Vision Eyecare Lasik Health and Medical News/Updates

SATURDAY, Dec. 3 (HealthDay News) — Most contact lens users know
about potential complications and believe they follow all the recommended
wear and care guidelines, but few actually do, according to new
research.

View full post on Yahoo! Health News

SUNDAY, Aug. 14 (HealthDay News) — When it comes to soft contact
lenses, rubbing and rinsing before soaking overnight is the best way to
remove germs and prevent eye infection, according to new research.

View full post on Yahoo! Health News

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about contact lenses (and the answers of course!) which may help those who are new to contacts as well as existing users who may have some queries. 

Is a prescription required for contact lenses?

A prescription from your eye-doctor is required before you will be supplied with contact lenses, even if you are only interested in coloured contacts or special effect contacts and don’t need vision correcting lenses.

How old do you have to be to wear contacts ?

Anyone can wear contact lenses (they’ve even been prescribed for newborn babies who may have vision problems), but your eye doctor and yourself will make a carefully considered decision about whether contacts are the right option for your particular child, depending on circumstances.

Can contacts be worn during sports, eg swimming?

Most sporting activities are possible with contact lenses.  If physical contact is involved and if it’s a particularly energetic sport, then soft lenses are preferable.  With swimming, it’s advisable to swim with firmly sealed goggles otherwise you run the risk of losing your contacts if they float out.  The water in the pool may contain chlorine which can cause irritation and possible infection, plus the lenses can absorb the water from the pool and adhere firmly to the eye, making them difficult to dislodge. 

Is there any truth to the comment that lenses can ‘fall out’ of an eye?

No, with normal use, contact lenses won’t simply fall-out of the eye.  However, in very rare instances such as a knock to the head – the lens can fall out.

Can my lenses ever travel ‘behind’ my eye?

No – it’s impossible for a contact lens to go beyond the eye’s front surface.  Lenses can get dislodged from their position and go under the eyelid, so if you have problems with this, best to see your eye specialist. 

Do lenses block UV rays ?

Some contact lenses do block some of the ultraviolet radiation, but are not totally effective. 

How long can I use a set of lenses for?

There are three different types of contacts – hard lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses and soft lenses.  Regular contacts can be worn for anything from 12 – 24 months whilst disposable ones are effective for between two and eight weeks, but your eye-care professional will advise more accurate timespans. 

Can I wear contacts whilst sleeping?

Some extended wear contacts can be worn for days – whilst other daily use ones have to be taken out before going to bed.  It is advisable to get professional advice, say a leading supplier of contact lenses in Perth, Student Contact Lenses as different lenses do have different usage requirements.

I wear bifocal glasses – is it possible to get similar contact lenses?

Yes

If I have astigmatism, is it still possible to wear contacts?

Yes

If you want to find out whether contact lenses are for you or if you have any other queries about any other eye issues, be it vision-correcting glasses, diagnosis of eye problems or just buying a pair of Oakley sunglasses, Perth professionals Student Contact Lenses are the people to call.

