Benefits and Side effects of Wearing Contact Lenses

A Good vision is essential to the well-being and lifestyle of people. Contact lenses are a good option for people with poor vision, instead of using glasses or undergoing laser surgery. With the rise of different fashion and trends, the use of contact lenses as eye accessories has become rampant; this article aims to inform you of the benefits and side effects of contact lenses. 

Contact lenses are small, thin lenses placed directly on the eye’s surface to correct vision problems. 

They can be made from various materials, including soft silicone hydrogel, rigid gas permeable, and hybrid lenses. Like eyeglasses, contact lenses correct vision and problems caused by refractive errors. 

A refractive error is when a person’s eye does not bend or focus light correctly, resulting in a blurred image. There are a variety of contact lenses that serve different purposes and are made to correct specific eye deficiencies.

Types Of Contact Lenses

1. Soft contact lenses 

 Soft contact lenses are recommended for first-time contact lens wearers, as they are easily accessible, light, smooth, and easier to wear. Soft contact lenses come in disposable variants and are easier to maintain. Here are some types of soft lenses.

• Daily wear contacts 

These contact lenses are worn when you are awake and removed when you go to sleep. Many are disposable, meaning you must wear a new pair of contacts daily. Or choose connections that last longer and only need to be replaced once a week every two weeks, or every month. Some ophthalmologists recommend disposable daily-wear contacts if you use them just occasionally.

• Extended wear contacts

 You can wear these while you sleep, but they need to be removed for cleaning at least once a week. This contact wear is very sensitive, and few eye doctors recommend them because they are susceptible to getting infected and increase the chance of getting a severe eye infection.

• Toric contact lenses

The shape of Toric contact lens is shaped in a way that creates different refractive powers on the vertical and horizontal orientations. It can be used as a corrective lens for astigmatism (distorted image). Toric contact lenses can be worn daily or for extended periods. They often cost more than other types of soft contact lenses.

2. Hard contact lenses

Hard contact lenses are made of rigid gas-permeable plastic that provides sharper vision, especially for those with astigmatism or other types of misshapen cornea. Soft contacts are more flexible than soft contacts but are more durable and require daily cleaning and regular polishing to keep them in good condition. Hard contacts are a good option for people who want long-lasting and durable contacts and a reduced constant replacement cost.

3. Colored (tinted) contacts

Coloured contact lenses come in various colours and designs that you can wear to enhance your look and vision. They provide vision correction like clear contact lenses while adding aesthetics. Coloured contact not only beautifies your eye but also makes you see better. You can get a prescription for them for daily wear, extended wear, and toric lenses.

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4. Decorative/ Cosmetic contacts

 These lenses do not require a doctor’s prescription to wear and can be purchased from a store or online. It changes the look of your eyes but does not correct vision. They include coloured contacts and lenses that can make your eyes look like cats, birds, other animals, and other characters.

Also, they hide specific eye problems present from birth or caused by injuries. Even though they do not correct vision, you are advised to get a doctor’s prescription. These lenses must be treated like prescription contacts to avoid getting dangerous eye infections. This means cleaning them regularly and thoroughly too.

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Benefits Of Wearing Contact Lense

Contact lenses change how light enters the eye, compensating for refractive errors. They are a great alternative to traditional eyeglasses and can provide improved vision and a more natural field of view.

1. Contacts can improve vision for people with these refractive errors

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism (distorted vision)
• Presbyopia (changes to near vision that generally happen with age)

2. Aesthetics and beautifying purpose

It allows people to have a natural look without glasses and will enable them to change their faces and eye colour to match their outfits.

3. Well-fitted contact lenses improve peripheral vision

During sports activities, they do not fog up like glasses outdoors or in a low-temperature environment.

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Side Effects  Of Contact Lenses

1. Blockage of oxygen supply to the eyes

Since contact lenses lie directly on the eye and cover the entire cornea, oxygen reaching your eyes will decrease. Oxygen supplies are critical to keeping the eyes healthy

2. Dry eyes

Contact lens reduces the number of tears getting on the cornea. This lack of tears causes dry eye syndrome leading to itchiness, burning sensation, and redness of the eyes. When the eyes get dry, it can lead to scarring of the cornea, which can be extremely painful.

3. Irritation when Combined with Medication, especially Birth Control Pill

The combination of birth control pills and contact lenses will upset the balance in the tear film and cause excessive tearing, burning eyes, and a gritty foreign body sensation in the eye. Avoid using lenses as long as you are on the pill.

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4. Diminished corneal reflex

The contact lenses diminish the corneal reflex in the eye. The corneal reflex is a protective mechanism of the look where the brain signals the eyelids to drop down to protect our eyes whenever the slightest amount of pressure is applied to the cornea. 

You teach your body to ignore the natural corneal reflex by constantly using contact lenses. This will dull the eye’s response to the corneal reflex, which could damage the eye if you can’t shut your eyes fast enough in case of danger.

5. Red-eye/Infection

Contacts can irritate and make your eyes red. This happens due to wearing your contacts for too long or putting on the wrong lens. Connections also make it easier for debris and bacteria to get stuck in your eyes, leading to infections.

Conclusion

Your eyes are critical and very sensitive and require delicate care. Contact lenses must be medically safe, and FDA-approved to avoid eye infections and, eventually, loss sight if not treated promptly.

Wearing contact lenses has many benefits. To get the most out of your contact-wearing experience, consistently handle your contacts carefully and note that all contact lenses need to be medically approved and prescribed by an eye doctor. Self-care should also not be shared or used with other people, and promptly consulting an ophthalmologist before attempting self-care is paramount.

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Naomi Achin

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