If you’ve been wearing glasses for a while, or if you’ve just discovered you need them, then you might have considered switching to contact lenses. While they can seem daunting at first, there are plenty of benefits to be enjoyed – as long as you follow a few steps carefully. Read on to find out what you should be aware of when you make the switch.
The benefits of contacts
For a start, contacts can give you a wider field of vision: they conform to the entire curvature of your eye, and you won’t have to deal with frames obstructing your vision. What’s more, contacts won’t fog up in cold weather – a common problem with glasses, especially if you’re wearing a mask. Plus, if you need glasses to play sport, contacts can allow you to play without getting in the way.
Tips for transitioning
Clean them
It’s vital that you keep your contacts clean to protect your eye from any germs. You can avoid eye infections by washing your hands every time you use your contacts. When ut your contacts in, you have to put the contact on the tip of your finger and carefully insert it into your eye.
Take it slowly
Rather than jumping into wearing contacts all day, you should take it slowly. Ideally, you’ll slowly build up to the point where you’re comfortable wearing contacts for 10 hours at a time. Begin by wearing them for just a couple of hours in the morning, before building this up over time. It’s common for eyes to become dry while wearing contacts, but by using rewetting drops, you should be able to cope with this.
Settle down
It takes a little time to adjust to contacts. Make sure you put them on in advance of work or sport to allow your eyes to get used to them. You don’t want to end up struggling to see at a vital moment.
Wear shades
Contacts won’t protect your eyes from the sun. If it’s a bright day, you should still ensure that you wear shades for protection.
Switching to contacts can provide you with plenty of benefits. If you’re thinking about swapping to contact lenses, you should speak to your optometrist and get advice, as they can help you to allay any fears and embrace change.