Around six in every 10 people need corrective lenses to see well, research has repeatedly shown. While prescription glasses remain the most popular solution, around 140 million people all around the globe wear contact lenses regularly, including 45 million in the United States alone.
For many, contact lenses represent freedom — the ability to see well without glasses that fog up, fall off, and impact the wearer's aesthetic, and a wider field of vision as well. Many others who would benefit from contact lenses don't wear them because they are scared about their health, spurred on in part by scary stories from a third group; people who wear lenses but don't care for them adequately, in turn leading to anything from nasty but ultimately wholly temporary eye infections to permanent blindness.
What are the benefits of wearing contact lenses?
We're all familiar with the fact that contact lenses are clear disks worn directly on the cornea, where they can correct a person's vision in cases of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and even presbyopia (age-related visual deterioration). Contact lenses can offer some marked advantages over eyeglasses, which make them very appealing to many people. They include:
- Contact lenses allow the wearer to enjoy a full field of vision, very similar to that someone with 20/20 vision would have — because lenses move with the wearer's eye, they don't have to be obstructed by heavy frames, or suffer the annoyance of not being able to see clearly when they look over or under their glasses.
- Contact lenses do not fog up or get cover by rain or water (like while swimming).
- Many types of contact lenses are far cheaper to replace than eyeglasses, or even designed to be replaced every day. While you may have significant expenses if you accidentally break or scratch your glasses, if something happens to a lens, you can just replace it without any hassle.
- Contact lenses don't hurt your ears or the bridge of your nose.
- For many the most important point — contact lenses don't change the way you look.
Modern contact lenses come in rather a few different types, and each has their own distinct advantages:
- Rigid Gas-Permeable (RGP) lenses, also often called hard lenses, offer excellent vision and are especially suitable for people with astigmatism. Many people with allergies likewise report that these lenses work better for them.
- Extended-wear lenses, which can be RPG or soft lenses, can be worn for prolonged periods of time (although this is not usually recommended), can be extremely convenient. Some are designed to be worn for up to a month at a time!
- Disposable soft lenses are convenient, with daily lenses being the perfect entry-level solution for people who have not learned to care for lenses very well yet or who do not want the hassle.
- Toric lenses are newer, and great for people with astigmatism due to their unusual shape.
What are the risks of wearing contact lenses?
The health risks associated with contact lens use include eye irritation (short-term) and eye infections, which can usually be treated and cured completely if timely medical attention is sought. Corneal ulcers, open sores on the clear part of the eye that can cause vision loss and require a corneal transplant unless treated adequately and immediately, are a more serious risk. Following incorrect use of contact lenses, some people even develop permanent vision loss or complete blindness.
Fortunately, before it gets to that stage, your body will warn you — the first symptoms of infection or irritation can include painful, sore, red, and itchy eyes, swelling, and feeling like there is something in your eye, even if there isn't. You may also experience blurred vision or be very sensitive to light.
Anyone who experiences these symptoms should stop wearing lenses and seek medical attention right away.
With increased environmental awareness, many people will also want to know about the environmental impact of wearing contact lenses. Here, it's important to note that around 20 percent of people dispose of their lenses, especially soft disposable lenses, but flushing them down the sink or toilet. The lenses then make their way into the water supply, where they break down and cause bacterial growth as well as posing a risk to aquatic life. The proper way to dispose of your lenses, if you are trying your best to be environmentally aware, would be to throw them into the trash. That way, they can be housed in a landfill site, where they are less likely to contaminate the wider environment. Choosing glasses would, however, be a more eco-friendly option.
Finally, since the COVID-19 pandemic started, more people have also become aware of the fact that touching your face and eyes can easily spread viruses and bacteria. Wearing lenses causes people to rub their eyes more often as small particles can become lodged and cause discomfort, while glasses in fact add a barrier that helps prevent the spread of viruses. Glasses are therefore the better option for those who want to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Research suggests, on the other hand, that the difference this can make is fairly minimal so long as you take proper care of your lenses and follow all other recommended steps to reduce the spread of COVID.
Contact lenses: Do's and don'ts
If you choose to wear lenses, DO:
- Learn how to properly take care of contact lenses before you start wearing them!
- Clean your lenses exactly as instructed, every time, before and after wearing them.
- Discard all contact lens fluid from the container, clean it thoroughly, and replace it with fresh new fluid.
- Never clean your lenses with tap water, rain water, swimming pool water, or (God forbid!) spit. If you have no other option but to turn to these options, then replace your lenses instead. Only use lens fluid!
- Always carry glasses with you as a backup so that you will not feel called to wear lenses that cannot be cleaned properly in order to see well.
- Replace your lens case every two to three months as well — contact lens solution bottles often come with fresh new storage cases for a reason! Bacteria build up in your case, too!
- Discuss the type of lenses that would be best for you with your ophthalmologist, and follow their advice.
DON'T:
- Go swimming with your lenses, no matter how appealing it may seem.
- Wear your lenses for any longer than recommended.
- Keep wearing your lenses even if you have signs of an eye infection.
- Simply order lenses online — make sure to see an ophthalmologist for the proper prescription, and to check your eye health to ensure you remain a suitable candidate for lenses.
- Flush your lenses down the sink or drain!
Deciding whether contact lenses are the right choice for you is ultimately a very personal choice — but remember that, although many people choose lenses for cosmetic reasons, it is still a medical decision. Therefore, it is one that should be made together with your ophthalmologist. Think of your lenses like a prescription for hypertension medication or even birth control pills — they should work well as long as you have the right prescription and you adhere to all instructions, but you still need regular checkups.