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About 20 percent of Americans in need of vision correction wear contact lenses. They can thank Leonardo da Vinci for the concept, as he first came up with the idea in 1508. But what da Vinci did not know was that if you do not take care of your eyes and your contact lenses, they can do more harm than good.

Those who have worn contact lenses for some time are aware of the problems that can crop up. But if you are a first-time user, consider these eye-care tips:

Cleanliness counts. If you have never been one to regularly wash your hands, now is the time to start. You must have clean hands to handle your contact lenses. Before putting in or removing your contact lenses, wash your hands with hot soapy water or pour a disinfectant over them. Be careful to avoid scented or oily soaps that might cling to the surface of the lenses. It is also wise to avoid products that contain lanolin or moisturizers.

1) Wash daily. You should wash the lens case that you use to store your lenses every day. Be sure you squirt enough disinfectant solution in the case to cover the contact lenses before inserting them.

2) Check it out. If your contact lenses are inserted correctly, you should not feel anything on your eyes. But there are plenty of foreign objects that can come between your eye and your contact lens – such as an eyelash, dust, debris or a hair. You could also be feeling a torn lens. If you experience irritation, the first rule is not to rub your eye as this will only irritate it more. Remove your lens, wash it and try reinserting it.

3) Down the drain. When inserting or removing your contact lenses in the bathroom, there is a chance they could end up circling the drain of the sink. Always cover the drain with a towel or tissue in case you drop a lens.

4) Makeup first. If you wear eye makeup, such as eyeliner, eye shadow or mascara, be sure to insert your lenses before you apply your makeup. When it comes to choosing makeup, look for non-allergenic products that are less likely to cause problems. You may also find that crème eye shadow is less likely to irritate your eyes than powder shadow. To avoid irritation, never apply eyeliner on the rim between your eyelashes and the eye. Go under the lashes – not on top.

5) Keep eye drops with you. Contact lenses can definitely dry out your eyes – a situation that can be corrected with an artificial lubricant. Keep a bottle in your desk drawer, in your purse or the glove compartment. You do not want to be caught unprepared.

6) Inside out. When inserting your contact lenses, you may accidentally get a lens turned inside out. Some manufacturers have a marking, or brand name, so you can tell the inside from the outside. If not, you can tell by the shape of lens. Place the lens on the tip of your finger. If it forms a simple “U” shape, it is not inside out. If, however, it forms a “U” that flares out at the rim, it is inside out.

7) Do not sleep in them. There are contact manufacturers that offer contact lenses you can wear for a week or more without removing. While it is true that these lenses will last that long, it does not mean you should sleep in them. Your eyes will become extremely dry if you sleep with your lenses in your eyes. Also, the eye fluids will build up on the lenses and they can become difficult to clean. Additionally, the contacts will float across your eyes in your sleep and you may lose them.

Check your night vision. When you first start wearing contact lenses, see how your eyes react at night. If you see halos around oncoming headlights, you might need to wear eyeglasses at night, rather than your contact lenses. Many people have no problem wearing contact lenses and driving at night, but you should test your response to be sure.

9) Do not share. Never let anyone else wear your contact lenses. They are made according to the shape of your eyes, so they most likely will not correct the vision of others and it could damage your lenses.

10) Have a pair of glasses for back up. If you develop an infection for whatever reason, you cannot wear your contact lenses. There may also be times when your eyes feel tired. If that is the case, listen to your eyes. Remove your contacts and wear your eyeglasses until your eyes feel well rested.
With the proper care and precautions, contact lenses can improve the quality of your life. But treat them carelessly, and you will wish you had stuck with glasses.

There are lots of ways to look after our eyesight. Maintaining a healthy diet and wearing sunglasses are a good start. Regular eye checks are also essential to make sure our eyesight is corrected when necessary and also to pick up any of a number of ailments that our optician is privy to.

