One-time verbal instruction often isn’t enough to create long-term hygiene habits. Follow-up appointments offer important opportunities to reinforce proper care steps. Providers should ask open-ended questions like, “How do you clean your lenses each night?” This invites honest feedback and uncovers unsafe routines. In-office demonstrations are especially useful for new wearers. Practicing with the patient … Continued
Improper contact lens care, even with small shortcuts, can lead to serious complications. One major mistake is “topping off” solution, which means adding new disinfecting solution to old solution in the lens case. This dilutes the disinfectant and allows bacteria to survive, increasing the risk of infections like microbial keratitis. Another common issue is reusing … Continued
Effective cleaning and disinfection are essential for preventing eye infections and maintaining lens comfort. Patients should always start by washing their hands thoroughly with soap and water, then drying them with a clean, lint-free towel to avoid transferring oils or particles to the lens or eye. Reusable lenses must be cleaned after every use, even … Continued
Maintaining proper hygiene is critical for safe and successful contact lens wear. Even a perfectly fitted lens can lead to problems like irritation, dryness, or serious infections if the patient does not follow proper care routines. Most contact lens-related issues, such as microbial infections, inflammation, and lens dropout, are preventable and often result from incorrect … Continued
While clinical tools like slit lamp assessments are important, patient feedback is just as critical in the fitting process. A lens that looks perfect during examination might still feel uncomfortable or cause vision instability in real-life use. Practitioners should ask focused questions like Does your vision stay clear when you blink? Do your lenses feel … Continued
After selecting a lens, a trial fitting is used to evaluate its performance directly on the patient’s eye. Before assessment, let the lens settle for about 5 to 10 minutes. Using a slit lamp, the practitioner checks for proper centration, appropriate movement, and smooth edge alignment. A lens that centers well typically offers better comfort … Continued
Accurate corneal measurements are critical for selecting the correct soft contact lens. Keratometry is commonly used to measure the central curvature of the cornea and is effective for patients with standard corneal shapes. However, for more complex or irregular corneas, corneal topography provides a detailed map of the entire corneal surface, offering more precise data … Continued
The base curve and diameter are essential fitting parameters that determine how well a soft contact lens conforms to the eye. The base curve refers to the curvature of the lens’s back surface and should closely align with the corneal curvature. A base curve that’s too flat can cause the lens to move too much, … Continued
Getting the contact lens fit right is one of the most important steps in the prescribing process. Even the most advanced lenses will not perform well if the fit is incorrect. A poor fit can lead to blurred vision, discomfort, or even corneal injury if left uncorrected. A thorough clinical evaluation ensures that the lens … Continued
Recent innovations in contact lens materials are expanding how lenses support both vision and eye health. For example, blue light filtering lenses are becoming more popular among digital professionals and students. These lenses may help reduce digital eye strain, though ongoing clinical research is still validating their effectiveness (Seo et al., 2023). Another advancement is … Continued
The material of a contact lens has a major impact on how comfortable it feels throughout the day. Hydrogel lenses are soft and moist initially but tend to lose water quickly, especially during long wear times or in dry environments. This can result in symptoms like dryness, blurred vision, or lens awareness late in the … Continued
Oxygen permeability, measured as Dk, refers to how easily oxygen passes through a contact lens material. However, what really matters to the eye is Dk/t, which also takes into account the lens thickness. For example, toric and multifocal lenses are typically thicker, which can limit oxygen delivery to the cornea even if the material itself … Continued
Hydrogel lenses were the original soft contact lenses approved for daily wear. They transmit oxygen through their water content, which keeps them soft and initially very comfortable. However, their ability to deliver oxygen diminishes as they dry out, especially in dry climates or during prolonged wear (Gurnani & Kaur, 2023). To address these limitations, silicone … Continued
Contact lens material plays a crucial role in maintaining eye health and comfort. One of its most important functions is regulating how much oxygen reaches the cornea. Adequate oxygen flow is vital for maintaining corneal clarity and reducing the risk of complications such as hypoxia. The right material also helps with moisture retention, influencing how … Continued
Patient compliance plays a critical role in the long-term success of any contact lens wear schedule. Even the most advanced or well-fitted lens can lead to complications if the patient does not follow basic hygiene and replacement routines. Common issues include stretching replacement intervals, sleeping in non-approved lenses, and poor cleaning habits. Educating patients about … Continued
Selecting the right wear schedule goes beyond simply choosing a lens type. It requires a deeper understanding of the patient’s lifestyle, daily habits, hygiene routines, and ability to follow instructions. Even well-intentioned patients can fall into poor habits over time, which may lead to discomfort or complications. At each follow-up appointment, practitioners should evaluate how … Continued
Extended-wear lenses are designed for continuous use and are made from silicone hydrogel materials that allow high levels of oxygen to pass through to the cornea. This high oxygen permeability makes it possible for some lenses to be worn safely for up to six nights—or in some FDA-approved cases, up to 30 days without removal … Continued
Biweekly and monthly soft contact lenses are reusable lenses that require daily cleaning and overnight disinfection. While they tend to be more economical than daily disposables, they demand strict compliance with hygiene practices to remain safe and effective (Fogt, Roth, & Gardner, 2024). Manufacturers typically recommend replacing biweekly lenses every 14 days and monthly lenses … Continued