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

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

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/

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. Contact lens sales are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission.) In the U.S. contact lens marketplace, 82 percent wear soft lenses, 16 percent wear rigid gas-permeable and only 2 percent wear hard.
You’ll want to take simple precautions to make any lens purchase safe and effective. With a contact lens prescription in hand, it’s possible to buy your contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone, or by mail.
If you live an active lifestyle, NIGHT & DAY breathable lenses will allow you 30 hours of continuous wear. Disposable lenses don’t come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do. Contact lenses are often more complex than they appear to be.
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. 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. There are several types of lenses including: soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable lenses, extended wear lenses and disposables.
Bifocal correction is possible with both soft and rigid lenses. In some models, each lens corrects for near and distance vision and in others, one lens is for near vision, and the other is for distance. Soft lenses are easier to adjust and are much more comfortable than rigid lenses, because they conform to the eye and absorb and hold water.
It’s important for your eyes to have a rest, without lenses, for at least one night following each scheduled removal. Some doctors prescribe disposables as planned-replacement lenses, which are removed, disinfected, and reused before being discarded.
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. Compare prices – get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers. Always ask what rebates are available.
Wherever you buy, shop for quality and value and don’t forget you want to do what’s best for your eye health. If you have an insurance plan, the insurance plan’s seller’s prices may or may not be better than what you can find elsewhere; this should be just one option when you’re shopping for lenses. 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.
There are many good contact lens retailers now on the Internet making their lenses available at a good discount for prescription and non-prescription lenses. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club. Check out how long the online supplier has been in business before you buy.
Basic rule: never swap your contact lenses with anyone else. 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. Getting a proper fit is essential; contact lenses that are poorly fitted can lead to eyesores, eye inflammation, and eye abrasions.
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. 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. If your eyes become red or irritated, remove the lenses immediately and consult with your doctor.
Laser surgery and its risks can be frightening and too expensive for some people; contacts can provide a safe, comfortable and time-tested alternative. 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.

A new varifocal contact lens has hit the market which offers a smooth transition from short and long distances. The lens is very comfortable to wear, and will enable more people to wear varifocal contact lenses. The lenses are available from Patrick and Menzies, an Essex based OpticiansPatrick and Menzies are pioneers in eyecare technology, and often get the opportunity to launch new lenses for manufacturers before general product release. The manufacturers of this new lens, Coopervision, gave staff at Patrick and Menzies a training day to ensure their customers would receive the best care. Gavin Rebello, Partner, Patrick and Menzies, says: “Varifocal contact lenses have been very hit and miss in the past, the small size of the contact lens means the vision is often very compromised. This new lens will help people to enjoy their everyday lives, such as playing golf. They’ll be able to tee off, and they’ll be able to fill in the score card, as they’ll see long and short distances.”

The new contact lenses are made to order, the lens can be tailor made to bias long or short distances, which means we can order the lens specific to your wearing needs.Andrew Patrick, Partner, adds “At Patrick and Menzies, we always like to put new products through their paces rather than just relying on manufacturers’ claims. This means we can offer genuine and independent advice to all our clients.”Patrick and Menzies is offering free contact lens trials, for more information please contact 01376 320419.

To find out more about Patrick and Menzies at Patrick and Menzies and their Sports Vision services, visit Sports Vision

Proper eyecare knowledge can help you make better vision health choices for yourself and your family. Here are a few of the most important terms related to contact lens wear and vision care:

Astigmatism

 

It is a condition where the cornea is irregularly shaped that leads to distorted vision especially at near distances. Either glasses or toric contact lenses can correct astigmatism for most people. Small amounts of astigmatism may be correctable with regular GP contacts.

  

Bifocal

 

A type of spectacle or contact lens design that includes two focal areas: one for near, one for distance.

  

Cleaning solution

 

When cleaning contact lenses, the first step is often to apply a few drops of cleaning solution to the surface and rub gently for about 20 seconds. The solution and the rubbing work together to loosen any debris, which is then rinsed off with saline solution. The next step is disinfection and storage.

   Contact lens dispensing may be handled by specially trained technicians, who fit the lenses after an optometrist or ophthalmologist determines the prescription.

Contact lens technician

  

Cornea

 

Clear front eye tissue that covers iris and pupil and admits light. Contact lenses either fully or partially cover the cornea.

  

Daily wear lens

 

Worn during waking hours and removed at the end of each day for cleaning and disinfecting.

  

Disinfectant

 

Agent that inhibits the growth of or destroys harmful microorganisms such as bacteria.

  

Disinfecting/soaking solution

 

After cleaning contact lenses and rinsing them with saline, fill the chambers of your storage case with enough disinfecting solution to cover the lenses. Always use fresh disinfecting solution. Allow your lenses to soak and disinfect overnight.

  

Disposable contact lens

 

Worn for brief periods, from one day to two weeks. It is then discarded and replaced with a new lens.

  

Dry eye syndrome

 

Dry eye usually occurs when eyes don’t produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly because of environmental conditions. Contact lens wearers, computer operators, post-menopausal women, and people with allergies are most susceptible to chronic dry eye.

  

Emmetropia

 

The scientific term for normal vision. When an image is directly focused by the cornea and lens of the eye on the retina, clear vision is the result.

  

Enzyme cleaner

 

An extra-strength cleaner, typically used weekly, to remove stubborn deposits from contact lenses; it comes in versions for both soft and GP lenses.

  

Extended wear lens

 

Worn 24 hours a day, for several days up to one week.

