COLUMBUS, OH (October 3, 2022) – The Ohio Prevent Blindness Coalition has declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month to help educate the public about the best ways to protect your eyes through proper eye care.
In addition to dedicated web pages, newsletters, and social media images, Ohio affiliates Prevent Blindness and Prevent Blindness are also hosting an episode on contact lens safety as part of an eye health series. Thomas L. Steinemann, Ph.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University, discusses various topics with Jeff Todd, President and CEO of the Prevention of Blindness, including advocacy for contact lens safety, patient care, and the dangers of lens misuse. 2020 Contact Lens Use, American Academy of Ophthalmology The Distinguished Advocate Award was presented to Dr.
Steinemann for his leadership and advocacy efforts in improving patient safety and contact lens use over the past 20 years.
Anyone interested in purchasing contact lenses must first have an eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist. All contact lenses are classified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as prescription medical devices. This applies to prescription and over-the-counter (cosmetic or decorative) contact lenses.
The FDA also noted that contact lenses are not available without a prescription. Companies that sell such contact lenses mislabel the device by selling it without a prescription and are violating FTC regulations. Contact lenses sold over the counter by unlicensed vendors may be contaminated and/or counterfeit and therefore unsafe to use.
Soft contact lenses come in two main types: daily wear and extended wear. Both lenses are made fr
om a thin, flexible material and water. Daily wear lenses should be removed, cleaned and stored daily. Durable lenses are designed for night wear. However, there is an increased risk of infection associated with prolonged lens wear. They should be worn for the time prescribed by the ophthalmologist.
Rigid contact lenses provide clearer vision for certain eye conditions, and some types may last longer. Many types of hard contact lenses have bifocal lenses. Getting used to hard contact lenses can take longer than soft contact lenses.
Soft lenses for daily wear tend to be the most comfortable, and the eye adapts to wearing in less time than hard contact lenses. Soft lenses can be worn during strenuous physical activity and sports and are less likely to slip off. Soft contact lenses require special cleaning and disinfection and tear easily, so they may not last as long as hard contact lenses.
Soft lenses that are worn for a long period of time have the same benefits as lenses that are worn every day. These lenses can be worn for a long time, up to a week. However, daily removal and cleaning is recommended due to the risk of contamination with prolonged use.
A recent study published in the journal Ophthalmology, “Risk Factors for Acanthamoeba Keratitis in Daily Contact Lens Wearers,” found that people who wore reusable contact lenses rather than disposable disposable contact lenses were four times more likely to develop Acanthamoeba keratitis . painful infection of the cornea. The cornea, the transparent outer shell of the eye, often causes scarring. If not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to blindness. In the most severe cases, a corneal transplant may be required. The infection is believed to be caused by eye contact with water contaminated with Acanthamoeba, a free-living microorganism.
Blindness Prevention offers the following tips to keep your eyes healthy while wearing contact lenses:
• Before handling contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water, then rinse and dry with a lint-free towel.
• Wear and change contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your ophthalmologist.
• When cleaning with fresh solution, rub your contact lenses with your fingers and then rinse the lenses with the solution before soaking, even if you use a solution that does not rub the lenses.
• Contact lens cases should always be washed with fresh solution, not water. Then open the empty box to air dry.
• Do not use a cracked or damaged lens case. Lens cases can be a source of contamination and infection.
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading voluntary eye health and safety organization dedicated to the fight against blindness and the preservation of sight. The Ohio Prevent Blindness Coalition serves all 88 counties in Ohio, directly serving 1,000,000 Ohio residents each year and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. For more information or to donate, call 800-301-2020 or donate here.
Keep clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, obscene, racist or sexually oriented language. Please turn off Caps Lock. Don’t threaten. Threats to harm others are unacceptable. Be honest. Do not knowingly lie to anyone or anything. Be kind. No racism, sexism and other humiliation. Be proactive. Report offensive posts to us using the “Report” link in every comment. Share with us. We would like to hear eyewitness accounts, the history of the article.
Would you like to receive our top news by email? It’s free and you can cancel your subscription at any time. Register today!
An email with password reset instructions has been sent to the email address associated with your account.
Post time: Oct-12-2022
