Contact Lenses Are Perfectly Safe
Our sense of sight is one of our most important senses. Without it, everyday activities, such as driving, reading and writing, making food, and getting dressed, would be extremely difficult or virtually impossible. While everyone wants clear vision, not everyone is blessed with 20/20 vision. Unfortunately, millions of people across the country need help seeing correctly, whether that be with the help of eyeglasses or contacts. According to the Vision Council, roughly 164 million adults wear eyeglasses. Additionally, the National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates that around 45 million Americans wear contact lenses to correct their vision.
With so many people utilizing these corrective lenses to improve their vision, you would think that the amount of misinformation spread about them would be minimal. However, that couldn’t be further from the case. Eyeglasses have been around for quite a while, so many of those myths were dispelled long ago. However, contact lenses have not had that privilege. There continues to be an excess in misconceptions about contact lenses that scare away people who may benefit from their corrective capabilities.
Today, First Eye Care DFW would like to take the time to highlight some of these misconceptions about contact lenses, so we can clear the air surrounding them. We want to ensure that all patients know that they have plenty of options when it comes to vision correction, whether through eyeglasses or contacts.
Misconception #1: They Will Roll Behind Your Eyes
One of the most spread misconceptions about contact lenses might be one of the more ridiculous. While it’s completely understandable that people would feel uneasy putting anything in their eyes, it’s physically impossible for your contact to roll behind your eyes. There is a thin membrane that covers the sclera, the white part of your eye, called the conjunctiva. This thin layer connects to the inside of your eyelid, stopping anything from moving to the back of your eye, which includes your contacts.
Misconception #2: Contacts Are Uncomfortable
One of the benefits of contact lenses over eyeglasses is that they are far more convenient. They don’t get in the way, and you don’t have to worry about them falling off your face. However, even though they are very convenient, many people seem to believe that they are uncomfortable. This may play into the fact that many people are uneasy about putting anything in their eyes. Thankfully, contact lenses have improved since their inception. The contacts used today are thin and soft, making them feel like there isn’t something on your eye. They are also built with moisture-rich materials that still allow your eyes to breathe and receive the oxygen they need. While there is a brief adjustment period when you first begin using them, you will soon grow accustomed to them.
Misconception #3: Contact Lenses Aren’t for Me
Many people believe that there is something about the shape of their eye that makes it impossible for them to wear contacts. However, that’s no longer true. Thanks to advancements in technology, means of manufacturing, and materials, virtually anyone can wear contact lenses. You can now find different contacts to solve several different conditions, whether you suffer from astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, or more. If you were ever told you couldn’t wear contact lenses, it’s time to ask again.
Misconception #4: They Will Get Permanently Stuck to My Eye
With the advancements in technology used to make contact lenses, they are designed so that they will not stick to your eye. If you follow your eye doctor’s instructions when it comes to the wear, care, and removal of your lenses, you should have no problem. Soft contact lenses can briefly stick to your eye if they dry out. However, you can easily solve this issue by remoistening the lens with some sterile rewetting drops before removal.
Misconception #5: They Are Too Expensive
Many people fear that because contacts are a much newer form of vision correction that they would be more expensive than eyeglasses, but that’s not true. As with all things, the price of a product will depend on numerous factors, including the materials used, the condition they are treating, and the type of lens. Much like the cost of eyeglasses, the cost of contact lenses does vary. There are even daily disposable contacts that can help save you a bunch of money. Additionally, you will be saving much more money when it comes to replacing your contacts compared to replacing your eyeglasses.
Misconception #6: You Can Only Wear Them If You’re Young
For some reason, people got it in their heads that there is a specific age limit that people can wear contacts. They believe that once they hit a certain age that they are far too old to wear contact lenses. While the average age of contact lens wearers is around 31 years old, there is no limit on age. Recent advancements in contact lens technology have seen the arrival of multifocal contact lenses, lenses for dry eye, and much more. If you have an issue that can be solved by contacts, you can wear them, no matter your age.
Misconception #7: Contacts Are Too Much to Keep Up With
This is false. Eyeglasses are more difficult to keep up with than contacts. After all, you must make sure that your glasses are on your face. There is always the risk that they may fall off and get damaged. If you only use them for reading or driving, you keep them in a case, which can often get lost. For your contacts, they always stay in your eye. You don’t have to worry about them falling off or getting damaged. Cleaning them is just as simple, too. All you need is a bottle of contact solution to ensure they stay clean and disinfected. You can even eliminate contact care with daily disposable contacts, as well.
Contact lenses continue to grow in popularity with each passing year. However, as their popularity has grown, so, too, have the number of misconceptions about contact lenses. These myths often scare people from making the transition to contacts from eyeglasses. However, our eye care specialists at First Eye Care DFW are here to dispel any misconceptions about contact lenses you may have. Give us a call and let us answer any of your contact lens questions.