For those who need their vision correcting, trends have come on a long way in the last few years. From those ugly national health cheapies that we were subject to a few years ago, we now have the endless choice of designer frames as well as frameless glasses, glasses with bendy frames for the accident prone, designer sunglasses and contact lenses.

Contact lenses have, themselves, come on leaps and bounds with the new technology that is available. The more advanced they become, the more people are able to use them. At first, there were only the hard type and not many people could wear them comfortably. Then there were softer types, short term lenses and long term options. However, it has always been a rule of thumb that if you wear contact lenses, you should take them out at night to reduce the risk of a nasty eye infection.

The latest development in the arena of eye care is the innovative contact lenses that are to be worn at night which promise to correct your eyesight for the following day. The idea is that the lenses gently press on the eyeball to restore the natural shape that is missing in a person who is short sighted, something that affects around 12 million people in the UK.

When the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, light rays from distant objects focus in front of the retina as opposed to directly on it which bakes the vision fuzzy. Hard lenses are usually too uncomfortable to wear all day but worn overnight, they should put enough pressure on the eyeball to temporarily change the shape of the eye, thus restoring normal vision.

Corneal topography, where the curvature of the eye is measured, is used to determine the right amount of pressure needed. A little more pressure than is necessary will be added to prevent the cornea springing straight back into shape therefore allowing the corrected vision to last all day. In some cases, the effects will last more than one day and so it wouldn’t hurt if you missed a night or two, although the vision would gradually deteriorate.

Weighting the eyeballs into a more natural shape is not a new thing. It is believed that for centuries, the Chinese have slept with small weights on their eyelids to counteract short-sightedness. However, their technique was always a little hit and miss given that each person has a slightly different curve to their lens. With today’s technology, the results are much more marked with up to 70 per cent vision correction after one night and full vision restored within a week.

If short-sightedness is caught in early childhood it is thought that this method might lead to permanent correction. If nothing else, it will slow the degeneration process. However, the method is not suitable for diabetics, for those with eye diseases or for long-sightedness.

The new developments in eye care are good news for the millions of sufferers of short-sightedness. It means they can spend all night in their corrective lenses, then spend all day wearing sunglasses, whether designer or other, and not have to worry about wearing corrective glasses.

Your eyes are one of your most important senses. Communicating a wealth of information to your brain, you rely on them to perform a number of essential tasks, like detecting danger and finding sustenance. However, according to research, nearly two thirds of the UK adult population wears glasses or contact lenses. Not only that, but by the time people reach their 60s, 90 percent will require some form of corrective vision.

Making the most of your eyes by looking after them properly, therefore, is of utmost importance. Regular eye tests from a young age are vital and will significantly help to track any changes in your vision, as well as identify problems like short- or long-sightedness early on. Additionally, eye examinations can detect a wide range of other issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Thanks to advancements in technology, many people who experience vision problems now have the option to permanently correct their eyesight, thus removing the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. In fact, utilising the latest laser technologies, a number of treatments have sprung up in the last few years, which are serving to help millions of people correct their sight.

Having been carried out on more than 22 million individuals worldwide, LASIK (Laser-Assisted-In-Situ-Keratomileusis) is the most common form of eye surgery available. Helping to improve many cases of short- and long-sightedness, as well as astigmatism, it is a relatively non-invasive treatment lasting for approximately 10 minutes.

Using an excimer laser, the optician can reshape the surface of the eye, or if required, both eyes at the same time. More often than not, people notice a significant improvement in their vision just a few hours after the procedure and can usually return to work or drive again after 48 hours.

In comparison to other forms of eye surgery, many patients report experiencing less discomfort after the LASIK procedure has been carried out. Additionally, because it does not remove the epithelium, like LASEK (Laser-Assisted-Epithelia-Keratomileusis) surgery, for example, the eye heals a lot more naturally.

Before the treatment is carried out, you will need to find a reputable optician and schedule a consultation. The internet provides a wealth of information on the subject and a quick search will see you find a range of facts on the procedure, as well as a number of different opticians. After that, you can then discuss with your eye care specialist whether or not the surgery is right for you.

