Contact Lenses: 9 Things to Know Before Making the Switch
Contact lenses give you a convenient way to correct your vision and a welcome addition to your everyday eyewear options. They bring flexibility to work, sports, and travel, and another route to clear, comfortable vision.
If you are trying contacts for the first time, or returning to them after a break, you likely have questions about comfort, safety, and daily care. Here are nine things to know before you get started.
Tips to Get Started with Contact Lenses
1. Schedule a Contact Lens Exam and Fitting
Contact lenses rest directly on your eyes, so they call for a fitting on top of your regular vision exam. At our office in Brookings, SD, your eye doctor reviews your prescription, measures your eyes, and watches how the lenses fit and move when you blink. They also check your eye health and tear film to judge which lenses may feel comfortable and suit you.
Follow-up visits matter even if you have worn contacts for years. Your eye doctor can see changes in your vision, your lens fit, and the early signs of irritation or other problems. A contact lens exam keeps your prescription current and your eyes healthy.
2. Glasses and Contact Lens Prescriptions Differ
Glasses and contact lens prescriptions are not interchangeable, because each lens sits at a different distance from your eye.
A contact lens prescription carries extra details, such as the lens brand or material, base curve, and diameter. Those numbers help your contacts fit well and correct your vision as intended.
Even when your glasses prescription has not changed, you still need a valid contact lens prescription to order new lenses.
Contact Lens Options for Different Vision Needs
Some prescriptions and eye shapes call for a specific lens design. Your eye doctor matches the design to your eyes, your comfort, and your routine.
Contact Lenses for Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a common vision condition that blurs or distorts vision at different distances. Several lens types can correct it.
Toric contact lenses correct astigmatism and come in soft lens materials. Based on your prescription and eye shape, your eye doctor may also suggest rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, hybrid lenses, or scleral lenses.
The best option depends on your prescription, your eye health, and how well the lenses fit.
Multifocal Contact Lenses for Reading and Distance Vision
Multifocal contact lenses help people with presbyopia, an age-related change that makes it harder to focus on nearby objects.
These lenses hold more than one prescription power to help you see at several distances. Some people do well with monovision, where one eye is corrected mainly for distance and the other for near vision.
Your eye doctor can help you try multifocal lenses near Brookings, SD, and choose the design that gives you the most comfortable vision for your daily activities.
Contact Lens Safety: Everyday Habits That Matter
Know the Risks of Sleeping in Contact Lenses
Sleeping in contact lenses overnight raises the risk of serious eye infections, even with lenses approved for extended wear.
Some specialty and extended-wear lenses are designed for overnight use. Wear them overnight only when your eye doctor specifically prescribes it.
If you fall asleep in your contacts, do not force them out when they feel stuck. Use contact lens-compatible lubricating drops if you need them, let the lenses move freely, and remove them gently. Call us promptly if you notice redness, pain, light sensitivity, or blurry vision.
Swimming and Showering with Contacts Can Harm Your Eyes
Keep contact lenses away from water, including tap water, pools, lakes, and hot tubs.
Water can carry harmful microorganisms to your lenses, including Acanthamoeba, which can cause a rare but serious eye infection.
Take your contacts out before you swim or shower. If you need vision correction in the water, prescription swim goggles are the safer choice.
If water gets in your eyes while you wear contacts, remove the lenses as soon as you can. Throw away daily disposables, or clean and disinfect reusable lenses the way your eye doctor instructs.
Choose Eye Drops That Are Safe for Contact Lenses
Some eye drops work with contacts, and others require you to remove your lenses first.
Rewetting drops labeled for contact lens use can ease occasional dryness. Certain allergy medications, redness-relief drops, and prescription eye drops may not be safe while your contacts are in.
Check the product instructions or ask your eye doctor before you use any drops with contacts. If dryness keeps bothering you, ask whether your lenses or your wearing schedule need a change.
How to Care for Your Contact Lenses
Following Your Contact Lens Replacement Schedule
Replace your contact lenses on the schedule your eye doctor prescribes, even when they still feel comfortable.
Depending on the lens type, you may replace them daily, every two weeks, or monthly. Wearing lenses past their replacement date lets deposits and microorganisms build up, which raises the risk of irritation and infection.
For reusable lenses, follow the cleaning and storage instructions that come with them. Always use fresh contact lens solution, never water or saliva, and replace your lens case on a regular basis.
A simple daily routine keeps your lenses and your eyes in good shape:
- Wash and dry your hands before you touch your lenses.
- Use fresh solution every time, and never top off the old solution.
- Keep your lens case clean and replace it every few months.
- Take your lenses out before you sleep, swim, or shower, unless your eye doctor says otherwise.
- Carry a pair of glasses as a backup.
Recognize Signs of Contact Lens Irritation
Contact lenses should feel comfortable once you have adjusted to them. Do not ignore irritation, redness, or blurry vision that sticks around.
Discomfort can come from dry eyes, a damaged lens, a poor fit, or another eye health concern.
If your contacts cause pain, redness, light sensitivity, or changes in vision, take them out right away and call us. Do not put them back in until your eye doctor says it is safe. Our office provides emergency services for red eye and foreign bodies, so you can reach us when a problem needs prompt attention.
Find Your Next Pair of Contacts at 20/20 FAMILY VISION
Contact lenses can round out your glasses and give you more freedom in how you correct your vision. A proper fit, healthy wearing habits, and regular eye exams help you enjoy clear, comfortable vision while you protect your eye health.
Almost everyone can wear contacts, including many patients with astigmatism and those who prefer bifocal or multifocal lenses. We fit daily disposables, extended wear soft lenses, and gas permeable lenses, with regular and custom options for healthy eyes and hard-to-fit patients.
Our team can help you explore your options, update your prescription, and find lenses that suit your vision and lifestyle. Learn more about the different types of contact lenses, or contact 20/20 FAMILY VISION in Brookings, SD, at 605-692-2020 to schedule an exam.
