Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule.
* Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.
* See your optometrist (or other eye care provider) for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination.
SOURCES: American Optometric Association: "Second Annual American Optometric Association American Eye-Q Survey." American Optometric Association: "The Importance of Regular Eye Exams." American Optometric Association: "Contact Lenses." News release, Hill and Knowlton.
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Oct. 19, 2007 -- A new survey shows that many U.S. adults need to upgrade their eye care.
The survey of 1,000 adults shows that nearly half -- 47% -- worry more about losing their sight than about losing their memory and their ability to walk or hear.
But almost 30% indicated that they don't get their eyes checked by an eye doctor or an eye care specialist at least every two years.
The American Optometric Association (AOA), which funded the survey, recommends that adults aged 18-60 get their eyes checked at least every two years and annually at age 61 and older.
A little more than two-thirds of the participants reported wearing corrective lenses and/or having had eye surgery. Among those participants, 79% reported bad habits such as:
* Wearing their contacts while showering, sleeping, or swimming
* Wearing their contact lenses for longer than suggested
Also, 17% of contact lens users indicated that they had never replaced their contact lens case.
Among all participants -- including those with good vision -- roughly three-quarters didn't know that the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. is macular degeneration.
The AOA provides these tips for contact lens wearers:
* Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
* Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses as directed by your optometrist (or other eye care provider).
* Store lenses in the proper lens storage case.
* Replace the lens storage case at least every three months.
* Clean the lens case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
* Use only products recommended by your optometrist (or other eye care provider) to clean and store contact lenses.
* Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule.
* Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.
* See your optometrist (or other eye care provider) for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination.
SOURCES: American Optometric Association: "Second Annual American Optometric Association American Eye-Q Survey." American Optometric Association: "The Importance of Regular Eye Exams." American Optometric Association: "Contact Lenses." News release, Hill and Knowlton.
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