Contact Lens - Part 2

Are there situations where it may be hazardous to wear contact lenses?

While these conditions may be hazardous to both contact lenses wearers and to people who do not, contact lens wearers should be aware that certain conditions may make it necessary to avoid wearing their lenses. Each situation should be carefully investigated. These situations may include:

• ·         exposure to chemical fumes and vapours,
• ·         areas where potential for chemical splash exists,
• ·         areas where particulate matter or dust is in the atmosphere,
• ·         exposure to extremes of infrared rays,
• ·         intense heat,
• ·         dry atmosphere,
• ·         flying particles, and
• ·         areas where caustic substances are handled, particularly those used or stored under pressure.

In workplaces with ultra-violet and infrared radiation sources, users of contact lenses require protection just as persons not wearing contact lenses do. Contact lens types absorb infrared radiation. This effect is potentially more harmful to the soft lens wearer as it could alter the water balance of the contact lens.

Are some hazards specific to soft contact lens wearers?

Soft lenses are made from a type of plastic that contains a large proportion of water. The soft lens adheres more tightly to the cornea and does not have as much fluid motion as the hard contact lens. For these reasons, some researchers think the soft lens offers some, but not total, protection against entrapment of foreign substances between the contact lens and the cornea. The major risks for soft contact lens wearers are from chemical splashes and from hot, dry environments. Because of the high water content of the soft contact lens, some chemicals can pass through the lens and be held against the cornea by the lens itself.

Hot, dry environments can lead to problems because they can cause the tear layer (upon which the lens 'sits') to dehydrate . This situation results in eye discomfort.

Are some hazards specific for hard contact lens wearers?

Hard lenses are made from an impervious material. Increased risk may result if foreign substances, such as dust or small metal fragments, become trapped behind the contact lens. Since the hard contact lens floats on the tear film in front of the cornea (not in a fixed position), there may be an abrading action between the contact lens and the foreign substance that may result in injury to the cornea. Also, chemicals may become trapped behind the contact lens and held in place against the cornea. In dirty, dusty environments, the wearing of hard lenses may be more hazardous than soft contact lenses.

Contact Lenses - Part 1

What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are small, thin discs made of a transparent material. The outer surfaces are custom-shaped to correct or improve vision and the inner side is carefully formed to fit the surface of the cornea (the clear, front covering of the eye including the iris and pupil). Today, the lenses are typically soft (flexible) but hard (rigid) are still available.

Contact lenses can be a safe and effective way to correct vision for most people. However, people who wear them must follow the directions of their eye specialist - this care includes how long the lenses can be worn continuously, how they should be cleaned and stored, and the good hygiene practices to follow when wearing or handling the lenses. Many people wear contact lenses because they prefer them to eye glasses - contact lenses do not slip down your nose or fog up in the wintertime. A few people, however, must wear contact lenses to have adequate vision (for example, after cataract surgery, or for medical conditions such as keratoconus - a deformity of the cornea).

Contact lenses can cause some problems that do not produce any symptoms that the contact lens wearer may not notice. For this reason, contact lens wearers should have regular checkups with a specialist who prescribes and fits contact lenses.

What is the controversy about wearing contact lenses at

work?

Put as simply as possible, the problem is that, according to some people, contact lenses may complicate eye safety.

The arguments against wearing contact lenses in the work environment are based on the following:

dusts or chemicals can be trapped behind the lens and cause irritation or damage to the cornea or both;

gases and vapours can cause irritation and excessive eye watering; and

chemical splash may be more injurious when contact lenses are worn. This increased risk is related to the removal of the lenses. If removal is delayed, first aid treatment may not be as effective and, in turn, the eye's exposure time to the chemical may be increased.

However, the opposite may be true as well. Contact lenses may prevent some substances from reaching the eye, and thus minimize or even prevent an injury. Both situations have been documented.  As a result, a wide range of opinions about the safety of contact lenses in the workplace has formed. More complete information is hard to find since occupational injury reporting systems do not typically include information about contact lens use.

The critical point to remember is that contact lenses are not intended to be used as protective devices. They are not a substitute for personal protective equipment (PPE) - if eye and face protection is required for certain work operations then all workers, including contact lens wearers, should wear the proper protective devices. Safe work conditions for all workers are only possible when basic occupational health and safety practices and procedures are followed.

Essilor's Optifog

Optifog-coated lenses have a special hydrophilic lens coating, while simultaneously offering all the optical and anti-smudge performance of Essilor lenses. This hydrophilic coating gets activated with a special Essilor anti-fog solution that keeps the lens from fogging up and provides clear vision.

