I don’t know who was the first person who thought sticking a piece of plastic on their eye would help their vision, but they sure hit on a big idea. Nowadays, contact lens has become a fashion accessory, especially among young people. Instead of using the glasses, people prefer to use contact lens that is believed to increase the beauty of their eyes. Contact lens are not only used by people who has trouble with their eyes (such as: minus). Young people also use contact lens for style, so their eyes may looks bigger or to change the color of their original eyes (this is possible with colored contact lens).
According to experts, improper wearing of contact lens causes changes in the cornea in terms of structure, turnover, tear production and carbon dioxide levels. Based on research conducted by several universities, they state that contact lens can cause blindness. Eye doctor also noted that the inflammation and pain resulting from the use of the contact lens can cause serious problems, including corneal abrasions and infection.
Why did this happen? It is because most of these people are not using their contact lens in the right way. Today I’m going to tell you about some of the most common and the most dangerous things people have done with their contact lens and what the results of that doing could be :) Here are the 5 most dangerous mistakes contact lens wearers make :
Sleeping in contact lens
Do not sleep in your contact lens unless your doctor specifically states that you can. Not all lenses are designed for overnight wear, and your own eyes may not be suitable for overnight lens wear. Sleeping in contact lens is the number one cause of infective corneal ulcers, which are severe eye infections. At best corneal ulcers are extremely painful and costly to treat and at worst could lead to the need for a corneal transplant or even loss of the entire eye. The reason overnight lens wear is so dangerous is because the lens on the eye provides a surface to which bacteria can cling. While sleeping, the environment underneath the eyelid is warm and moist, which is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. The risk is also not cumulative, meaning it could happen on the very first night you sleep in your lenses or you may sleep in your lenses every night for 20 years without an incident, but every night the risk is the same.
Rinsing lenses with something other than contact lens solution
I hope none of you are doing this because this one is truly dangerous. You might as well pick up a big jar of bacteria and dump it in your eye. In every water source there are infectious agents that may be harmless in your stomach but can cause damage in the eyes. Always use fresh sterile contact lens solution to clean, rinse and store your contacts. NEVER use tap water, saliva, distilled water, or homemade solutions! These alternatives usually contain tiny micro-organisms that can cause painful sight-threatening infections. E.g : you’re in school and your contact lens came out but you don’t have any lens solution. Your options are to rinse it in the bathroom sink, rinse it in a water fountain, or rinse it in your mouth. Any one of these options may lead to the worst eye infection, maybe even leading to a corneal transplant or eye removal. Here’s two better options : find a school nurse who may have contact lens solution in her office, or throw the contact lens away. Never, ever for any reason rinse contact lens in anything other than contact lens solution.
Handling contact lens without washing hands
The risk of eye infection is higher because of constantly touching the eye to put the contact lens in and then take them out. Certainly, touching the eye and inserting a foreign object has the potential to introduce germs in the eye that can cause infections and a fungal discharge. Failure to wash one’s hands before handling a contact lens doubles the risk of infection. Some do not wash their hands correctly because they miss out the key areas like the finger tip, and the duration of hand washing is too short. For effective hand washing, the duration should be about a minute. So, always wash and dry your hands before handling a contact lens.
Improper handling of contact lens case
According to the experts, a survey found that among contact lens users, 38% do not clean the lens case, 6% share their contact lens case and less than 30% comply with proper handling of contact lens cases. Lens cases for contact lens must also be kept clean. A case that isn’t properly cleaned can be a breeding ground for bacteria in the same way that improperly cleansed contact lens can be. Eyecare professionals suggest discarding cases every three months and replacing them with new ones.
Wearing contact lens longer than prescribed
Money’s tight, the lenses still seem alright, why not just keep on wearing them? Some wearers of contact lens may be tempted to save money by wearing their contact lens longer than prescribed. While a few rupiah's may be saved by taking this alternative, but there are consequences that may be far more dangerous that requires a large cost in healing. Contact lens break down over time which causes the eyes to become less healthy, less able to defend themselves, and more likely to get an eye infection. Two-Week lenses are approved for two week wear for a reason. If your contact lenses are designed for two-week wear, always discard them after 14 days.
Contact lenses are a great advance in eye care, but they come with a host of pitfalls that must be avoided. When properly cared for, it can be a comfortable and convenient way to correct vision for a variety of activities and lifestyles. People who ignore the advice of their eye care providers may find themselves experiencing a range of eye problems all the way from minor irritation to severe infections that require surgery. By taking good care of your contact lens, you can expect to wear your lenses safely and comfortably for many years and may have healthy eyes with less risk of infection or injury :)