What to Do If Your Contact Lenses Don’t Feel Comfortable

Hot Tip! 1960 By the year 1960, the first plastic contact lenses were made by Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav Lim.

Many people give up wearing contact lenses because they can never get used to them. The lenses just don’t feel comfortable. If this is your case don’t give up just yet; there are several things you can do to make your lenses more comfortable.

If you contact lenses feel dry

How many glasses of water do you have every day? Not soda, coffee or tea, but water? It is possible that your dry eyes are a result of general dehydration. Try to drink more water. We all know that water is on the “good for you” list, but we often forget about it during our busy days.

If you work at the computer all day, your eyes are definitely drier than they would be, otherwise. The reason is that while peering at the screen people blink much less than usual. You can’t control your blinking, but you can try closing your eyes for a few seconds, at regular intervals.

Do you drink a lot of tea, coffee or soda that contains caffeine? They all are dehydrators so, if you like coffee, you need to drink even more water than usual.

Hot Tip! Improperly worn contact lenses can cause a loss of oxygen to the cornea, which in turn can lead to blood vessels growing over the front of your eyes, infections, lid changes, allergies, corneal warping, corneal swelling and possibly even blindness.

Also you can ask your doctor if silicon-hydrogel contact lenses would suit you. New generation silicon-hydrogel contacts don’t block oxygen flow to your eyes as much as ordinary lenses. Quite often contact lens wearers report that silicon-hydrogel contacts, like Acuvue Advance, Focus Night and Day or O2 Optix, solved their dry-eyes problem

Eye drops can also be a solution, but only if your eyes occasionally feel dry. You shouldn’t use eye drops all the time

You constantly feel the lens in your eye

High quality contact lenses that are properly fitted to your eyes should feel like you have nothing in your eye at all. See if these recommendations can help..

Are you often exposed to cigarette smoke or dirty environments? Tiny particles that get under your lens might be the cause of your discomfort, try to avoid smoke and dusty rooms if possible.

Do you follow your doctor’s instructions about cleaning your contacts every day and replacing them on schedule? It is possible that proteins from your eyes have built up on your lenses. It is very important to care for your lenses properly

Hot Tip! 1987 In 1987, quite a bit of contact lenses history was made. In this year, the first disposable contact lenses were available for purchase, as well as the first colored contact that would change the color of your eye.

You can also switch to daily disposable contacts. They don’t require any care at all, and every day you start with fresh lenses that have no build-ups from the previous day. Daily disposable lenses are definitely a solution for people who have to spend a lot of time in dusty environments.

The reason for lens awareness might be that the lenses simply don’t fit you. Contact lenses have many parameters and have to be properly fitted by an eye doctor. You can’t just select the brand you like and order it online.

Your eyes feel swollen, red and irritated

This is a sign of a serious problem and, whatever the cause might be, the only sensible thing to do is to take your lenses off immediately and don’t wear them until you can see a doctor. Most likely the lenses are not the source of your problem, but your eyes will heal better if there is nothing in them.

Hot Tip! Always make sure your hands are clean and lint-free before inserting or removing your contact lenses. Dirt, lotions, soap and chemicals (or even lint from a towel) can be transferred to your contact lenses through touch.

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of Your Contact Lenses Consumer Guide, which provides you with information about eyes health, all types of contact lenses and where to find discount contact lenses

Filed under: Contact Lenses

Eye Health - 9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Hot Tip! If you suffer from dark circles under the eyes these are often caused by the blood vessels showing through the finer skin around the eye area. After a late night when the skin has been further damaged by alcohol and smoke these dark areas are more prominent.

Do you eyes feel tired and sore by the end of the day? Modern life puts a lot of stress on our bodies and eyes are among the first things to suffer. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Learn simple things you can do for your eye health and your eyes will feel and look much better in only a few days.

Hot Tip! Sleep for sufficiently long hours to prevent formation of dark circles under eyes.

Have your eyes checked every 12 month

Uncorrected vision problems can progress, and wearing corrective contact lenses or glasses that are no longer right for you can cause vision problems and severe headaches.

If your contacts don’t feel right in your eyes, it is probably time to visit an eye doctor, even if it hasn’t been a year since your last visit.

Go for the best quality contact lenses

Not all contact lenses are equal. Some are safe for you, while others put you at risk of damaging your eyes.