All correcting contact lenses must have a valid prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Contact lens wearers are usually surprised and happy with the level of comfort that lenses provide. There are 75 million contact lens wearers worldwide and 31 million in the U.S. alone.
Now it’s easy to order the perfect contact lenses online at a great discount. If you’ve always wanted to change your eye color, color contact lenses can provide baby blues, gorgeous greens, heavenly hazels — even various patterns and designs.
Extended wear lenses are usually soft contact lenses; made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. The length of continuous lens wear depends on the lens type and your doctor’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. Some doctors prescribe disposables as planned-replacement lenses, which are removed, disinfected, and reused before being discarded.
Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eyes. People who have good distance vision but need help for reading can get a monovision reading lens for one eye. You can mark rigid lenses to show which lens is for which eye; they don’t rip or tear, so they’re easy to handle.
Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. While the ability to hold water increases the oxygen permeability of soft lenses, it increases their fragility quotient as well. There are several types of lenses including: soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, extended wear lenses and disposables.
The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state requiring a one-year or two-year renewal; if your state hasn’t set a minimum expiration date, government regulation sets a one-year date unless your eye doctor determines there’s a medical reason for less than one year. There are also a few rigid gas permeable lenses that are designed and approved for overnight wear.
Make sure you have a current, valid prescription when you order contact lenses. Compare prices – get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers. Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls, in case you have a problem after your order arrives.
Wherever you buy, shop for quality and value and don’t forget you want to do what’s best for your eye health. Buy your contact lenses from a supplier you’re familiar with and know is reliable or has name familiarity. Always ask what rebates are available.
Always buy from a reputable company; you can buy contact lenses without a prescription, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription. Focus on value, not just the price; most people looking for the best price are really looking for the best value. When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you’ll need them now.
When the eyes are open, tears carry adequate oxygen to the cornea to keep it healthy, but during sleep, the eye produces fewer tears, causing the cornea to swell. Soft extended-wear lenses bind down on the closed eye, but they are porous and allow some tears through during sleep; because they have so little form, their binding has very little effect on the shape of the eye. Don’t wear lenses any longer than they’re prescribed for, nor when sleeping unless you are otherwise directed.
The risk of corneal ulcers for people who keep extended-wear lenses in overnight is 10 to 15 times greater than for those who use daily-wear lenses only while they are awake. If your eyes become red or irritated, remove the lenses immediately and consult with your doctor. Heat disinfection is the only method effective against the microorganism Acanthamoeba keratitis, a common culprit for contact lens wearers, and it also kills organisms in and on the lens case.
Laser surgery and its risks can be frightening and too expensive for some people; contacts can provide a safe, comfortable and time-tested alternative. It’s becoming easier and easier all the time to shop online and often the shipping is free. Remember to use only contact lenses that are FDA-approved and only if prescribed by a licensed eyecare professional.

Soft contact lenses have been released in many different formats since they were first developed in the 1960s.
Soft contact lenses were originally designed to be worn for 12 to 18 months and removed nightly. These contact lenses are now called “conventional soft contact lenses”. They are usually prescribed as a specialty lens and are generally used when frequent replacement or disposable contact lenses are not available. They have the disadvantage of being more expensive and tend to accumulate surface deposits. This mode of lens wear requires more diligence with cleaning and care.
Disposable contact lenses were first released commercially in the 1980s. The first disposable lens was the Johnson and Johnson Acuvue contact lens, which was a 2 week disposable contact lens. It was a soft hydrogel lens and was primarily worn on a daily basis. The original Acuve contact lenses has only recently been discontinued. It was designed to be replaced after 2 weeks of daily wear.
Soft disposable silicon hydrogel contact lenses were first available in the 1990s. The first silicon hydrogel lenses offered were the B&L PureVision and Ciba Focus night & Day lens. Both these lenses are approved for one month extended wear. Silicon hydrogel contact lenses have the advantage of greater oxygen permeability then the original hydrogel contact lenses. Approximately 98% of patients are able to wear this type of contact lens. There is however, a slightly increased chance of developing microbial keratitis or corneal ulcer with this mode of wear. Some studies place the risk at one in five hundred per wearing year.
The next generation of silicon hydrogel soft disposable contact lenses saw the release of Ciba Optix O2 and Johnson and Johnson Acuvue Oasys. These lenses have an improved surface treatment, which leads to improved hydration and increased comfort.
More recently daily disposable soft hydrogel contact lenses have become increasingly popular. These lenses, such as J&J 1-day Acuvue Moist and CibaVision Focus Dailies have the advantage of being more hydrophilic and retaining moisture during the day.
Focus Dailies contact lenses contain AquaRelease to improve hydration and are replaced daily, leading to increased comfort from a cleaner lens. Daily replacement lenses also have the advantage of lower complication rates due to the lenses developing less surface deposits and lower infection rates. Obviously a contact lens case is superfluous with this mode of lens wear. Contact lens cases have been found to be a major source of microbes that can cause eye infections.
Contact lenses are now also available to buy online, meaning a faster, cheaper and more convenient alternative in purchasing your lenses. Contact lens wearers should still maintain a responsible attitude to lens wear, and have their eyes checked regularly by their eyecare practitioner. They should also check their own eyes daily for eye infections, by following the “Look OK, See OK, Feel OK” regime. Each morning after inserting the lenses they should check each eye look white, then check the vision in each eye separately, and then blink once or twice and ensure there is no discomfort. If there is any change, they should remove the lenses immediately and consult their eye care practitioner.

