Contact Lenses

On insertion of contact lenses for the first time there is likely to be a little watering redness & irritation for a few minutes because of the eyes reaction to a foreign body. This should not be a cause for worry. On prolonged wear these symptoms gradually fade out and completely disappears in about a week in case of semi-soft lenses and much less time in soft lenses.

The normal adaptive symptoms in the first few days are:

  • Alternate blurring and clearing of vision due to increase or decrease of water log.
  • Floating of the lens to one side
  • Falling out of the lenses.
  • Awareness of the edges of the lens.
  • Difficulty in looking up.
  • Over sensitivity to light.
  • Lid irritation.
  • Excessive blinking.
  • Stinging and burning of eyes.
  • Halos and reflections.
  • Redness.
  • Eye fatigue.

These symptoms if experienced are temporary and will resolve in 2 weeks to 1 month. If they do not, then it is advisable to contact your Contact Lens practitioner in person. Spectacle Blur is the temporary blurring of vision experienced after you remove the contacts and put your glasses. It lasts for usually ½ hour and disappears. To start with, wear the contact lenses for 2 hours on the first day and increase the duration of wear by 2 hours every day. By the end of one week, you should be able to wear the lenses for 10-14 hours comfortably. Soft lenses can be worn for longer time. "NEVER wear the lenses in the presence of infection, stye, unexplained redness, irritation and watering."

Handling Instructions

  • Always wash your hands with a soap and water before using the lens.
  • Wear the right lens first and then the left. Similarly, remove the right lens first and then left. This will prevent the lenses getting mixed up.

Cleaning Procedure for RGP Lenses

  • First place the lens on the palm of your hand.
  • Put two drops of the daily cleaner or multipurpose solution on the lens and rub for 30 seconds cleaning both the outer and inner surfaces.
  • Rinse off with good tap water and insert the lens.
  • Store the lens after removal in a case containing the wetting and soaking solution.
  • RGP lenses require polishing at least once in 6 months to remove the superficial scratches.
  • In some eyes frequent fogging of the lenses may occur & necessitates the use of antifogging solution other that the regular cleaning solution.

Cleaning Procedure for Soft lenses

  • First place the lens on the palm of your hand.
  • Put two drops of the daily cleaner or multipurpose solution on the lens and rub for 30 seconds cleaning both the outer and inner surfaces.
  • For rinsing use either multipurpose solution(MPS) or preserved saline. Never use water to substitute saline.
  • Store the lenses in a case containing MPS or preserved saline.
  • Cleaning can be done at the end of a day of wear and stored overnight in the case. They can be used directly from the case in the morning. This solution disinfects the lenses during storage.
  • Soft lenses should always be stored in solution or else they become brittle and crack.

Protein Removal

  • Fill up the case with NS or MPS.
  • Dissolve enzyme tablet one in each compartment(or bottle) and immerse the lens fully.
  • Soak for 4-6 hours.
  • Remove the lens, rinse with MPS and store in fresh MPS overnight.
  • Clean as you do daily and wear the lens next morning.

Disposable soft contact lenses

  • Needs to be changed every 2 week s or once a month depending on the type of disposable lenses
  • Does not need enzyme cleaning.
  • The patient has the advantage of wearing a fresh lens every day of the year thereby producing the best comfort for the patient