In part one of our blog series about healthy practices for contact lens wearers, we covered the basics of short-term care. But in addition to the things you do on a daily or weekly basis to keep your eyes healthy, there are also some important steps to take annually to protect your eyes.
This week, Dr. Reznik and Dr. Sarma are back with some tips for long-term care solutions for keeping your eyes happy and healthy:
See you next year
“I see great with my contacts; do I need an eye exam yearly?”
You sure do! Going for an eye exam when you are a contact lens wearer is like going to the dentist for your cleaning and checkup. Chronic use of contact lenses can put the eyes at risk for undesirable changes to the surface of the eye that could lead to poor vision. Most early damage to the eye from contact lens wear is painless, so you may not even know it’s happening!
The good news is, your eye care provider has the tools to look for microscopic changes in the tissue. They can help mitigate any potential for disease by updating and altering your contact lens prescriptions based on your personal eye care needs.
There have been rapid advancements throughout the healthcare industry in the last 20 years, and the lenses that are on the market now have better comfort, vision, oxygen flow and breathability than they did in years prior.
When it comes to keeping your eyes healthy, the key is prevention, not intervention. Sometimes people have contact lens-related eye problems that can be prevented or treated before discomfort, pain, or loss of vision occurs.For all of these reasons, partnering with a trusted eye care provider can help ensure your eyes stay healthy for years to come with the best possible fit, comfort and vision.
It’s all about the fit
You spend hours going shopping for the right dress or shoes in search of the perfect fit and style. Eyes come in different shapes and sizes, too! What works for one contact lens wearer may not work for another.
Every person has a unique combination of factors that point to a certain lens modality and brand that makes sense just for them. Things like health of the eye surface, prescription, best corrected vision, dry eye status, planned wear time, history of infection, history of prior contact lens wear, access to proper contact lens cleaning supplies, hobbies, purpose for contact lens wear, financial limitations and age, all play an important factor into which contact lens will be right for you.
Your eye doctor will try different lens options in order to find the right fit and provide you with comfortable vision. If a lens doesn’t fit well you may experience dryness, poor vision, difficulty taking your lenses out, and sometimes lenses will even pop out of your eyes if you rub or squeeze them.
So make sure to visit the eye doctor every year to make sure your prescription and the fit of your lenses are optimal for your eyes.
Have a question or concern about your eyes, or need a prescription extension? Head over to our Telehealth Consultation page to book a virtual appointment with one of our optometrists!
About Dr. Alina Reznik
Dr. Alina Reznik has been providing revolutionizing eye care with 2020 On-site in Massachusetts since 2017. She graduated with a B.A. from Temple University and received her Doctorate from the New England College of Optometry. Following graduation, Dr. Reznik completed a residency in ocular disease and primary care at Lynn Community Health Center and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.
About Dr. Debi Sarma
Dr. Debi Sarma is a residency trained optometrist who has built a career around vision health education, and is passionate about improving access to vision care for those in need. Dr. Sarma has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Doctorate degree from the New England College of Optometry. She is a seasoned lecturer on disease topics and loves connecting with people to talk about innovation, culture, and leadership in healthcare.
