What Are Contact Lenses For And What Is Their Function?

Contact lenses are thin, curved lenses that are placed over the tear film that covers the surface of your eye to correct vision problems. The lenses themselves are naturally clear, but are often given the slightest tint of color, to make it easier for users to handle.

The function of contact lenses is the same as for glasses, they bend light and redirect it to the retina to improve vision. They are used to correct myopia, hyperopia, age-related astigmatism, and presbyopia. There are also colored contact lenses, which are used to change the hue of the eyes for aesthetic or artistic reasons.

Benefits of using contact lenses.

Contact lenses have the advantage that they can be worn wherever they want, because they remain inside your eyes, as well as providing a complete field of vision, wherever you want to look.

Among the benefits they offer, we can mention:

• It can be seen brightly even in low light.
• Unlike glasses, they do not cause annoying reflection or image distortion.
• They provide clear, direct and peripheral vision.
• They offer a natural and wide field of vision.
• They do not mist, do not get wet and maintain a constant temperature.
• They are more comfortable than glasses, especially when playing direct contact sports.
• Eliminate lateral distortions.
• They allow to change the color of the eyes.

Magnifying contact lenses

Contact lenses can also be used to correct visual conditions such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness. They enjoy certain popularity, since they offer a series of advantages in many aspects, such as aesthetics; and provide a better visual field for those with visual difficulties.

Among the types of contact lenses with magnification we can find:

• Contact lenses for myopia and astigmatism : These are divergent contact lenses to which a toric lens (lens with a geometric shape in the shape of a donut) is added to correct the astigmatism.

• Bifocal Contact Lenses: They are the same as prescription glasses. Near and far vision is included in the same lens.

• Multifocal Contact Lenses: Each lens allows it to be seen correctly and clearly at any distance, as it has a highly powerful spectrum.

Types of contact lenses:

Currently there are several types of contact lenses, and the most used are hard and soft. Most people wear soft lenses, but it wasn’t long ago that contact lenses were made of glass.

Among the types of contact lenses we have:

• Rigid lenses: These help to remedy most visual conditions, are personalized and the most cost-effective on the market.

• Soft lenses: They are preferred by users in terms of the use of contact lenses, since they are very comfortable, adapt easily to the eye and almost do not move.

• Disposable lenses: They are replaced daily. They are recommended for people with sensitive eyes. They are expensive but effective.

• Therapeutic lenses: They help optimize vision and minimize the damage of some injuries. They are soft contact lenses.

• Extended Wear Lenses : Ideal for continuous wear . It is not necessary to remove them to sleep, but as a precaution it should be removed occasionally to avoid the risk of infections in the eye.

• Colored contact lenses: There are many different colors and are used to change the natural color of the eyes. They are generally used to carry a different appearance. Colored contact lenses with magnification are also available.
• Decorative contact lenses: These types of lenses, in addition to being colored, offer a series of specific styles, such as: wearing tiger eyes. These are used to radically change aesthetics or for specific purposes such as: artistic makeup, performance works, etc.

How are contact lenses used?

Putting on contact lenses can be a bit tricky at first, especially because of the discomfort of touching your eyes. However, by following these simple steps and with a lot of practice, in a short time you will learn to put them on like a professional.

The steps to follow to place your contact lenses correctly are:

• Wash your hands very well with soap and water . You must rinse your hands very well so that no soap remains on your hands. If possible, dry your hands with an air dryer.

• Take one lens out of its case at a time. If your lenses have different prescriptions, keep in mind to get the correct lens for each eye.

• Put the contact lens on your index finger. When you grip the lens, you must handle it very carefully so as not to break it, especially if it is a soft contact lens. Hold the lens concave side up on top of your finger, without touching the nail.

• Gently push the skin away from the eye . To place the lens you must raise and hold the upper eyelid using the index finger of the other hand and with the middle finger gently lower the lower eyelid, this serves to separate the skin from the eyeball.

• Bring the lens to your eye calmly but firmly . When performing this movement, avoid blinking or getting nervous. You can look up while doing it.

• Gently place the lens on the inside of your eye . Place the lens in the center of the iris (it is the part where the color of the eye is).

• Release your lids and blink gently to fit the lens to your eye . Let go of the lower eyelid first, as if you let go of the upper eyelid first, air bubbles could form in the eye and the lens could come out and cause pain.
• Repeat all the steps to put on the other lens . When you finish putting on both lenses, dump the remaining solution into the case, wash it, and close it.

Consequences of the use of contact lenses.

The misuse or lack of hygiene in contact lenses, can increase the risk of contracting infections or eye irritations. To avoid this, the instructions must be followed to the letter when handling contact lenses, in order to avoid terrible consequences.

There are some consequences that are experienced when wearing contact lenses, such as:

• Allergic processes or hypersensitivity.
• Keratitis (Inflammation of the cornea).
• Corneal infections.
• Overuse of contact lenses can lead to corneal ulcers.
• Injuries and erosions in the eye caused by the friction of the lenses.
• If a problem such as conjunctivitis appears, it should be stopped.
• The condition of dry eye can occur, due to poor hygiene of the lenses.
• Lenses need extreme care on a daily basis, and must be done correctly with special lens fluids. Most of the medical problems in the sight when wearing contact lenses, are due to the poor cleaning of the same.

Solution for contact lenses.

We know that the care of contact lenses must be continuous, in order to prevent them from being contaminated with viruses or bacteria from inside the eye or from the outside environment. Therefore, we must have a contact lens solution on hand, so as not to put eye health at risk.

The contact lens solution is used to:

• Keeping healthy tear-friendly proteins active.
• Maintains the PH of eye health.
• It works as a natural lubricant for the eye.

• Opti-Free.
• Renu Plus, o RenuFresh.
• AquaLent.
• Bausch&Lomb.
• Multi 20/20.

Colored contact lenses.

Colored contact lenses offer us a number of optical possibilities. Its main objective is to change the color of the eyes in just an instant, it is for this reason that they become an aesthetic product.

Currently there are infinities of colored contact lenses and they are a widely used option among people who like to transform their physical appearance. Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing colored contact lenses:

• If you want to look more natural, you should choose a lens that matches your physiognomy, skin color and hair color, so they will go unnoticed.

• If you have dark eyes and want to make drastic changes, you can choose to wear lenses with shades like blue, green and even honey. This will add a radical look to your look.

• If you have light eyes, you can also make a radical change by taking them to dark tones. If you want to keep them close to your natural color, you can do it by looking for lighter tones.

Conclusion about contact lenses

To obtain safety and comfort with the use of contact lenses, it is vitally important to go to the indicated specialist, to do all the required tests before using them. It must be taken into account that in order to avoid complications with these lenses, it is necessary to carry out proper maintenance for their care.

Each person responds differently to wearing contact lenses, therefore the way they are worn and the cleaning of the lenses must be done on a very individual basis.