By Jitender Rathi (Consultant Optometrist Optical Planet)
Soft contact lenses in buffered saline.
Always wash and dry your hands before handling your lenses.
The sterile barrier for contact lenses is the intact blister seal.
Do not use if the product sterile barrier system or its packaging is compromised.
Contact lenses are not to be shared.
Lens Insertion
1. Before insertion, ensure the lens is not inside out. Place on your index finger to verify the shape (Fig. 1 & 2).
2. Using the middle finger, hold your lower lid down. With the index finger of the other hand, raise upper lid. Place the lens onto the eye (Fig. 3). Repeat for the other eye.
Lens Removal
Separate the lids with the middle finger of each hand. Look up and with the index finger of the lower hand; slide the lens down onto the white of the eye. Pinch the lens and lift out with the thumb and index finger (Fig. 4). Repeat for the other eye.
Disinfection/Soaking
For lenses worn more than once (single patient multiple use) clean and disinfect them following strictly the instruction on your solution bottle or as directed by your eye care practitioner (for example: ophthalmologist, optometrist, or optician). Follow instructions with solution bottle for proper contact lens case care.
N.B. Daily disposable lenses are intended to be worn only once and then discarded. If your lenses are intended for daily disposable wear, DO NOT wear them more than once. Daily disposable lenses are not designed to be cleaned or disinfected and worn more than one time. Daily disposable lenses worn more than one time may become damaged and could put you at great risk of contact lens care and handling related eye infections or other problems.
If the lenses dry out:
Re-wet with disinfecting, soaking or rinsing solution then follow the Disinfection/Soaking step above
Symbol on labelling indicates lens is for daily disposable wear and not to reuse. When symbol is not present lens is indicated for other wear schedule.
Precautions:
1. For all types of lenses, your eye care practitioner will recommend lens selection, wearing, cleaning and replacement regime. Do not vary these. If in doubt seek the advice of your eye care practitioner.
2. Contact lenses are medical devices and should always be fitted by your eye care practitioner.
3. If wearing lenses on an extended wear basis, remove and dispose of your lenses the evening before you are due to replace them, inserting new lenses the following day.
4. For lenses worn more than once, always clean and disinfect your lenses as instructed, after lens removal.
5. If your eyes become red or irritated or you experience any pain or unexpected change in vision, remove your lenses immediately and consult your eye care practitioner.
6. Avoid contaminating lenses with make-up, aerosol sprays or wearing them near noxious fumes.
7. Replace damaged, contaminated or scratched lenses immediately.
8. Avoid long nails, which harbour bacteria and could damage the eye or lens. A scratched eye is vulnerable to infection.
9. Keep lenses out of the reach of children who are not users.
10. Only use your lenses for water sports if watertight goggles are worn.
11. Contact with unsterile water (e.g. from the tap, bottled, bath, pool, or water sports) increases the risk of microbial infection.
12. Do not change from the solutions recommended by your Contact Lens Practitioner
13. Do not to change lens type or parameters without consulting your eye care practitioner
Warnings:
1. DO NOT sleep in your lenses unless your eye care practitioner has advised it is safe to do so.
2. DO NOT wear your lenses beyond the period recommended by your eye care practitioner.
3. DO NOT use household products (e.g. disinfectants) on your lenses.
4. DO NOT wear your lenses when using eye drops (unless advised to do so by a medical practitioner).
5. DO NOT use saliva to wet your lenses.
6. DO NOT rinse your lenses or lens case with tap water.
Contraindications (reasons not to use)
Do not use contact lenses when any of the following conditions exist.
• Acute and subacute inflammation or infection of the anterior chamber of the eye.
• Any eye disease, injury, or abnormality that affects the cornea, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
• Corneal hypoesthesia (reduced corneal sensitivity), if not aphakic (natural lens of the eye is present).
• Severe insufficiency of lacrimal secretion (dry eyes).
• Any systemic disease that may affect the eye or be exaggerated by wearing contact lenses.
• Allergic reactions of ocular surfaces or adnexa (eyelids and lashes) that may be induced or exaggerated by wearing contact lenses or use of contact lens solutions.
• Any active corneal infection (bacterial, fungal, protozoal or viral).
• If eyes become red or irritated.
• Use of a medication that is contraindicated, including eye medications.
Adverse Reactions (Undesirable Side Effects)
You may become aware of the following symptoms while wearing contact lenses:
• Reduced lens comfort or feeling of something in the eye
• Burning, grittiness, itchiness, dryness of the eyes
• Watery eyes and/or unusual eye discharge
• Sensitivity to light
• Swelling or inflammation of the eye (swollen eyelid, eye redness)
• Temporary decrease in vision
What to do when symptoms occur: You should immediately remove the lenses. If the symptoms persist, a serious eye condition may be present. Seek prompt care from your eye care practitioner so that any potential medical condition can be identified and treated, if necessary, in order to avoid serious eye damage.
Medical conditions that may be associated with these symptoms include: corneal abrasion, corneal oedema (swelling), infiltrative keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), corneal infection or ulcer, corneal neovascularization, and papillary conjunctivitis (eyelid inflammation).
Disposal: use standard waste, recycle whenever possible.
Any serious incident that has occurred in relation to the product should be reported to the manufacturer and applicable competent authority.