10 Myths About Contacts

Working as an optician, I get a lot of questions regarding contact lenses.  Many of these questions are variations of myths that have been around for years.  Here are my top 10 contact lens myths:

Myth #1-"I don't need glasses if I wear contacts."
While it is true that you may not use your glasses as much if you wear contacts, a pair glasses is a must for every contact lens wearer.  I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has come into my work with an eye infection or injury and asks what they can wear from "over the counter" until their eye is healed.  In addition to emergencies, your eyes do need a break from contact lens wear from time to time.  A backup pair of glasses is always a good idea.

Myth #2-"If a contact slides off of my cornea, it could become lodged behind my eye."
A contact lens cannot become lodged behind your eye.  Your eye has a structure called the conjuctiva, which prevents any foreign objects (dust, dirt, contact lenses, etc...) from going behind your eye.

Myth #3-"Contact lenses are expensive."
In the past, contact lenses could be prohibitively expensive because most lenses were custom made to their wearer.  Most modern  contact lenses are mass produced and thus less expensive.  Buying your contact lenses online is a surefire way to reduce the cost of contact lenses.  Click here to view a handy price comparison for the major online sellers.

Myth #4-"Contacts could become stuck to my eye."
This is an old myth that I suspect was started by shop teachers to scare their students into practicing safe welding practices.  The myth goes that a welder was welding without his mask and the welding torch was so hot that it melted the contacts and fused them to his eye. When he tried to remove his contacts he pulled out his cornea and lost his sight.  While this is one of the most extreme stories of this kind, none of these stories are true.  A contact lens is specifically designed to NOT get stuck to your eye.  If a contact lens slightly adheres to the eye, it is usually from a lack of moisture.  A few rewetting drops will remedy the problem.

Myth #5-"I don't need to see a doctor to wear contacts."
A proper fit is imperative to wearing contact lenses successfully.  A poorly fit contact lens can cause many problems the least of which is discomfort, the worst of which could be very painful (corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, etc...).  For this reason, in most states, you are required to have your eyes checked every year to examine the health of your eye if you want to continue to wear contacts.

Myth #6-"Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time cannot harm me."
Don't believe this myth for a second!  Overwearing your contacts can cause serious damage to your eyes.  In extreme cases, your eye doctor may refuse to allow you to wear contacts anymore.

Myth #7-"Children cannot wear contacts."
There are many children who successfully wear contact lenses.  If they are responsible enough to take good care of the lenses and wear them properly, there is no reason they cannot wear contacts.  In fact, there are babies just a few weeks old that wear contact lenses (with their parents assistance of course) for certain vision defects.

Myth #8-"I can't wear contacts because I need bifocals."
Bifocal contact lenses, monovision, and wearing reading glasses over your contacts are all suitable options for most bifocal wearers.

Myth #9-"Contact lenses cause eye infections."
Most lens related eye infections are due to improper wear, or improperly caring for your lenses.  Always following  your eyecare professionals advice for the proper care, handling, and wear of your contact lenses will significantly reduce your risk of infection.

Myth #10-"Contact lenses are difficult to take care of."
Modern contact lenses are easier than ever to care for.  For most contact lens wearers, a single solution for cleaning, rinsing, and storage, is sufficient.  If you wear daily disposables, you don't need to clean them at all, you simply throw them away and replace them.

For more information regarding contact lenses, please visit http://comparecontacts.webs.com/