by In The Mind Of Tara

Created on: September 25, 2010

Contacts are a benefit over glasses for many.They can enhance our appearance if your used to wearing pop bottle glasses, as well as enhancing our peripheral view. And for the rest of us, they are convenient in driving,working or in sporting events as they do not get in the way, unlike glasses,constantly adjusting them.So it's natural to forget and leave them in too long.

Many of us leave them in for long periods of time, or even fall asleep in them. Depending on the type of contacts you purchase, it's OK for extended wear.Your eyes are in need of the proper amount of oxygen. With extended wear eyes tend to dry out,causing eye strain, not to mention an unhealthy cornea. Corneal Ulcers can occur when bacteria builds up on the surface of the cornea.Usually caused by improperly wearing contact lenses. This is just one of many issues caused by improper wearing.

If you find yourself in a situation with your contacts stuck to your eyes you should consider;

1.) Before you begin wash your hands.Examine your eye,make sure that it hasn't fallen out, or slid around to the other side of your eye.Check to see if its red,swollen, or irritated.

2.) A very dry eye will most definitely make it hard to remove a contact.If you tried once or twice to remove contact and the eye isn't irritated, try using re-wetting drops to lubricate your eye. Wait a few minutes to allow it to soften up, then try again.

3.)My doctor usually recommended (if I can remove myself) to store contacts,and wear my glasses for a couple days to give my eyes a chance to recover. I then would have to use lubricating eye drops during these days.

4.) If your able to remove your own contacts, and notice or develop pain,swelling or any other eye problems, your doctor will want to take a look at your eye . Many times when a contact is hard to remove, or we fall asleep with them in, its easy to scratch your eye and cause an infection. It is very important to seek medical care.

It's in the best interest of your eyes to practice taking your contacts out daily and cleaning them.While they clean, use your eye glasses.It's good to always have a couple pair of glasses as back up in case of any irritations as well.

*Remember before sticking your fingers into your eyes,wash your hands*

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