Some people only know that there are kinds of eye exams, which will be conducted when they begin to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, there are actually particular contact lens exams, which are exclusively for contact lens wearers. Some people consider a routine eye exam and a contact lens exam as the same one. Actually, there are fundamental differences between the two types and this writing focuses on this information. With these differences in mind, it is possible to make a right schedule of eye exam that is truly needed.

A routine eye exam aims at detecting vision problems, eye disease and general eye health issues. Some of these problems can not be realized at an early stage and a routine eye exam can detect early signs. For average people, a routine eye exam every 1 to 3 years is necessary. There are a variety of eye tests that can be used to examine the eyes.

Eye chart test requires the patient to read the eye chart firstly with both eyes uncovered and then one eye covered. An eye chart test is quite basic which only examines brief visual acuity. In a retinoscopy test, the patient will be asked to focus the eyes on a target in a dimmed room. After that, the doctor will shine a light into the patient’s eyes. A general prescription can be achieved through the analysis of the way the light bounces off the eyes.

For exact prescription determination, the doctor will conduct a refraction, which is done with a machine called phoropter. A series of lens with different powers will be placed in front of the patient’s eyes. Based on the response from the patient, the precise level of visual augmentation can be determined. During a slit-lamp examination, a machine will be used to highly magnify all the structures of the eye, in which each part of the eye can be evaluated and potential infection or disease can be found.

For people wearing contact lenses or considering contact, a contact lens exam is needed and should not be confused by a routine eye exam. During a lens exam, the corneal surface will be examined to ensure a proper lens fit. A kerameter can be used to measure the curvatures of the corneal surface. In addition, the pupil and iris will also be evaluated. To get the best type of lens possible, the patient should tell his or her lifestyle and preference to the doctor.

References

·The beneficial Seniors EyeCare program

Some wearers of contact lenses  may be tempted to save money by taking hygienic shortcuts when it comes to keeping their contacts clean.  Instead of buying cleansing solution for their lenses, they may decide to rinse them with plain water or even attempt to use a homemade solution.  While a few dollars may be saved by taking this nonchalant approach to cleaning the contacts lenses, the possible harmful consequences far outweigh the financial benefits of adopting a do-it-yourself mentality.  The problem with homemade concoctions is that these will lack anti-bacterial efficacy – harmful bacteria will continue run rampant on contact lenses and can cause serious medical complications if the eyes become infected.  A corneal ulcer is an open sore  or non-penetrating erosion in the transparent area at the front of the eyeball – the cornea – and is associated with infections caused by bacteria.  This is exactly the kind of bacteria that freely grows on contact lenses when homemade solutions are substituted for commercial cleansing solutions.  Corneal ulcers can also be precipitated by wearing soft contact lenses overnight.Those who attempt to use their own homemade cleaning solutions also run the risk of contracting Acanthamoeba keratitis,  Acanthamoeba is a water-borne, microscopic parasite that can wreck havoc  in the form of an infection when it invades the cornea.  While using homemade solutions are often the cause, swimming  in lakes and swimming pools while wearing contacts can also trigger the condition.The symptoms that accompany this infection are intense pain and redness, and those afflicted with the infection are often hospitalized.  If corneal scarring results, a cornea transplant may be necessary.  Treatment and therapy may last a year or more, and sometimes severe vision lost can be the outcome of a bout with Acanthamoeba keratitis.It’s crucial to remember that  accessories like the lens cases for contact lenses must also be kept clean in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.  These instructions will specify what cleansing solution to use or may even specify that the use of hot tap water to clean the lens case is permissible.  A case that isn’t properly cleaned can be a breeding ground for bacteria in the same way that improperly cleansed contact lenses can be.  Eyecare professionals suggest discarding cases every three months or so and replacing them with new ones. The good news is that the risk of contracting Acanthamoeba keratitis can be minimized by adopting these simple measures:*Avoid the use of homemade cleansing solutions*Make sure you use commercial cleansing solutions*Msure you clean the cases for your contacts; discard and replace the cases every three or four months*Be aware that sometimes wearing soft contact lenses overnight can cause infections  for some people*Be aware of all factors that may cause infections and medical complications, such as wearing contacts while swimming in lakes, pools or the oceanDon’t allow destructive bacterial to build up on your contact lenses and in your cases.  Eye-damaging conditions like A keratitis  can be held at bay by following a simple set of hygeinic procedures that will help to ensure that your eyes stay healhly and infection free.

