5 Tips to Help You Adjust to Life With Contact Lenses
Contact lenses not only give you a whole new look, but they also offer far more freedom than glasses. Imagine not having to worry about dirty or fogged up lenses disrupting your vision, frames sliding down your nose when you sweat, or glasses getting in the way during the big game! Still, it can take a little practice handling contact lenses and adjusting to the changes from wearing them.
At Harlem VistaSite Eye Care in New York, we offer a comprehensive selection of contact lenses to guarantee a comfortable fit for all lifestyles and vision issues. We recommend keeping these tips in mind if you’re new to wearing contact lenses.
1. Get the right lenses
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to contact lenses. Not only are there soft and hard contact options, but we also offer toric and keratoconus varieties as well. Each of these types of lenses provides an optimal fit for a wide range of vision issues, from general nearsightedness and farsightedness to astigmatism and presbyopia.
We can also comfortably fit you with contact lenses if you have problems with your cornea, like bulging or a thinning surface.
2. Don’t rush yourself
It takes practice putting in and taking out your lenses. To set yourself up for success, allow yourself plenty of time to put them in each morning and to take them out at the day so you won’t feel rushed.
Soon, placing the lens in your eyes becomes second nature, and it hardly takes any time at all.
3. Establish a cleaning routine
Keeping your contacts clean and sterilized is essential for your eye health. We provide detailed steps based on the specific contact lenses you wear. These steps include:
- Guidelines for how long you can safely wear them each day
- The recommended solution to clean the lens after removal
- How to store your lenses when not in use
Whenever handling your contact lenses, wash your hands with a mild cleanser in advance and avoid using lotions or moisturizers.
4. Set reminders
It can be tempting to push the limits when it comes to wearing your contacts, but it’s important to follow the guidelines for these products. For example, you can keep some contacts for long periods, while others get replaced every day.
No matter what kind of contacts you have, we recommend that you put a reminder on your phone or calendar. This step reminds you to follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions to protect your eye health. Similarly, you should also replace your storage case every three months or as recommended to avoid bacterial infections.
5. Be patient
Remember, it can take time for your eyes to adjust when you switch to contact lenses. If you experience any discomfort, we recommend moistening your eyes with rewetting drops or switching to a different type of contact to reduce irritation.
Give yourself at least a week to fully acclimate, and keep in mind that it can take longer to adjust to contact lenses in some cases. And, remember, we’re always here to help, so let us know if you have specific issues adjusting to your contacts.
For more tips on switching to contact lenses, call us today at Harlem VistaSite Eye Care, send us a message here on our website, or use the convenient “book online” button to schedule your appointment.