See reviews of quality contact lenses. Knowing what the modern contact lens industry has to offer will help you make an educated choice, not just blindly follow what your doctor says.

In summer, always wear sunglasses

It is proven that UV rays can seriously damage your eyes, but good sunglasses can prevent this damage. When buying sunglasses, make sure that they block at least 98% of UV radiation. Contrary to popular belief, light sunglasses can block UV as well as very dark ones, even though dark glasses usually offer more protection against bright sunlight.

By the way, did you know that you need sunglasses on cloudy days as well? Clouds might provide shade, but they are no barrier for UV light. Clouds are basically water, and water is UV-transparent.

Finally, remember that you would need sunglasses even if your contact lenses offer UV protection. Even a very high quality lens can only protect the area it covers, but the entire surface of your eye needs protection.

Hot Tip! Let’s start with the basics like many skin conditions drinking lots of water can really help. Puffy and dark circles under your eyes are often an indication of water retention, which you can alleviate by drinking plenty of water (8 glasses a day); this rehydrates you and flushes excess salt from your system which can also lead to puffiness around the eyes.

Eat what is good for you and your eyes

The good news is that there are no foods that would be harmful for your eyes. Most foods don’t affect your eyesight at all, although the right vitamins and minerals are helpful. Recent studies have shown that vitamins of the antioxidant group can prevent, or at least slow down, age-related conditions like macular degeneration and the development of cataracts. So a healthy diet won’t restore eyesight that is already lost, but it can definitely slow down the process of the disease, or prevent one from starting.

Hot Tip! Avoid looking directly into bright objects with naked eyes. For example sun, bright lights, lightning etc.

Vitamins C, A and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are definitely beneficial for the health of your eyes. The effects of the other vitamins and minerals aren’t determined yet, but it seems likely that they affect your eyesight as well. Thousand-page books have been written on the topic of nutrition for eye health but, to summarize, it is known that whatever is good for your body is good for your eyes, too. So put a carrot and a bunch of grapes into your lunch box.

When you read or work on the computer make sure that the light is right

It is a common knowledge that working with poor light can cause eyestrain, but light that is too bright can do as much damage.

Keep your blinds down on sunny days and switch off half of the household lights, if possible. The best lighting for working on the computer is a soft desk light, coming from the side. Also, you can try decreasing the brightness of your monitor. The colors won’t be so vivid, but your eyes will feel much better by the end of the day

Hot Tip! Try over-the-counter products such as antihistamine eyedrops to reduce redness, itchiness, and other symptoms. Artificial tears can also help by flushing allergens out of the eyes these products are available at drugstores.

Give your eyes a health break

The great invention of the 20th century - computers - is not so great from the point of view of health. Almost everybody feels discomfort in their eyes after peering at a computer screen all day long. This is because people blink about 25% less often then usual, while working at the computer, which causes eye dryness.

Hot Tip! Line your eyes with charcoal or dark gray eyeliner.

I won’t advise you to blink more often - it is almost impossible to control natural reflexes. One thing you can do, though, is close your eyes and count to 5 before opening them, whenever your computer decides to take its sweet time doing something. Another thing is to look away from the screen and focus on some faraway object, as often as possible. If you train yourself into the habit, your eyes should feel much better at the end of your working day.

If you wear contact lenses, take proper care of them

Contact lenses don’t require a lot or fuss, but you can’t neglect their cleanliness. Every time you put your lenses in or take them out, rinse them. You should also take care to change the solution, when you are putting your lenses to rest for the night.

Hot Tip! Under eye creams, anti aging in nature, are another great solution for puffy eyes. An aloe-based eye soothing gel or cream helps to cool and refresh the eye area while constricting the puffiness.

Wear your contact lenses to the recommended schedule

Daily disposable lenses should be replaced daily, two weeks replacement lenses should be replaced every two weeks, and so on. Some people try to save money by wearing their lenses for much longer than is intended. This isn’t a good idea. Even though the quality of the lens itself might not decline, protein build-up will make your vision less clear. Another thing to consider is that the longer you wear your lenses, the higher is your risk of eye infections.

Hot Tip! Keep thin cold cucumber slices on eyes when your eyes are too tiered.