The health of your eyes is crucial. Consequently, it is important to make sure that you care for them properly. However, if you do experience difficulties with your sight, there are many things that can be done to help it, such as LASIK eye surgery. As a result, you can then focus on the more fun things in life.

Learn how to make contact lenses

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute is offering a word of caution for the nation’s 30 million contact lens wearers.

Halloween contact lenses.: Twilight, Banshee, Black Sclera, Cat Eyes, Vampire Red, Black Out and more. Over 130 designs available at CoastalContacts.com. www.coastalcontacts.com

Looking after your eyes is vital to your overall health and well-being and there are various things that you can do to ensure they function correctly, even into old age. This is vita – try to imagine how you would cope without your eyesight! So, ask yourself this question, “Do you know your eye care associates?”

Eye Care Associates: who are they and what do they do?

First up, is the ophthalmologist. This professional deals with medical eye care and is the person who you should see in connection with eye diseases or injury – they deal with the visual system. They provide primary, secondary and tertiary eye care services. They are highly-trained individuals who have gone through nearly twelve years of pre-med and medical school:

1. Specialized training for the eye.
2. Surgical training.
3. Passed a state board examination.

Quite a requirement, isn’t it? Once they’ve gone through this training they are then qualified to practice a wide spectrum of eye care services. Because of the strenuous requirements of their profession you can be assured of a first-class service from somebody who knows what they are talking about.

Other eye care associates include the optometrist. This is a professional who is trained to treat and diagnose certain eye problems and diseases. They don’t, however, attend a medical school for their training, but they do go to a college of optometry where they receive a degree. Their main duties, once qualified, are to determine visual problems and visual acuity. If you find that you need contact lenses or glasses, then they are the ones who will give you a prescription. Also, they are trained to dispense medication for certain eye problems as well as provide vision therapy, low vision aids and eye exercises.

Finally, everybody has heard of the optician. This professional works with the optometrist and ophthalmologist in order to provide vision care services. Their training consists of a technical course lasting for two years. During this course, they learn to dispense, repair, adjust and reproduce frames, contact lenses and glasses.

So, together, these three eye care associates provide a comprehensive level of service for those in need of eye care services.

Basic Eye Care

Always remember that your eyes are extremely fragile and easily damaged. Eye care associates always recommend that you avoid rubbing your eyes harshly, especially when you have something caught in them (grit, etc). This could easily scratch the cornea and lead to future eye problems. Also, first thing in the morning, you should wash your face gently to soften the crust in your eyes for the same reason.

Also, bear in mind that if you have eye, or vision, problems, you should see immediately, an eye doctor. If you have no vision problems, then it is still recommended to have an eye examination every two to four years if you are, shall we say, getting on a bit! Folks suffering from diabetes should have frequent eye examinations to maintain a healthy vision and optimal eye care.

Eye care for computer users

Most of our work is done on computers, and there is usually no escape from it. It is a visually intensive task and, unfortunately, our work pressure and lifestyles do not give us the opportunity to be kind to our eyes.

Which is why these tips should come in handy.

Source: www.statuseyecare.com

i. Know your eyes

Tears: The first line of defence, they also serve as lubrication by keeping the eyes moist and nourished; they also have a corrective lens function.

Eyelids: Their main job is to protect your eyes from dirt, dust and harsh light.

Eyelashes: A protective net for your eyes.

Cornea: A refractive zone that guides light to reach the retina.

Pupil: Controls the amount of light that enters your eyes.

Lens: A refractive zone that also guides light into the retina.

Retina and Optic Nerve: A bunch of intricate wiring that carries vision signals between your brain and eyes.

ii. Exercise your eyes

Regular work hours should be infused with short breaks. During such breaks, he suggests a small and easy exercise: “First, blink your eyes several times. While you keep your eyes closed, roll your eyeballs both clockwise and anticlockwise and take a deep breath. Gradually open your eyes while releasing your breath. This exercise lasts for a minute and you can repeat it three times before getting back to work.” It serves as a good workout for the eyes.

iii. Look away

While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.

iv. Palming

Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.

v. Splash water on your face

During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed.

