Contact
Lens Basics

What are contact lenses? What are they made of?

Contact lenses are medical devices worn directly on the cornea of the eye to help correct refractive errors by adding or subtracting focusing power to the eye’s cornea and lens. There are several types of contact lenses.

• Soft contact lenses: these are the most common type prescribed. They are made of materials that incorporate water, making them soft and flexible. It also allows oxygen to reach the cornea.
• Gas-permeable lenses: also known as “RGPs”, these lenses are “hard” and made of plastics combined with other materials, like silicone and fluoropolymers, which allow oxygen in the air to pass directly through the lens.
• Hard lenses: made from rigid plastic material called PMMA that does not allow oxygen to reach the eye. These have virtually been replaced by RGP lenses and are very rarely prescribed today.

Wear time and Disposal Intervals for Contact Lenses

There are two types of lenses classified by wearing time:

• Daily wear lenses- must be removed nightly. Daily wear lenses should never be worn as extended-wear lenses. Misuse can lead to temporary and possibly threatening damage to the cornea.
• Extended wear lenses- can be worn overnight, usually for seven consecutive days without removal.

Who Should NOT Wear Contact Lenses?

Conditions that would prevent an individual from being able to wear contact lenses include:

• Frequent eye infections
• Severe allergies
• Dusty or dirty work environment
• Dry Eye Syndrome
• Inability to properly care for contact lenses

Properly Wearing Contact Lenses

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your eyes or contact lenses
• Do not share contact lenses with someone else
• Do not use non-prescription color lenses tat were not fitted by an optometrist
• Do not purchase bootleg lenses
• Dispose of lenses that are past the interval prescribed by your optometrist

Caring For Your Contact Lenses

• Contact lenses need to be properly cleaned and disinfected when you remove them
• It is recommended that you clean your contact lens case daily and replace your case every three months
• Never reuse contact solution
• Do not use homemade lens cleaning solutions as they have been lined to serious eye infection