Many contact wearers tend to make a mistake that very little attention has been put in the choosing and maintenance of the contact lens solutions. For there are many brands and types of lens solutions in the market, so wearers should be careful in this respect while choosing and maintaining solutions. Especially, the solutions for some very special contacts, as, extended contacts, monthly disposables, etc, should be greatly noticed.

 

Contact solutions have played very important roles in the keeping of wearers’ eye health. They can kill almost all bacteria on the lenses. While using and handling with contacts, bacteria may come to the contacts and some infections may happen on wearers’ eyes for this reason. So, the disinfection role of solution is very important. Additionally, these solutions can be used to clean all wastes and germs on the contacts. Still more, these solutions can provide extra moisture for contacts.

 

In fact, wearers can choose solutions with above mentioned merits in the market. And such solutions are called multipurpose solutions. Wearers love these solutions very much for they can be easily handled and operated. Rinsing their contacts with saline solution is the only thing that wearers should do after placing their contacts in multipurpose solutions. Buy one pointed should be noticed that saline is not the same as multipurpose solutions. So do not only use any one of them, but both.

 

Sometimes wearers may break their contacts while rubbing them with fingers to get rid of wastes. So wearers should be careful in this process. Still more, polluted cases will also cause infections, so it is essential to clean lens cases in regular times.

 

One-step and two-step are very generally methods of using hydrogen peroxide solution. As for the latter method, wearers should neutralize the peroxide on the contacts with saline solution. As for the one –step method, wearers should put a tablet into the solution, so as to clean all proteins on the contacts. These methods can also be found in some multipurpose solutions without such tablets.

 

As for wearers of daily disposable contacts, they need not to clean them with solutions. But whether such lenses can be worn for longer time is till unknown. Sill more, wearers can not find solutions for such contacts.

 

Before buying contact solutions, wearers should visit their eye doctors and tell them about the information of their eyes, contacts, etc. According the individual information of wearers, the eye doctors will recommend some specific solutions for them. Wearers should remember that the use of some contacts should match their solutions, and something bad may occur on their eyes if they do not stick to this principle. Reusing of overdue solution is very dangerous. Additionally, wearers should maintain the cleanliness of the solution.

 

However expensive your contacts are, you should still maintain them very carefully. The reason is bad keeping can also lead to eye infections.

 

If you want to know more about vision knowledge, then feel free to visit http://vision.firmoo.com/ or Find your doctors at here http://www.firmoo.com/eyecare-directory/

Disposable contacts are worn for a specific period of time, then thrown out and replaced with fresh lenses. Because of the freshness and hygiene, they have become the most common type of contact lenses.

 

Why are they so popular? Because they minimize the possibility of eye infections, and meanwhile eliminate the possible dry eye symptom. These are features that other contacts can not provide with. Besides the above features, disposable contact lens wearers do not have to disinfect their contact lens container, that is to say there is no hassle with cleaning the lenses, but there is one important safety rule: if you take a lens out, throw it away and put only clean, fresh, sterile lenses on your eyes, or eye infections and irritations, etc.. will fall on you as well.

