Instead, the decision should involve considerations such as ease of use, risk of infection, your eyes’ condition, and your lifestyle. It is also important to weigh your chosen product’s features. For example, did you know that some glasses offer unique photochromic UV light protection and can automatically darken in sunlight? Or that some contact lens types can be worn for up to a month? When it comes to this big decision, keep these factors in mind. Continue reading to learn more about the factors that should go into your decision between glasses and contact lenses.

Ease Of Use

One of the obvious benefits of using glasses over contact lenses is their ease of use. After careful adjustment by an optician, glasses can not only last for years. They can be easily stored and taken on or off without any special attention to hygiene. Glasses can be a convenient choice for traveling, driving or any situation in which you might quickly need to take them on or off. On the other hand, glasses carry a higher risk of getting lost, or breaking, especially during activities such as working out or other intense sports.

Unlike glasses, contact lenses fit directly into your eyes and cannot be removed. You can purchase single or multi-use contact lenses, depending on your preferences and lifestyle. Multi-use contact lenses require daily care, cleaning, and storage. Daily contacts, while more convenient, create more waste. Proper wear of contact lenses allows you to see clearly, as if you do not need vision correction at all, and they are also perfect for physical activity. Another plus is that they do not fog up, which is beneficial when wearing a face mask!

Risk of infection

While contacts may provide you with the convenience of a glasses-free lifestyle, they also open you up to a greater chance of eye infection. While this can be avoided by practicing proper hygiene, if you are not careful you may wind up unable to wear your lenses due to infection or other eye conditions. Be sure to always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses, and follow these tips for proper insertion, removal and care.

One eye condition that increases in risk due to contact lens wear is Keratitis, an infection of the cornea or outer eye covering. Contact lens wear can also put you at a risk for pinkeye, an eye infection including redness, itchiness, and discharge. When considering contacts, your eye care professional will inform you of the risks of contact use, as well as advise you on their proper care. If you wear contact lenses and suspect an infection, remove them immediately, and contact your optometrist. If possible, bring the lenses with you to your eye examination as sometimes a diagnosis can be verified by examining the infected lenses!

Go for Variety!

One thing that both contact lenses and glasses have in common is the variety available! If you want to vary your eyewear usage, you can choose to alternate between glasses and contact lenses depending on the situation. You may find you prefer glasses for work, and contacts on the weekend.

You can also choose to have a variety of contacts and glasses available to you. Glasses come in a variety of styles to suit any occasion. Specialty lens coatings, such as those that block blue light or glare, give today’s glasses even more versatility. If you spend time outdoors, prescription sunglasses are also available! Similarly, contacts are available in a variety of colours and effects—just be sure to take proper care of your lenses, and consult an eye care professional when in doubt!

Still unsure whether glasses or contact lenses are right for you? A discussion with your eye doctor will help you decide which product is right for you and your eyes. The optometrists at Dr D’Orio Eyecare are committed to your eye health and will help you make a decision when it comes to choosing between eyeglasses, contact lenses…or both. To book an appointment today, visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416 656 2020 for our Toronto location, or 416 661 5555 for our North York location.

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However, there is more to contact lens use than insertion… you will need to be able to remove them comfortably, as well! If you are avoiding contact lenses because you are unsure about how to remove them and care for them, read on to learn some tips on safe removal.

It is also important to be aware of how to care for your contact lenses in order to prevent infection. Eye infections from contact lens wear can become serious problems, leading to corneal damage, surgery, or even loss of vision.

Tips for Contact Lens Removal

1. Keep your nails short, especially when you are still learning to properly remove your lenses. Long nails can scratch your eyes as you pinch your contact lens to remove it, causing irritation or even injury to your eye. Keeping fingernails short while you learn to use your finger pads to remove your lenses can avoid unnecessary injury to your eyes.

2. If you are having a hard time removing your contact from your eye (if it feels stuck to your eyeball), this may be because your eye is dry. Don’t panic! Use eye drops to lubricate your eye, or stimulate your tear production by blinking repeatedly. When you have completed these steps, make a second attempt at removing the contact.

3. It may also be difficult to remove your contact when looking directly at your fingers, as you may be tempted to blink or flinch away from your fingers. To solve this problem, when removing your contact first look upwards, then use your finger to slide the contact down towards the white of your eye. Continue looking upwards as you pinch the contact to remove. Voila!

Contact Lens Care to Prevent Eye Infection

While you may now have mastered the art of contact lens removal, it is also important to properly care for your lenses in order to keep your eyes healthy and avoid infection. These tips can help keep your lenses clean, and your eyes infection free, as you continue to wear contact lenses.

1. Keep your contact lenses clean! Make sure that you are cleaning and disinfecting your lenses and your lens case regularly. Use fresh solution daily and discard used solution. Clean your lens cases after every use, and replace them regularly. This will help to prevent bacteria growth and decrease the chance of developing an eye infection. If you are using daily contacts, be sure to wear them for only one day… reuse of daily lenses can lead to eye irritation or infection.

2. Ensure that you remove any makeup and wash your face before removing your contact lenses. This will help to ensure that you are keeping your lenses free of contamination from bacteria or foreign matter.

3. Do not sleep in your contact lenses. Many contact lens wearers have fallen asleep in their lenses, and wake with nothing more serious than eye dryness or excess mucus buildup. However, sleeping in contacts can significantly increase your chance of eye infection, even if the lenses are technically approved for sleep.

4. Follow the directions of your eye care professional when determining amount of time that you will wear your lenses, as well as the type of contact lens that you wear. Each eye is different, and will have different fit and wear requirements in order to stay healthy.Your eye doctor will be aware of your individual needs, and can recommend the proper lens for your eyes to stay at their healthiest.