There are other ways to save on your contacts without risking your eye health. See suggestions on how to get discount contact lenses.

Try not to wear your contact lenses from 6 in the morning until midnight. Most lenses aren’t designed to be worn for longer than 12 hours. If this doesn’t suit your life style, though, try using extended wear lenses. You can wear Acuvue contacts for a week without removing them, or Focus Night and Day lenses for up to 30 days.

If you want to change the color of your eyes, choose only top quality color contact lenses

Hot Tip! Grate cucumber and squeeze fresh juice out of gratings. Dip two cotton balls in it and keep these cotton balls on eyes.

Color contact lenses are great fun. If you didn’t try them yet, maybe you should. But only high quality color contacts, like Freshlook or Acuvue 2 Colors, are as safe and comfortable as they are beautiful. Many beauty salons, however, sell color contacts lenses of questionable quality, and these can do serious damage to your eyes.

Hot Tip! Diet, which is rich in nutrients helps to remove dark circles around eyes.

If you follow these simple rules, your eyes should feel much better. They will look better too - you might notice that your eyes shine and their whites are actually white, again.

Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of http://www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and all types of contact lenses with reviews and pictures.

Hot Tip! Concealing the dark circles around eyes through make up techniques.
Filed under: Eyes & Vision

Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

Hot Tip! Find a doctor by getting referrals from other doctors or from patients who have had LASIK or laser vision correction.

LASIK is a well-renowned refractive surgery procedure, and hence often takes center stage in a lot many discussions pertinent to refractive surgery. A technology so advanced as that wielded by LASIK often boggles the mind. Patients planning to undergo LASIK surgery will have several questions requiring elaborate answers. It is imperative that all lurking doubts be elucidated on prior to going in for surgery. Following is a brief list of frequently asked questions about LASIK.

How do I know if I am a viable candidate for LASIK? - The best way to determine your candidature is to have a comprehensive preoperative examination, which discovers any condition that might preclude LASIK. In general, you must be above 18, having healthy eyes with low to moderate refractive error (for best results), and should not be suffering from any eye ailments. Moreover, pregnant or nursing women are advised to postpone LASIK surgery until after there prescription stabilizes.

Hot Tip! Choose a doctor who has done at least 5,000 LASIK or eye laser surgeries. What a doctor doesn’t know can hurt you.

How long does the procedure last? - LASIK is a fairly expedited procedure. The whole process is over within half an hour or less.

Does LASIK hurt? - LASIK involves virtually no pain. The surgeon typically administers anesthetic eye drops and a mild sedative prior to the surgery.

Can I drive back home after the surgery? - No. It is advised that you arrange for someone to drive you back home, since your vision would be blurry immediately after the surgery.

Hot Tip! There are certain jobs or profession which prohibit an employee undergoing LASIK eye surgery.

Are the effects of LASIK eye surgery permanent? - Yes. LASIK is an irreversible procedure. It might take around 3 to 6 months for the complications, if any, to subside and the vision to stabilize. Following this period, the physical effects of the treatment are permanent. However, age related vision problems might alter the visual acuity.

Will I require eyeglasses after LASIK surgery? - In general, LASIK eliminates a person’s dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses. Though a rarity, a few people might need a minimal prescription for certain activities. Anyway, reading glasses are typically necessary beyond the age of 40, when presbyopia sets in. This is when the eye lens loses its accommodation power.

What is the frequency of follow up visits after surgery? - The surgeon would normally examine you on the day following surgery. After that, there should be regular checkups spanning a period of around 3 to 6 months - a time period enough for the visual results to completely set in. Basically, the recovery should be meticulously monitored over a substantial period of time.

Hot Tip! Wavefront-guided LASIK is even more accurate than traditional LASIK Wavefront technology is a recent addition to LASIK procedures. It’s also called Custom LASIK, because by so accurately diagnosing the problem, it customizes the vision correction you receive.

If you find a LASIK doctor that you are confident with, you will be able to get more information about LASIK laser eye surgery.

The LASIK Surgeons Directory - find a LASIK doctor. Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports, provides news and views about LASIK laser eye surgery at Your Lasik Information.

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-LASIK.info

Filed under: Lasik & Eye Surgery

Wearing Contact Lenses

Hot Tip! Suitable for all types of contact lenses including silicone acrylate rigid gas permeable lenses.

