Explore the wheel above or select the category of your choice from the menu below.   Select a category Quiz You and your Eyes Common Vision Problems Severe Myopia Complications Help with Spectacles Help with Contact Lenses Good Eye Care Habits
		Why contact lenses? Contact lenses provide the added advantage of maximum peripheral vision, which is especially useful in sports and games. Contact lenses are useful in the correction of anisometropia where the power of each eye is very different. It is also for those who cannot tolerate the weight of the spectacles, or the marks that spectacles sometimes leave on the face. Facts about Contact Lenses It is important to know that contact lenses are medical devices that need to be properly fitted by an eye care practitioner. The practitioner will assess your working environment and check if you have dry eyes, allergies or any eye infection, before determining if lens wear is suitable for you. Proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures are required with contact lens wear, as poor hygiene, dirty, over-wearing and contaminated lenses may lead to complications, mainly eye infections. In cases of severe bacterial infection, the patient may lose his vision. Please see "Tips on good contact lens wear".
		Tips on good contact lens wear     •   Do not wear your contact lenses beyond the period recommended by your eye care practitioner.     •   Contact lens care includes cleaning, sterilization, storage and protein removal.     •   Consult your eye care practitioner first before changing your contact lens solutions.     •   Clean both sides of your lenses. Do not use tap water to clean or wet your contact lenses.     •   Wash your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses.     •   Wear your contact lenses prior to applying make-up. Remove your contact lenses prior to removing make-up.     •   When wearing contact lenses, always ensure that you are able to see clearly and that you do not feel uncomfortable.     •   You should avoid wearing lenses overnight (even for lenses designed for extended wear) as people who wear lenses overnight have a higher chance of developing infections of the cornea.
		Understanding a contact lens prescription Move your cursor over the shapes and values to see what they mean.
		Types of Contact Lenses   • Rigid Gas Permeable (Semi Hard Contact Lenses)   Advantages Disadvantages Less deposit build-up Good visual quality   Rigid and poor initial comfort Longer adaptation period Lower risk of contact lens related complications, mainly eye infections       • Soft Contact Lenses   Advantages Disadvantages Shorter adaptation period   Higher risk of severe complications, mainly eye infections, especially associated with extended or overnight wear Porous structure could result in hypersensitivity reaction in some people       There are 2 types of soft contact lenses:       • Conventional Lenses Lenses are typically used for a period of 12 months. More risk of long-term deposit build-up and a thorough lens-cleaning regimen is needed.       • Disposable Lenses Lenses are replaced on a regular basis - Monthly, Bi-weekly and Daily. The risk of long-term deposit build-up is reduced and a simpler lens cleaning regimen is needed. With the use of daily disposable lenses, no cleaning is needed as they are thrown away everyday.   In case of any doubt, you should consult your eye care practitioner. Visit your eye care practitioner at least once in 6 months even if you are happy with your contact lenses. If you have any problem with your contact lenses, visit your eye care practitioner immediately.

 

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