  

Farsightedness

 

A condition where the eyeball is too short and flat, so that light rays haven’t yet focused when they reach the retina. The result is difficulty in seeing near objects clearly.

  

GP contact lens

 

Also known as a gas permeable or RGP (rigid gas permeable), this contact lens is made of breathable plastic that has been custom fit to the shape of the cornea. GP contact lenses are long-lasting, comfortable, easy to clean, and healthy for the eyes.

  

Hard contact lens

 

Made of an inflexible plastic material called PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), this was the first contact lens in wide use. Hard lenses had excellent optics, but because they refrained oxygen from reaching the cornea, they’ve become obsolete.

  

Hyperopia

 

Similar to farsightedness.

  

Iris

 

The iris is the colored portion of the eye that regulates the opening of the pupil.

  

Keratoconus

 

A condition where the cornea becomes cone-shaped, causing major vision distortion. People with keratoconus are particularly challenging to contact lens fitters, who usually must prescribe custom-made lenses for them.

LASIK

 

Abbreviation for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, a surgical procedure in which a tiny flap is cut in the top of the cornea, underlying corneal tissue is removed with an excimer laser, and the flap is put back in place. The surgery corrects vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

  

Monovision

 

This is a contact lens fitting technique that is an alternative to bifocal glasses, bifocal contacts or reading glasses. It may be used with either soft or GP contacts. One eye is fit with a contact lens for distance vision, and the other eye is fit for near vision. Although it is an effective technique, it does have disadvantages. For example, many people who use monovision report compromised depth perception.

  

Multifocal

 

A type of spectacle or contact lens design that includes more than one focal area. Bifocals and trifocals are both multifocal lens designs.

  

Myopia

 

Similar to nearsightedness.

  

Nearsightedness

 

A condition where the eyeball is too long and steep, so that light rays focus before they reach the retina. The result is difficulty in seeing distant objects clearly.

  

Ophthalmologist

 

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (M.D.s) who are eye specialists. They perform eye examinations, treat disease, and perform surgery; some also specialize in contact lenses. In some states ophthalmologists may have opticians and contact lens technicians working with them, who are specially trained to fit contact lenses.

  

Optician

 

Opticians and contact lens technicians are not doctors, but in some states they can become certified, after special training, to fit contact lenses. Some specialize in contact lenses and work in optometric or medical offices, working as a team with an O.D. or M.D. to fit contact lenses.

  

Optometrist

 

Doctors of optometry (O.D.s) complete four years of post-graduate optometry school. Optometrists examine eyes for both vision and health problems, prescribe glasses, and fit contact lenses. They can prescribe many ophthalmic medications and often participate in pre- and post-operative care.

  

Orthokeratology

 

Also known as ortho-K, this is a non-surgical procedure for changing the shape of the eye’s cornea. The procedure involves wearing a series of GP contact lenses that progressively “mold” the surface of the cornea into a shape that provides for better vision. The procedure does not have a permanent effect. Therefore, just as orthodontic retainers keep your teeth from moving back to their original positions, “retainer” contact lenses must be worn periodically to keep the cornea from regressing back to its less desirable shape.

  

Presbyopia

 

With aging, the eye’s lens becomes less able to focus incoming light. This results in blurred vision at reading distance, as well as eyestrain. Presbyopes may wear reading glasses, or multifocal contact lenses or glasses.

  

PRK

 

Abbreviation for photorefractive keratectomy, a surgical procedure in which an excimer laser removes corneal tissue to correct vision problems such as myopia.

  

Progressive addition lenses

 

Like bifocals and trifocals, progressive lenses provide clear vision at all distances: near, intermediate, and far. The difference is that the viewing zones gradually blend into each other, for lenses that are more attractive to wear.

  

Pupil

 

The small dark portion in the center of the eye, the pupil opens and closes to regulate the amount of light, and thus the amount of visual information, the retina receives.

  

Refraction

 

A measurement of the eyes to determine the level of visual acuity. Most refractions are performed by optometrists, though many ophthalmologists do them as well. Refractions often result in a prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

  

Refractive surgery

 

Any type of surgery, whether performed with a blade, laser, or waterjet, that corrects visual acuity. LASIK is one type of refractive surgery.

  

Retina

 

Thin tissue in the back of the eye that receives an image formed by the lens and converts it to electrical impulses carried by the optic nerve to the brain.

  

Rewetting solution

 

Drops that contact lens wearers can use all day if needed to keep the eye moist.

  

RGP contact lens

 

Abbreviation for rigid gas permeable lens. Same as GP (gas permeable) contact lens.

  

RK

 

Abbreviation for radial keratotomy, a surgical procedure in which cuts are made in the cornea in a radial pattern, to flatten the cornea and correct myopia.

  

Saline solution

 

Sterile salt solution used to clean and store soft contact lenses. Saline is also used to rinse both soft lenses and GP contacts.

  

Soft lens

 

Made of gel-like plastic, soft contact lenses contain varying amounts of water. They provide good initial comfort for first-time wearers but must be replaced often.

  

Toric lens

 

A contact lens design effective in correcting astigmatism.

  

Trifocal

 

A type of spectacle or contact lens design that includes three focal areas: usually a reading lens, a lens for faraway viewing, and a lens for mid-distance viewing.

  

Wetting solution

 

When placing a GP contact lens on your eye, first put a drop or two of wetting solution on the bowl of the lens. This helps the lens adhere to your eye better. Wetting solution may also be used to relieve dryness after several hours of lens wear.