Contact Lenses

• Made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea
• May be easier to adjust to and may be more comfortable than hard lenses
• Silicone-hydrogels and hypergels provide more comfort and allow oxygen to your eyes
• Require a frequent replacement schedule

• A new pair of lenses is required daily
• Very convenient
• No cleaning regimen is needed
• Promotes ideal eye health (provided lenses aren’t used longer than the recommended 24 hour period)

• Need to be replaced monthly
• Should be removed from the eyes every day – then cleaned, rinsed and disinfected in solution overnight
• A more cost effective way for improved and convenient vision
• A strict cleaning regimen has to be adhered to maintain good quality vision, and promote eye health.

• Are available for overnight or continuous wear for up to 30 days
• Length of continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear
• Your eyes need to rest without lenses for at least one night following each scheduled removal

• More durable and resistant to deposit build-up, providing clear, crisp vision
• Replaced once a year versus the replacement schedules of soft contact lenses
• Easier to handle and less likely to tear because they are made of harder plastics
• Not as comfortable as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing

• Made to be worn once and then thrown away
• No cleaning regimen required

A convenient option as no lens care routine is required, daily lenses are ideal for those who:

• Are active
• Use lenses occasionally
• Like travelling
• Don’t want to clean lenses every night

Lenses are available for:

• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness
• Astigmatism
• Presbyopia

Multifocal lens addresses your:

• Near vision
• Intermediate vision
• Distance vision

• Requires lenses to be cleaned daily (or before and after use) to ensure lenses are:
  • Cleaned of debris and protein build-up
  • Disinfected
  • Moistened / lubricated in the lens case to ensure wearing comfort

The most common option that requires a strict lens care routine, monthly lenses are ideal for those who:

• Wear lenses everyday
• Require a cost effective option
• Require an extended wear option (due to difficulty inserting and removing lenses)

Lenses are available for:

• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness
• Astigmatism Presbyopia

Multifocal lens addresses your:

• Near vision
• Intermediate vision
• Distance vision

• Contact lenses mimic the function of the cornea, by bending light rays that enter the eye and focusing these rays at one point at the back of the eye – your retina – they translate light into vision, so that clear images are seen when light rays are properly focused onto the retina
• Contact lenses can’t get stuck or disappear behind your eye, as the inner surface of the eyelids has a thin, moist lining (the conjunctiva), which folds back and becomes the outer covering of the white part of the eyeball
• Your eye care professional will recommend a lens that is best suited for your eyes, as well as the amount of time that your lenses can be worn each day
• Avoid eye infections and keep your eyes comfortable by following the recommended lens replacement schedule
• Include a “rub and rinse” step in the lens cleaning process
• Minimise contact with water while wearing contact lenses because tap water contains harmful bacteria that can lead to eye infections
• Replace the lens case frequently to help reduce the risk of infection

• High-tech materials, like silicone, hydrogel and hypergel have been specifically designed to ensure sustained comfort throughout the day
• High-tech materials, like silicone, hydrogel and hypergel allow oxygen to reach your eyes for optimal eye health, giving you white, bright and healthy eyes all day long
• Coloured lenses are available (and safe to use) if you wish to enhance or change your eye colour, your eye care professional will need to fit these lenses just like any other contact lens

• There is no age limit if you are interested in wearing contact lenses
• Depending on your sensitivity it may take anything from a day to a couple of weeks to get used to wearing contact lenses
• Consult your eye care professional to determine if you are ready / able to wear contact lenses
• Older patients may need different prescriptions for reading and distance vision, and may be prone to dry eyes

• Remove your lenses before using hair spray as aerosols and pump sprays are sticky and can leave a residue on your lenses
• Remove your lenses whenever you swim or shower, if you don’t, you could get an eye infection as unsterilized water (tap, sea or swimming poools) are loaded with bacteria and microorganisms
• Use appropriate swimming goggles if contact lenses are worn while swimming, they not only protect against lens loss from swimming under water, but they may also offer some protection from the environment
• Insert your lenses before applying make-up, if possible use oil-free and fragrance-free makeup
• Purchase new make-up frequently, use water-resistant mascara and eyeliner to prevent flaking and smudging, avoid lash-building fibres as they can cause irritation if they get underneath your lenses
• Glitter looks fabulous – but the tiny, shiny specks can get into your eyes and cause irritation /problems with your contact lenses, if you do use glitter lotions, powders and gels, be careful not to touch your eyes and wash the glitter off your hands right away
• To maintain healthy eyes and clear vision adhere to strict lens care routine and lens replacement schedule

• Never use water or any liquid other than a contact lens solution to clean your lenses
• Never re-use your contact lens solution, throw it away and use fresh contact lens solution

It can take any where from one day to a couple of weeks, depending on the person.

Your eye care pro​fes​sional will rec​om​mend the length of time each day that your lenses can be worn. There isn’t a sim​ple answer. With con​tact lenses it isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Your eye care pro​fes​sional will make a judg​ment based on your lifestyle and will dis​cuss your wear​ing sched​ule with you. If you think you might be wear​ing your lenses longer than you should, or would like to wear them longer then talk it through with your eye care professional.

Con​tact lenses should never be stored in tap water, nor should they be rinsed with tap water. Tap water con​tains micro-​organisms that can latch onto the lenses, encour​ag​ing eye infec​tions — which if left untreated can lead to per​ma​nent vision loss. Make sure you always use a lens solu​tion.  Tap water should also never come into con​tact with your lens case for the same rea​sons and you should always use a con​tact lens solu​tion to clean your lens case.

You should never re-​use your con​tact lens solu​tion. You should throw it out, rinse out your case with fresh solu​tion, and let it air dry.

If you are look​ing for tinted lenses to enhance or change your eye colour, you will need to be fit​ted for coloured con​tact lenses by your eye care pro​fes​sional just like any other con​tact lens.