So you want to wear contact lenses. Even though glasses have had a renaissance in recent years (cheap, designer pairs are now readily available), there’s always a place for contact lenses, like for swimming, summer days without the hassle of prescription sunglasses, and just because you’d like to walk around without extra weight on your face.

Different types for different eyes

An optometrist must give you an eye exam to determine your prescription, but also check the health of your eyes. Your eye shape (we’re all different!) will also help determine the type of contact lens you will be prescribed. Long and short-sightedness as well as astigmatism can all be corrected with contact lenses. There are even bifocal contact lenses for people with presbyopia.

Caring for them properly is critical

Wearing contact lenses can increase your risk of certain eye problems, like blurry vision, redness, pain and keratitis which is a serious infection of the cornea. It’s imperative you follow your optometrists instructions regarding how to care for your lenses, how long to wear them and when to replace them. Lenses that are dirty, get knicked or tear can scratch and damage the surface of your eye. Always handle your contacts with clean, lint-free hands and sterilised saline or commercial lens solution, and never, ever wash or store your lenses in water.

You must give your eyes regular breaks

It doesn’t matter whether you’re short or long sighted, if you wore glasses before, it’s imperative you continue wearing them at intervals, to give your eyes ‘breathing’ space. Having contact lenses covering your cornea all day, every day prevents oxygen from getting to the cornea, and as a side effect your eye will grow extra blood vessels into the cornea. Optometrists will check this regularly when it comes to contact lens wearers and their eye health. This is why you do NOT sleep or nap with contact lenses, and you are always encouraged to switch to glasses whenever possible.

Caring for your contact lenses is critical

Be careful with novelty lenses

Optometry Australia’s Luke Arundel warns against the dangers of novelty lenses for special occasions like Halloween and other fancy dress events. “The surface of the eye is extremely delicate and wearing non-prescribed novelty contact lenses, particularly those from a dubious source, could cause eye damage ranging from mild infections to sight-threatening conditions such as corneal scarring and even blindness,” he said. So, if you must wear those blood-red lenses, do not buy them from a $2 shop and make sure you have them checked by an optometrist before wearing.

When you can’t get your contact lens out

The first time this happens you can feel a bit panicked. Keep calm! The number one reason for stuck lenses is eye dryness. Wait until your eye is more lubricated before trying to remove it. Always keep lens-friendly eye drops with you for such an occasion, or if all else fails, crying in frustration also helps lube them up! Some people (ahem) have even been known to try to remove a lens that wasn’t there, so if you’ve had a late night, try to keep your wits about you, as sticking your finger onto your eyeball unnecessarily is really best avoided. Contrary to what you might think, your contact lens can NEVER slip behind your eyeball – it’s impossible. A thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers the white of your eye and connects to the inside of your eyelid, so relax! Your lens won’t go anywhere it’s not supposed to.

When contact lenses aren’t for you

If you suffer from any of these conditions, you may not be a good candidate for contacts, but it’s best to check with your local optometrist.

• Frequent eye infections
• Persistent or severe allergies
• Dry eye which is resistant to treatment
• Dirty and dusty workplace environments
• Inability to handle and care for the lenses