Contact Lenses and Eye Safety

Approximately 1 out of 20 people will have contact lens related problems.

Are you one of them?

Through recent research it has been found that contact lenses can affect several different areas of the eye. These effects could be simple irritation to more sight threatening complications. You may have experienced some of these problems or just had a concern about them.

The weather, oxygen and their effect on your eyes.

The weather and the wearing of contacts both have an effect. The eye cleans itself from harmful bacteria and other foreign substances through the process of creating what is known as the tear film. Not only does it protect the eye but it also carries the moisture and oxygen to help and protect the eye. The reduced amount of oxygen on the surface of the eye in turn reduces the blood flow to the cornea, which can create complications. While soft contact lenses have less of an effect on this than hard lenses it still does have an effect. And there are other problems that contacts can cause with your eyes.

Now throw in dry weather, the wind and the fluctuating temperatures you can see what your eyes are dealing with on a daily basis. In many instances, the risk to the health of your eyes is greater from wearing contact lenses than from today’s LASIK eye procedure.

And there are the aspects of “chronic wear and tear” from continual contact lens wear to the eye from simply having this foreign substance or particle in the eye. This can predispose an eye to infections and if you might have even experienced these difficulties yourself.

What are your alternatives?

LASIK is the alternative to contact lens wear. While not having them to affect your eyes in a potentially dangerous way is of great benefit you will also receive the benefit of having very improved eyesight if not 20-20.

Eye Floaters and Flashes

Did you know that floaters and flashes that you experience in your eyesight are real?

Did you also know that they are really serious?

We all experience it one time or another. If you look directly into a light and then look away, you might see black spots in your vision for a few seconds. Experiencing floaters and flashes can sometimes be like that. You see spots that you know aren’t really there, but they are in your line of vision. Or you may see flashes of light off to the side of your vision, but there is no one taking your picture or shining a flash light at you.

Eye floaters and flashes can be the result of trauma to the eye. If you have ever been hit in the eye or have something poke you, you may notice these symptoms for a few minutes. For more serious injuries, the floaters and flashes may not go away.

You should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible if:

• One new, large floater or "showers" of floaters appear suddenly
• You see sudden flashes of light
• You notice other symptoms, such as the loss of side vision

Your eye is filled with vitreous gel, and as you age, this gel can thicken or shrink. This may cause floaters within your eye. If the vitreous gel rubs against your retina or causes a tear in your retina, you may notice flashes.

It’s important not to ignore these symptoms. There is usually pain associated with a torn retina, but even if you do not experience pain, you should still call right away to have your vision checked.

Early treatment is the key to preserving your vision.

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The purpose of this blog is to inform, update, and at times to entertain you about your eyesight and the happenings around Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center.

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