Source: www.statuseyecare.com

vi. Take a walk

After you’re done with lunch, take a stroll outside your office for a few minutes. This will give your eyes a much-needed break and get them some fresh air.

vii. Use tea bags

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

viii. Drink water

Drink plenty of water. It helps reduce puffiness. When a person is dehydrated, especially in an air-conditioned office, the body starts storing water as a defence mechanism. This adds to puffiness around the eyes.

ix. Eat healthy

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

x. Know your contact lenses

“Ideally, a person who uses lenses should wear it for not more than 10-12 hours a day and occasionally for 14 hours a day,”

Never wear your contact lenses while swimming. The pool water houses various micro-organisms as there are several people using it. This may lead to fungal infections in the eyes. In addition, the chlorine in the water can damage your contact lenses.

“Lenses are like sponge, making them susceptible to attracting dirt,”

xi. Eye dos and don’ts

~ Visit your doctor

“One should ideally visit their Optician / ophthalmologist once a year, but if there is a problem with your eyes, visit sooner,”

In addition, before buying an eye-care product such as eye drops, always check the expiry date and don’t forget to check the prescription.

~ Wear antiglare glasses while driving or at work

“Antiglare glasses are mainly used for focused light such as full beam car headlights and serve well for night driving. These can also be used while working on the computer,”

Using a pair of antiglare glasses while working on a computer can reduce the strain on the eyes to a certain extent. If you wear contact lenses, wear a pair of zero powered antiglare glasses for the same purpose.

~ Use re-wetting eye drops

An office environment that is predominantly air-conditioned, coupled with a computer intensive job, this is the perfect combination for dry eyes.

In such cases, you can use re-wetting eye drops to give relief to your eyes. Why? “When dry eyes occur, the aim is to get the tears back into our eyes whether it is naturally (by simple blinking exercises), or artificially (if the problem aggravates),”

“Re-wetting eye drops have a similar in composition to natural tears. One should go for eye drops that do not have any preservatives. Eye drops with preservatives are toxic to the eyes in the long run. You can use re-wetting eye drops as and when required, but preferably span it to a minimum of four to six times a day. If the problem persists, visit your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.”

The two most commonly used preservatives in all eye drops are Benz Alkonium Chloride and Chlorbutol. Read the contents of the bottle carefully and avoid eye drops with these preservatives.

~ Reduce your smoking and alcohol intake

“Smoking and alcohol consumption (either alone or combined) causes irreversible optic nerve damage. As both nicotine and alcohol are nerve toxins, they affect the nerves in the long run. Over a period of time, this can lead to poor or weak eyesight,” warns Dr Belvi.

~ Never rub your eyes

If dirt enters your eyes, do not rub as this may cause the dirt to stick inside. “Blink several times to start your tears flowing; this will help flush out the dirt,” advises Dr Belvi. “If you rub your eyes, the dirt particle will keep disturbing your vision and irritate your eyes. In such cases, seek your ophthalmologist’s help immediately.”

Quick tips

~ Shelf life

Preservative-free re-wetting eye drops have a shelf life of about a year, if the seal is unopened. Those with preservatives last around two years, if unopened.

~ Discard

All eye drops should be discarded within a month after opening their seals. Once opened, the medicinal properties tend to deteriorate due to exposure to the external atmosphere, making it unsuitable for your eyes.

~ Protective eye gear

While driving, wear protective eye gear especially if you are wearing contact lenses (for night driving) or sunglasses with UV protection (for day driving). Make sure the gear covers the sides of your eyes as well.

Being healthy is a personal choice and one has to work hard at it. A balanced diet, regular sleep habits, a balance between work and rest, ad exercises all play a vital role in restoring our health and helping us maintain our eyesight

Source: www.statuseyecare.com