If you’ve never worn contact lenses, you may not appreciate the amazing selection available on today’s market. Be glad: you have much more choice than in the past. With so many options, how do you choose the right type of contact lenses?

Your doctor can probably help you figure out which contact lenses are best for you. Some contact lenses are suited to certain vision problems, like astigmatism. Others, like extended-wear contact lenses, are marketed to suit certain lifestyles. Colored contact lenses sometimes are used by people who don’t even need prescription lenses but just want to change their eye color. Regardless, contact lenses should only be purchased by a professional eyecare practitioner, who knows how to properly fit the lenses and help you take care of your eyes. In fact, in the United States, it is illegal to purchase contact lenses without a valid prescription.

Hot Tip! 1982 In the year 1982, contact lenses were made for extended wear. This meant that contact lenses could now be worn for a couple of days at a time before removing them.

It’s good to be informed about the different types of contact lenses before making your decision. Different contact lenses need to be replaced on different cycles. Some pairs last a month, some only two weeks. Other contact lenses are made to be worn only for one day. These contact lenses usually cost more, as you are paying for convenience.

It is important not to sleep in your contact lenses unless your practitioner says it’s okay. Even contact lenses made for this purpose may not be good for you, especially if your eyes tend to be very dry. Be sure to ask.

Hot Tip! 1992 By the year 1992, disposable tinted contact lenses were available to be purchased from optometrist offices everywhere.

Soft contact lenses have become most popular, as they are easy to get used to and are very comfortable to wear. While gas permeable contact lenses take longer to get used to, they last longer and tend to have less deposit buildup. Also, these contact lenses are less expensive in the long run because they don’t need to be replaced as often. Some people also believe gas permeable contact lenses are better for your eye health and may even help improve vision. However, they are rigid and some people don’t like how they feel.

Hot Tip! Never borrow or lend your contact lenses to anybody else.

As contact lenses have improved, so have their uses. Bifocal wearers rejoice! Many contact lens manufacturers have started making lenses that even you can wear. Ask your practitioner for details.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Contact Lenses Resources a website providing information on Contact lenses and eyewear.

Hot Tip! Make sure you wash your hands before inserting or removing your contact lenses.
Filed under: Contact Lenses

Color Contacts For Dark Eyes

Hot Tip! Concealing the dark circles around eyes through make up techniques.

If you have dark eyes you may be wondering what the best color contacts for dark eyes would be. When looking for the best color contacts for dark eyes there are some contacts you may want to avoid.

The best color contacts for dark eyes may not be those with a light blue or green tint. Why are these not the best color contacts for dark eyes? These lightly tinted contacts are not the best color contacts for dark eyes because you probably will not notice any change in your eye color.

Hot Tip! Diet, which is rich in nutrients helps to remove dark circles around eyes.

Another kind of contact lenses that will not be the best color contacts for dark eyes are the enhancement tints. These are not the best color contacts for dark eyes because they are made mostly for those people with light colored eyes.

There are other kinds of contacts that will not be the best color contacts for dark eyes and one kind is the light-filtering tints. Again, if you are looking for the best color contacts for dark eyes, these contacts will have very little effect on the color of your eyes.

Hot Tip! Avoid looking directly into bright objects with naked eyes. For example sun, bright lights, lightning etc.

The best color contacts for dark eyes may be the costume or theatrical lenses. If you are looking for the best color contacts for dark eyes that will actually make your eyes look different these may be the ones for you.

Another choice in best color contacts for dark eyes is the color tint contact lenses. These are the best color contacts for dark eyes if you want a big change in the color of your eyes. The best color contacts for dark eyes may be those made in shades of green, violet or blue. Some of these may be the best color contacts for dark eyes because they will dramatically change the color of your eyes.

The best color contacts for dark eyes will be those that can really change the color of your eyes. There are many available, so check around and you will be able to find the best color contacts for dark eyes.

Hot Tip! Under eye creams, anti aging in nature, are another great solution for puffy eyes. An aloe-based eye soothing gel or cream helps to cool and refresh the eye area while constricting the puffiness.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more contact lens tips and discount dark contact lenses that you can research and purchase in your pajamas on his website.

Filed under: Eyes & Vision

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