This product is aimed at people living in places with humidity or those who are involved in fog prone professions and sports activities.

According to research conducted by the company, 75% of spectacle wearers would welcome an anti fog solution for improved comfort and vision for their daily life. The number of spectacle wearers afflicted with a fogging problem is estimated at 1.5 billion worldwide.

These lenses are available across the country with all leading opticians.

According to research conducted by the company, 75% of spectacle wearers would welcome an anti fog solution for improved comfort and vision for their daily life. The number of spectacle wearers afflicted with a fogging problem is estimated at 1.5 billion worldwide. These lenses are available across the country with all leading opticians.According to research conducted by the company, 75% of spectacle wearers would welcome an anti fog solution for improved comfort and vision for their daily life. The number of spectacle wearers afflicted with a fogging problem is estimated at 1.5 billion worldwide. These lenses are available across the country with all leading opticians.

Contact Lens - Their Features & Their Use

Contact lenses are small visual devices made with curved pieces of plastic shaped in a way to conform directly to the wearer’s eye. They provide an artificial refracting surface to the human eye and are used to correct vision problems like myopia and hypermetropia. Contact lenses aid in eye focusing in the same manner as spectacles do. Apart from these corrective measures, contact lenses can also be used for cosmetic and therapeutic reasons.

Features of Contact Lenses

The lenses are made from different types of materials – soft and rigid – and come in a variety of designs and colors. These include disposable, colored, astigmatic, aphakic, presbyopic and keratoconic lenses. The initial fitting and follow up care are important parts of contact lens usage to give maximum benefits of vision, appearance, comfort and tissue integrity.

Advantages of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are capable of correcting most of the problems that spectacles can as well as some additional ones that glasses cannot.

People not satisfied with their appearance using glasses can opt to use contact lenses for improved appearance. Contact lenses are not in the danger of slipping off, getting wet, or fogging up, which can easily happen with spectacles.

Uses of Contact Lens

The primary use of contact lenses is to correct myopia (short sightedness). They can also be used to rectify hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia and aphakia. Rigid lenses are used to correct irregular corneal trauma. Soft lenses are used as bandages for conditions like bullous keratopathy, recurring corneal erosion as well as to increase comfort, vision and postoperative wound healing.

The Adverse Effects of Contact Lenses

People have difficulty in using contact lenses if they have eye irritations due to allergies or dust and chemicals. Overactive thyroid gland, severe diabetes or extreme arthritis in the hands, dry eyes related to pregnancy, contraceptives, diuretics, antihistamines and decongestants and eye disease prevents a person form using contact lenses.

The usage of contact lenses may give rise to problems like eye infections, allergic reactions to lens care solutions and deposit on lenses, redness of the eyes, scratched corneas, alteration in corneal shape and structure and abnormal blood vessels growing in the apparently clear cornea. You should consult your eye specialist without delay if there is burning, extreme sensitivity or hazy vision or pain.

Can I Use Eye Drops With My Contact Lenses?

Yes. Certain eye drops can be used with contact lenses. Most over-the-counter eye drops are divided into three categories: “dry eye" eye drops, “get the red out” eye drops and “contact lens” eye drops.

• "Dry eye" eye drops:
  Dry eye drops come in a variety of formulations. Some are thicker than others and may actually cloud your vision or “gum up” your contact lenses. While some of them may be okay for use with contact lenses, they are designed to not only lubricate the eye, but to promote healing of the eye’s surface.


• “Get the red out” eye drops:
  "Get the red out" drops have special ingredients called vasoconstrictors. These drops shrink the tiny blood vessels in the conjunctiva, the clear tissue that coats the white part of your eye. These eye drops could cause deposits to form of the surface of your contact lenses and if used repetitively to re-wet your contact lenses, could cause “rebound” redness. Rebound redness occurs when the vasoconstrictor wears off. The blood vessels dilate larger, causing the eyes to appear bloodshot. This may cause dependency or mask underlying infections or inflammations.


• "Contact lens" eye drops:
  Contact lens eye drops are often called re-wetting drops. Re-wetting drops lubricate your eye and hydrate the contact lens, making your eyes more comfortable while wearing your contact lenses. Theses eye drops are labeled “For use with soft contact lenses,” and are usually located next to contact lens cleaning solutions in the store. Eye care professionals usually encourage frequent use of re-wetting drops, as it improves comfort and helps clear out debris underneath your contact lenses.

Talk to your eye doctor if you are taking any eye drops for medical eye problems, such as glaucoma. Ask your eye doctor for the best way to insert eye drops and whether or not contact lenses should be worn while taking your medication.