 

In addition, materials applied by disposable contacts are softer and more porous materials. They tend to allow more oxygen to enter into the eye. This is a rather significant characteristic for our eye health. With more air in, eyes will be less possibly irritated. Unlike contacts of hard lens, disposables will not make wearers feel rigid and uncomfortable, thus there is a lower risk of irritation and infection.

 

However, in spite of so many advantages of disposable contacts, not everyone is suitable to wear disposable contacts. Those who produce more protein and lipids than others, their eyes may need to be replaced more often, so may you if you have eye allergies.

 

Therefore, when you go to see an eye doctor for contacts, you should consult relative issues with your eye doctor in details.

 

Types of disposables are of variety, ranging from daily disposable contact to monthly disposable contact, from which you can choose that suitable to you most.

 

If you want to know more about vision knowledge, then feel free to visit http://vision.firmoo.com/ or Find your doctors at here http://www.firmoo.com/eyecare-directory/

Among the many kinds of contact lenses you can buy are: novelty, colored, crazy, Halloween, special effects, theatrical, costume, scary, glow in the dark, wild eyes, mirrored, black, white, and red. Contact lens wearers are usually surprised and happy with the level of comfort that lenses provide. Now it’s easy to order the perfect quality contact lenses online at a great discount.
The choice of which lens is right for you should be based only on an examination by your doctor or eye care professional, not over the phone. If you’ve always wanted to change your eye color, color contact lenses can provide baby blues, gorgeous greens, heavenly hazels — even various patterns and designs.
Extended wear contact lenses are used for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days. There are also a few rigid gas permeable lenses that are designed and approved for overnight wear. The length of continuous lens wear depends on the lens type and your doctor’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear.
Contact lenses are often more complex than they appear to be. If you plan to wear lenses for more than 18 hours for the purpose of eye color change, then buy colored soft lenses. People who have good distance vision but need help for reading can get a monovision reading lens for one eye.
Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow for oxygen to pass through to the cornea. There are several types of lenses including: soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, extended wear lenses and disposables. Although easier to handle and less likely to tear, rigid gas permeable lenses are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing the RGPs, compared to just a few days for soft contacts.
Rigid gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft lenses. Extra-thin soft lenses are on the market for very sensitive people.
Make sure you have a current, valid prescription when you order contact lenses. Always buy from a reputable company; you can buy contact lenses without a prescription, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription. When you receive your order, if you think you’ve received an incorrect contact lens, check with your doctor or eye care professional right away; don’t accept any substitution unless your eye care professional approves it.
When you place your order make sure your lenses are available and not out of stock, because you’ll need them now. Check to see if you have a health insurance plan that includes vision coverage. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club.
Always ask what rebates are available. Rebates may be available from the seller, from the manufacturer, for first-time contact lens wearers and for individuals who buy lenses and get an eye exam. Get a feel for how the retailer handles customer service calls; in case you have a problem after your order arrives.
Microorganisms may be present in distilled water, so always use commercial sterile saline solutions, if you plan to use enzyme tablets in water for disinfections. Under the binding down of a rigid contact lens during sleep, the flow of tears and oxygen to the cornea is reduced; lack of oxygen leaves the eye vulnerable to infection. Extended-wear rigid lenses can cause unexpected, undesirable, reshaping of the cornea.
To be sure your eyes remain healthy you shouldn’t order lenses with a prescription that’s expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire; it’s much safer to be re-checked by your eye doctor. Be aware that extended-wear (overnight) contact lenses – rigid or soft – increase the risk of corneal ulcers, which are infection-caused eruptions on the cornea that can lead to blindness; symptoms include vision changes, eye redness, eye discomfort or pain, and excessive tearing. Always throw away disposable lenses after the recommended wearing period.
Make sure you’ve done your homework before you buy any pair of contact lenses. Remember to use only contact lenses that are FDA-approved and only if prescribed by a licensed eyecare professional. It’s becoming easier and easier all the time to shop online and often the shipping is free.