Facts To Know About Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are presently more prescribed than the traditional hard lenses.  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a soft contact lens in 1971. 

Soft contact lenses are made from soft polymer plastic material combined with some proportion of water.  Oxygen is allowed to easily pass through to the cornea of the eye by these proportions of water thus enhancing comfort to the user.  Soft contact lenses conform to the shape of the eye since these lenses are thin and gel-like.  The lens have the ability to absorb and hold water making it more comfortable to use.

A soft contact lens may come as a disposable or non-disposable variety.  Disposable soft contact lenses may be daily, weekly or monthly disposable.  About a year of use is allowable for the non-disposable variety.  This type of lens is also available as colored or plain type.  The colored soft contact lenses may be used to enhance the user’s existing eye color or to appear trendy.  A soft contact lens is quite stable and stays in proper place even during rigorous physical activities thus making it easier for a user to adjust to it. 

Majority of soft contact lenses are for daily wear, unless if they are designed for extended wear.  These lenses are required for cleaning and disinfection daily as well.  It is important to use the recommended solutions since different lenses are often made of different plastics.  A practitioner will ensure that the solutions one use is compatible with the lens used. 

These are some guidelines to help make a soft contact lens user have a safe, problem-free wearing experience:
· Cleaning – proper cleaning must be done to the lenses and to the case as well.  Certain bacteria can grow to the lens and to its case so proper care is advised. 
· Disinfection – this is the most important part of soft contact lens care.  Disinfection kills the bacteria that may cause eye infection or other eye problems.  Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same.  It is important that before a user puts back the lens to one’s eyes, the lens has already been disinfected. 
· Enzyme cleaning.  This is to rid the lens of protein deposits.  An enzyme cleaner will be recommended by a practitioner.  Ensure that the enzyme cleaner can be used safely with the lenses.  Other cleaners are incompatible with some disinfecting systems, it is best to check the manufacturer’s guidelines for compatibility.

Ongoing care is very important for soft contact lenses.  An estimate of up to 80 percent of complications in using a soft contact lens is due to a user’s neglect or failure to follow lens care instructions.