Since their invention in 1887, contact lenses have undergone many changes and, as a consequence, accumulated an assortment of myths that persists to this day. Here are 10 misconceptions about contact lenses and what the truth really is.
Not Everyone Can Wear Contacts
Recent advances in contact lens technology make it possible for just about anyone to wear contacts. You can even get bifocal contact lenses if you have presbyopia or toric soft lenses that correct astigmatism.
A Contact Can Get Lost Behind the Eye
The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that covers the white of your eye and connects to the inside of your eyelids, making it impossible for a contact lens to get lost behind your eye.
Contact Lenses Are Uncomfortable
For most people, there is a brief period of getting used to new contact lenses but, after that, you won’t even notice you’re wearing them. If you do experience discomfort, there are several remedies available once the cause of the discomfort is identified.
Contact Lenses Can Get Stuck To the Eye Permanently
A soft contact lens can dry out and stick to the surface of your eye, but remoistening it with sterile saline or a multipurpose contact lens solution will easily loosen it again.
Contact lenses are a Lot of Trouble to Take Care Of
Cleaning and disinfecting your lenses is easy with one-bottle contact lens care systems. Alternately, you can choose to eliminate lens care altogether by wearing daily disposables or 30-day extended wear contacts.
Contacts Can Cause Eye Problems
While it’s true that wearing contacts can increase your risk of certain eye problems, wearing contacts is very safe if you follow your eye doctor’s instructions about how to care for them, how long you can wear them and how frequently you should replace them.
Learning to Put Contacts in is Difficult
Most people learn how to handle their contact lenses much faster than they expected to. It might seem difficult at first, but your eye car professional will make sure that you can apply and remove your contacts easily before you leave their office.
Contacts Can Pop Out of the Eye
Old-fashioned hard contact lenses would sometimes pop out of a wearer’s eyes during sports or other activities but these days, contacts fit closer to the eye, making it very rare for a contact lens to dislodge unexpectedly.
Contacts Are Too Expensive
You may be surprised to learn that contact lenses can sometimes be less expensive than a good pair of eyeglasses. Daily disposable contacts were once considered a luxury but can now cost only about a dollar a day.
Contact Lenses Are Only For Young People
Age is no longer the barrier to successful contact lens wear that it once was. There are now bifocal contact lenses and contacts that are expressly design for dry eyes. Your eye doctor will advise you if you’re a good candidate for contact lens wear.
