Are you ready to add a new option to your eyecare toolbox? For many people, contacts are a functional and comfortable eyecare alternative that complement their existing prescription eyewear. When making the decision to wear contacts, you’ll want to feel comfortable with the commitment of caring for them and be aware of how they’ll fit into your lifestyle. In order to help you make the right decisions, here are a few pieces of advice about the world of contact lenses.
- Consider your lifestyle and healthcare maintenance habits. Remember that putting a contact lens in your eye has different implications than wearing glasses. Contacts can offer many benefits to patients of all ages, but regular cleaning and maintenance habits are important to keep your eyes healthy and safe.
- Make an appointment with your eye doctor for a general exam and contact lenses fitting. Bring your current pair of prescription glasses and the eye doctor will take a case history, do a general exam, and ask about your lifestyle. Then, they’ll put the lenses in, and have you stick around to let them settle and make sure you’re comfortable. The eye doctor will check your vision again and then teach you how to put them in and take them out.
- Decide which type of lens fits best with your lifestyle. Your eye examination will help the eye doctor pick out the best material for your contact lenses. If you’re going to go in as a new wearer, you might tell your eye doctor that your preference is a daily disposable lens. It’s a safe, simple way to wear contact lenses, especially if you’re too busy to be very consistent about cleaning them. However, there several options available, and the right type of contact for you will depend on what your eye doctor finds during the exam.
- What if I have problems getting them in and out? This is a common concern for people new to contacts, but don’t worry! Putting your contacts in and taking them out will become as simple as taking medication with just a little practice. Concerns about them getting “stuck” in your eyes are rare, but your eye doctor can easily help you avoid discomfort or injury should a concern arise.
Once you have your contact lenses, it may take a while to develop good habits and get used to caring for them. Learning how to do anything new takes time. But, before you know it, contact lenses will become a simple, valuable improvement in your life!