If you are considering contact lenses, there is much to consider. Whether you are nervous about inserting or removing contacts, aren’t sure of the proper way to care for them, or are simply unsure whether contact lenses are right for you, your eye doctor is your best resource for advice and directions. If you find that you are experiencing discomfort wearing your contact lenses, remove your contact lenses immediately and contact your eye care professional for a checkup and treatment.

The optometry team at Dr D’Orio Eyecare can assist you with your vision needs. To book an appointment visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment or call us at 416 656 2020 for our Toronto location, or 416 661 5555 for North York.

The post Tips To Help You Remove & Care For your Contact Lenses appeared first on Best Optometrist in Toronto.

However, switching to contact lenses might seem daunting. It is important to prioritize proper contact lens wear and maintenance in order to prevent irritation and keep your eyes healthy, as well as master proper insertion and removal of your lenses.

Today, we will go over some contact lens must-do’s and tips for insertion to help you gain confidence with your contacts and prepare you for every-day wear!

Contact Lens Musts

Before you begin your journey with contact lenses, there are some steps that you must follow to ensure proper usage.

1. Whether you are inserting or removing your contacts, always wash your hands before you handle your contact lenses. This will prevent bacteria or other foreign matter from coming into contact with your lens and entering your eye, as well as help prevent infection. After you wash your hands, ensure they are dry before insertion or removal, as wet hands can make it difficult to handle your lenses properly.

2. Use the soft pads of your fingers when you are removing or inserting your contact lenses. Avoid contact with your fingernails as this could cause a tear in your contact lens. Keep your fingernails short to avoid tears in your lenses as you handle them.

3. Follow the care and usage instructions provided by your eye care provider. Different lenses may have different procedures to follow in order to keep them clean, maintain your eye health, and prolong the lifespan of your lenses. Your eye care provider will be able to advise you of the proper wear and care regimens for your eyes and your lenses.

Tips for Contact Lens Insertion 

1. Make sure that your contact lens is not inside out! Place the lens on the tip of your finger and check the shape of the lens. If you notice that the rim of the lens turns outward, then the lens is likely inside out. The lens should appear like a round bowl with even edges. If you insert a lens inside out, it can cause eye irritation and discomfort. If you notice your lens is inside out, use your fingers to flip it in the proper direction, clean the lens with contact lens solution, and proceed with insertion.

2. Insert your lens above a sink or a countertop. Contact lenses can be slippery and easy to drop… and lose. Inserting above a countertop means that if you drop your lens, it will be more easily found, and you will avoid picking up larger dirt particles or bacteria that may be found on your floor. If you are inserting above a sink, make sure that you plug the drain so that the contact cannot slip down the drain!

3. When you are inserting your contact, focus your eyes on the middle distance… do not look directly at the finger that is inserting your lens! Looking at the lens as it is being inserted could cause you to reflexively blink or flinch as it approaches your eye. You could risk losing your lens if your eyelid or lashes brush the lens off your finger. By focusing on the middle distance, you are less likely to perceive danger to your eye and trigger protective reflexes.

4. Always start by inserting your contact into the same eye. Building this habit will make it less likely that you mix up your eyes and insert the wrong lens—especially if your eyes have differing prescriptions. Creating a habit for your lens insertion and removal will also allow you to handle your contacts more confidently, as your body adjusts to the routine movements and pattern of your contact lens wear.

If you are still finding it difficult to insert and handle your lenses, don’t worry! Take your time, stay calm, and practice… most people have an adjustment period when they start using contact lenses. You will quickly get the hang of inserting your contact lenses. If you experience discomfort while you are wearing your contact lenses, remove your lenses immediately to avoid irritation. Continue to schedule regular appointments with your eye care professional. Even if you are a regular lens user, your eyes could “outgrow” your contacts causing a poor fit and discomfort or damage to your eyes. Your eye doctor will be able to assess your lenses and determine if they are right for your individual eye needs.

The optometry team at Dr D’Orio Eyecare can assist you with your vision needs. To book an appointment visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment or call us at 416 656 2020 for our Toronto location, or 416 661 5555 for North York.

The post Tips To Help You Insert Contact Lenses Confidently appeared first on Best Optometrist in Toronto.

If you wear contact lenses, then you must know just how vital it is to have lenses that work for your lifestyle. It is essential for your lenses to be comfortable, easy to use and most of all, affordable. You may think that biweekly or monthly contact lenses are the way to go in terms of achieving all of these things, but in reality, daily disposable contact lenses are probably the best choice for a constantly on the go person. Here are a few reasons why you should consider daily disposable contact lenses:

They Are Healthier

The biggest reason for recommending daily disposable lenses over reusable lenses is to ensure eyes remain healthy. Daily disposable lenses lessen the amount of times needed to insert and remove the lenses, thus making the eye less likely to be contaminated and infected from your fingertips. Even if reusable lenses are cleaned regularly, there will always be small deposits of protein on the lens that may irritate and/or infect your eyes.

Long Term Financial Costs

If you don’t wear contacts every day, daily disposable lenses are the best choice for you financially. If you only opt to wear contacts on special occasions or a few times a week, you can save up your uses, which will lead to big savings.

Convenience

Daily disposable lenses are the most convenient solution for people who need to wear contacts. You can always feel confident that you have a supply of lenses ready for you, you don’t have to worry about multiple day storage, and you’ll always have a fresh pair of contacts that aren’t dry, itchy or irritating for your eyes.

Not sure if you need contact lenses or if they are right for you? Contact Dr. D’Orio Eyecare today for the best advice on contact lenses for you: Toronto location (416) 656-2020, North York location (416) 661-5555.

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