A contact lens (also known simply as contacts for a pair) is a corrective, cosmetic, or therapeutic lens usually placed on the cornea of the eye.
- Indications:Visual
- Contra-indications:
- Contact Lens Services
Anisometropia.
High myopia.
Aphakia.
Irregular corneas, scarring, keratoconus, grafts.
Failures with refractive surgery.
• Where legal constraints apply
• Where spectacles hide facial disfigurement.
• Active infection or pathology.
• Diabetes (fragile epithelium).
• Cannot tolerate any level of discomfort.
• Poor volume or quality of tears.
• Corneal hyposensitivity.
• Certain systemic diseases.
• Chronic ocular allergy.
• Poor patient hygiene.
• Soft: Conventional Soft Lenses, Disposable Soft Lenses, Extended Wear Lenses, Soft Toric.
• Rigid: High Oxygen Permeable Rigid Lenses.
• Prosthetic Contact Lenses.
• Keratoconus Lenses: Rose-K2.
• Post LASIK Lenses: Rose-K IC.
• Scleral Lenses.
• MultiFocal Contact Lens.
• Bandage Contact Lenses.
Modalities of Contact Lens Wear:
- Prosthetic contact lenses
- Scleral contact lenses
- Color Contact Lenses
With this lens, one seeks to match the fellow eye. A perfect eye match cannot be achieved. The wearer has to accept small differences between the two eyes.
Indications:
• Corneal leucomas and corneal scars
• Cataracts – hypermature and traumatic
• Microphthalmos
• Aniridias (Absence of iris)
• Irregular pupils
• Albinism
• Corneal dystrophy
Scleral contact lenses (ScCLs) predate rigid corneal and hydrogel lenses by seven decades, but still have a unique clinical role.
Indications:
• Corneal ectasia
• Post Corneal transplant
• Corneal trauma or postsurgery
• Therapeutic or protective applications (Stevens Johnson Syndrome or ocular cicatricising pemphigoid)
• Cosmetic shells (Prosthetic Purpose)
Colored contact lenses come in three kinds: visibility tints, enhancement tints and opaque color tints. Many of these colored contact lenses are available in Plano (zero power) form, as well as in designs for people who have astigmatism (cylindrical power), need bifocal contacts (for Presbyopia).
The colored contact lenses have gone all out to mimic the natural look of the colored portion of the eye, called the iris. Since this area is made up of colorful shapes and lines, some color contacts feature a series of tiny colored dots on the lens to make them look more natural on the eye.
DO’S AND DON’TS OF LENS CAREDO’S
• Always wash hands before handling contact lenses.
• Follow the recommended wearing schedule.
• Keep the lens case clean and replace as advised.
• Handle lenses over clean table. wash basins are risky: lenses can be lost down the drain.
• Clean and disinfect lenses daily after use.
• Carry a lens case filled with solution with you while going out of the house.
• Remove lenses immediately if redness watering or irritation start .consult your practitioner immediately.
• Wear goggles when moving out in a dusty environment.
• Follow instructions regarding cosmetics usage with contact lenses.
• Read all the instructions carefully before starting wear.
DON’TS
• Don’t Sleep With the Lenses on the Eye, Unless Recommended.
• Always replace the soaking solution every night. Don’t add over the existing solution
• Saline solution if used for rinsing shouldn’t be home made
• If unpreserved saline is used for rinsing; it should be discarded after every use
• Soft lenses can’t tolerate most of the RGP solutions. Read instruction always properly before buying solutions over the counters.
• Don’t change the brands of solution unless recommended by the practitioner.
• Buy smaller bottles as far as possible and discard after expiry of opening
• Don’t touch the tip of the solution bottles with hands, this might contaminate them
• High water content lenses should not be disinfected
• Some tinted lenses may loss their tint intensity with peroxide systems avoid them
• Lenses unused for long time should be disinfected always before reuse
• Cracked or chipped lens should never be worn.
• Do not rub your eyes vigorously with the lens on the eye.
LENS CARE TIPS:
• Always wash and rinse your hands thoroughly before you handed your lenses
• To avoid getting your lenses mixed up always apply(or remove)your lenses, one at a time in the same order
• Never use eye drops or solutions that are not specifically for contact lenses
• Don’t use saliva to try and wet or clean your lenses.
• Don’t sleep in your lenses [unless you wear lenses that are specifically designed for continuous wear and your eye care professional has prescribed them for that wear schedule)
• Clean, rinse and disinfect your lenses every time you remove them.
• Keep all your solution bottles tightly capped when you are not using them
• Don’t let the tip of solution bottles touch any surface [including your fingers or lenses ]
• Never use expire lens solution
• Never reuse lens solution
• Never swap lenses with someone else
• Rinse your lens case every day and let it air dry
• Replace your lens case every three months [ or more frequently]
• Do not let cosmetics like soap, make up, moisturizes or sun screen touch your lens
• Never wear your lenses when you’re going to be around irritating fumes or vapors [paint hair spray oven cleaner etc]
• Do not swim or go in a hot tub while wearing your lenses
CARE OF LENS CASE:
• Daily – Rinse with sterile saline and allow to air dry
• Weekly – Clean thoroughly with surfactant cleaner and tooth brush
• Quarterly – Replace
Ocular Prosthetics:
An Ocular Prosthetist is a carefully trained technician skilled in the arts of fitting, shaping, and painting ocular prostheses. Artificial eye-making has been practiced since ancient times. The first ocular prostheses were made by Roman and Egyptian priests as early as the fifth century B.C. In those days, artificial eyes were made of painted clay attached to cloth and worn outside the socket.
Artificial eyes are made either of glass or plastic. When worn, both types of eyes look the same; give the same amount of comfort and the same degree of movement. The difference between the two materials is wearing quality, as plastic will give considerably more service.
Longevity of Prosthetics:
• Ocular or any other types of prostheses are NOT permanent. They are subjected to body fluids that will render them unhealthy. The materials used today are very dense but are also porous and this feature will allow absorption of body fluids and bacteria. Another factor is the physical changes that take place in the body will also create problems that will justify replacement and corrections to the prosthesis.
Replacement:
These factors are tell-tale signs that your prosthesis is in need of service or replacement.
All Prosthesis Should Be Replaced Every 3 To 5 Years for Health Reasons Alone.