CONTACT CARE

• Soft lenses are soft & comfortable to wear. These lenses contain some amount of water & will cause deposits to accumulate. (Deposits are foreign particles that adhere to the lens surface that can cause eye problems & eye irritations.)
   
• Disposable lenses are actually soft lenses that can be disposed either every day, after a week, 2 weeks or a month. The best thing about them is that they can be replaced with a fresh pair so less worries about deposits accumulating.
   
• Semi-hard lenses are also called rigid gas permeable lenses. These lenses are firm & made of silicone with other compounds. These lenses allows oxygen to pass through. They may be less comfortable to wear but they can better withstand deposits since they contain little water & don't dehydrate.

Other contact lens variations include:

• Toric soft lenses are a type of soft lens that corrects astigmatism.
• Plateau lenses are for people who have undergone cornea transplants or surgery to correct short-sightedness (eg. Lasik). They are rigid gas permeable lenses.
• Custom design lenses are specially made to fit the cornea exactly. They can either be soft or rigid.
• Traditional hard lenses are no longer prescribed.
• Contact lenses are very safe to use provided you take proper care when handling them. Wearing them could be uncomfortable for first-time wearers, however after a week or more you will get used to them. If it's painful, it could indicate an improper fit.

Handling tips

• Wash hands clean when handling lenses.
• Clean the contact lens case regularly.
• Always close the cap of the cleaning solution. Leaving it open invites bacteria growth.
• Keep the cleaning solution somewhere cool & dark. Too hot or cold temperatures can affect it's chemical content.
• No swimming with contact lenses.
• Never wear disposable lenses past their used-by dates. This is no time to be thifty.
• Remove contact lenses when eyes are sore, red, itchy, tearing excessively or tired. If symptoms persists, contact your optometrist.
• Never wear them overnight!
• When travelling on a plane, bring along eye drops to lubricate the eyes since air inside the aircraft is dry.
• Put on your lenses before applying makeup.
• Powder your face by dabbing gently. Close eyes when dabbing over the eye area.
• Try to use waterproof mascara & waterproof eye-liner.
• When applying eye-liner, line the edge of eye lid. Don't go any inner.
• Use a gentle, unscented & effective eye makeup remover. Clean thoroughly always.
• Close eyes when spraying hair spray or perfume & step away from the mist.
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect eyes & prevent air particles from getting into the eyes.
• Don't wear contact lenses when using household cleaners as fumes from some cleaners contain ammonia which could be absorbed by the lens.
• Don't wear lenses that are cracked or chipped off. Discard them immediately.