Contact Lenses: A Safe Option When Used Properly

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 22 Oct 2010 - 2:00 PDT


For 40 million Americans, using contact lenses to improve vision is a way of life. While a good number adhere to the medical guidelines for wearing contacts, according to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) annual American Eye-Q® survey, many are breaking the rules and putting their health and vision at risk.

"Contact lenses are among the safest form of vision correction when patients follow the proper care and wearing instructions provided by their eye doctor," said Dr. Jonathan Schorn, optometrist with Apple Valley Eye Care and Minnesota Optometric Association Board of Trustees Treasurer. "When patients do not use lenses as directed, however, the consequences can be serious. It is easy to forget that contact lenses are medical devices," he said.

The 2010 American Eye-Q® survey and consequences of improper use:

-- The majority of respondents wear the disposable lenses longer than recommended.

- This can increase deposits and adherence of bacteria on the lens, which could cause damage to the cornea.

-- Only a quarter of respondents do replace daily disposable lenses every day.

-- A quarter of respondents reported wearing contact lenses while sleeping.

- This can lead to infections and dry eye syndrome.

-- 23 percent of respondents soak or clean lenses in water.

- Cleaning and rinsing lenses are necessary to remove mucus, secretions, films or deposits that may have accumulated during wearing, while disinfecting is required to destroy harmful germs. Water does not disinfect lenses; in fact it can actually contaminate contacts.

-- 12 percent store their contacts in something other than a typical storage case.
- Using something other than an appropriate case for storing lenses can allow bacteria to grow on or near contacts.

Kids and Contact Lenses

Should kids wear contacts? "If you are considering contact lenses for your child, consider their level of responsibility and social interactions," said Dr. Schorn.

More than half of optometrists feel it is appropriate to introduce a child to soft contact lenses between the ages of 10-12, with daily disposable contact lenses being the most frequently prescribed contacts for this age group.

Circle Lenses and "Halloween" Contacts can be scary

The recently popular "circle-tinted" contact lenses, which make the eye's iris appear larger are often illegally obtained without a prescription. These lenses as well as cat eyes and other costume lenses can be dangerous if obtained without a prescription or consultation with an eye doctor.

About the survey

The fifth annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From April 14-21, 2010, using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,007 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of U.S. general population. (Margin of error at 95 percent confidence level)

Source:
Minnesota Optometric Association

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