Tag Archives: eye care

Care for cosmetic contact lenses

Oct 24
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Before using cosmetic contact lenses, it is important to know how to care for them and your eye health. Our optician Benjamin created a FAQ specifically for colored annual replacement lenses. Although the FAQ is designed for the Vision Direct range of Phantasee crazy lenses, it applies to other brands of cosmetic contacts. Therefore you will below find an updated version.

How to insert my contact lenses?

1) Preparation for using contact lenses:

To avoid contamination, washing your hands is essential before any handling. Wash your hands, preferably with antibacterial liquid soap, for at least 10 seconds. Make sure to rinse thoroughly. Then dry your hands with a clean towel or cloth.

2) Insert contact lenses:

Place a lens on your finger and make sure the lens is clean and not upside down (it should have the shape of a bowl). Handle the lens avoiding contact with your nails. Hold your upper eyelid with your left hand index and middle finger, at the same time hold your lower eyelid with the middle finger of your right hand. Looking straight into the mirror, slowly place the lens on your eye. Carefully release your eyelids and blink. Gently massage your closed eyelid to center the lens. When positioned correctly, repeat the procedure for the other eye. Do not wear lenses if they appear damaged.

 

How to preserve lenses?

After each use, discard and replace the contact lens solution every time you put your lenses in the lens case. If you are not wearing your contact lenses often, do not forget to replace the solution every 15 days, and to ensure the lens case is always clean. You need to change the lens case every month. Do not use tap water, saliva or any cleaning products other than contact lens solution to clean your contact lenses.

 

Can I share COSMETIC contact lenses with someone else?

Never share your lenses with anyone. They are personal. The structure of the eye is unique to each individual, and by sharing, you risk getting a serious infection.

 

Can I swim with COSMETIC lenses?

Contact lenses are porous and may absorb chemicals, microbes or other impurities in the water, which may harm or irritate your eyes and possibly lead to an infection. The water can change the way your lenses fit, making them too tight and causing severe eye health problems. Therefore, a better option is using swimming goggles.

 

Can I drive with COSMETIC lenses?

It is not safe to drive while wearing cosmetic contact lenses. Cosmetic contact lenses are not intended to correct vision and can actually reduce visual acuity. Lenses placed on the eye may have optical effects. This can be annoying and also limit your field of vision. This type of lens can also influence the effect of glare and you can lose contrast, especially during the night. Therefore, we recommend to avoid driving with cosmetic lenses.

HOW to apply make-up with COSMETIC lenses:

  • Wear contact lenses before applying make-up.
  • Remove lenses before make-up.
  • If possible, avoid using hairspray when wearing contact lenses. Apply hairspray before inserting lenses or close you eyes and apply hairspray carefully.
  • Use oil-free eye makeup.
  • If using facial creams for medical conditions, consult your doctor. Some medications can have side effects when absorbed by the eye or the surrounding skin.

 

Can I sleep with COSMETIC lenses?

Never sleep with your cosmetic contact lenses in. During daily wear, lenses collect all sorts of dust deposits. It is therefore important to remove them at the end of the day and clean them with a contact lens solution. If you sleep with lenses in, you may infect the cornea or the eyelid.

 

How long can I wear COSMETIC contact lenses for?

Phantasee contact lenses are yearly contact lenses. That means you can wear these contact lenses for 12 months maximum. Even if you only wear your contact lenses once in 12 months, you must dispose of them after 12 months. For other brands, check specifications where you purchased lenses, on the manufacturer’s website, or ask your optician for advise.

 

How long can I wear COSMETIC lenses on a daily basis?

We recommend that cosmetic contact lenses are worn for a maximum of 6 hours per day to avoid eye care complications.

 

ATTENTION: If your eye burns, stings and/or becomes very red, you experience blurry vision, shed an unusually high amount of tears, see halos or rainbows around objects, IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE LENS. If symptoms persist IMMEDIATELY CONSULT AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST.

Corneal Ulcers – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

May 11
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What is a Corneal Ulcer?

A corneal ulcer, or ulcerative keratitis, is an open sore that develops on the surface of the eye. An infection causes inflammation of the cornea, and although a common condition, if left untreated can lead to serious, long term visual impairment.

What Causes a Corneal Ulcer?

The main cause of a corneal ulcer is a viral or bacterial infection. A range of bacteria can lead to corneal ulcer development, which is why it is so important for users of our online contact lenses to stick to a proper eye care routine. Eye conditions like corneal ulcers are one of the reasons why contact lenses need to be thoroughly sterilised regularly. One-day online contact lenses offer a more hygienic alternative, as they are discarded at the end of each day and replaced with a new sterile pair the next day.

Corneal ulcers can also be caused by chemical injury, as well as by a range of conditions that allow the eyes to be more exposed to bacteria, such as long term vitamin A deficiency, dry eyes, distichiae, where the eyelashes grow incorrectly, corneal dystrophy, and ectropion, which is an eye condition that causes the lower eyelid to turn outwards. If left untreated, ectropion can prevent the eyelids from closing properly, and can lead to the development of a corneal ulcer as the eye is insufficiently protected from bacteria, usually warded off by bacteria-fighting tears.

What is the Cornea?

If you imagine the eye as a camera, the cornea is the camera lens. It is the transparent outer lens at the front of the eyeball, through which you can see the pupil and the coloured iris. It is the cornea that bends light rays so that a visual picture of the world around you can be projected into the retina at the back of the eye, transmitting these images to the brain. Corneal ulcers can interfere with this process, preventing light from reaching the retina, causing distorted or cloudy vision. The inflammation caused by a corneal ulcer can also cause severe pain, and sensitivity to light.

Corneal Ulcers – the Symptoms

Left untreated, corneal ulcers can worsen, and leave you with serious and permanent eyesight problems. The earlier a corneal ulcer is detected, the easier it is to treat, so it pays to know the symptoms. If you find you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should consult your GP:

  • Persistently blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to bright light
  • Swelling of the eyelids
  • Eye pain and/or eye redness
  • Any pus or liquid draining from the eye

Corneal Ulcers – Treatment Options

The treatment of a corneal ulcer will depend on the both the cause, and the severity of the ulcer. Typically, a corneal ulcer will be treated with a course of antibiotics. A fungal corneal ulcer will require topical anti-fungal treatment, while viral corneal ulceration will require anti-viral treatment, typically in the form of an eye ointment. Pain medication may also be prescribed, often in the form of special eye drops to dilate the eye pupil.

Most corneal ulcers will heal up within a week, but deeper ulcers may require corneal surgery, special contact lenses, or a corneal transplant to correct the cornea and ease pain.