by Heather Current

Created on: August 01, 2010

Trying contacts for the first time can come with many fears, most of which will seem unfounded after a few weeks of reaping the benefits of this new freedom. Although sticking a foreign object in your eye would normally seem dangerous, using contacts is quite safe as long as clean hands are always used when inserting the lenses and proper measures are taken for cleaning and containing your lenses. If you follow a few necessary precautions, you will be used to wearing contacts in the blink of an eye!

Contact lenses come in various types with different wear times, so it is important to know what requirements there are for your specific lenses. If your optometrist prescribes contacts that must be replaced after 2 weeks, definitely make sure you replace them! If you do not replace your contacts when instructed, the lenses will eventually become uncomfortable in your eye due to lack of oxygen and flexibility of the lens. Contacts also have a limited lifespan to prevent infection and buildup on the lens itself that can lead to eye damage. A warning sign would be irritated, red, or painful eyes.

Just as it is important to replace your contacts after their lifespan is up, it is crucial to keep them bacteria free in order to keep your eyes and vision safe. If your contacts are not daily disposables, you must keep your lenses clean to prevent eye damage. If you keep your contacts disinfected, they will be comfortable and you will find them quite easy to get used to. Just make sure you wash your hands before touching your eyes or lenses, remove your lenses and clean them daily with the solution recommended by your doctor, rinse the lenses with your solution, and when placing your lenses in a case, make sure you use fresh solution daily to prevent bacteria growth.

If you properly care for your lenses, your comfort level while wearing your contacts will be much higher than if you do not follow these helpful procedures. If you keep your contacts disinfected and in good condition, your eyes will soon become familiar with them, and you should stop noticing their presence within a short time period.

Getting used to contact lenses can be very similar to wearing a new ring. You know it is there for a few days, but after a while, it becomes part of who you are and its presence is almost unrecognizable. As for the habit of inserting the lenses daily, it will soon become a habit as easy as getting dressed. You will naturally learn the best and easiest way for putting in your contacts. At first you may have to hold your eyelids open, but after years of experience, you may be able to simply keep your eye open wide without any effort. If you are struggling with this experience at first, remember why you chose to experiment with contact lenses. They have many benefits! Better vision, the enjoyment of living a more active lifestyle, and did I mention no more squinting?

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