Many of us with poor vision opt for contact lenses over glasses. For those who aren’t willing to invest in the increasingly popular trend that is laser eye surgery, contacts are the best way to see the world without the annoyance and even stigma of wearing glasses.
But wearing contact lenses can be annoying, uncomfortable and time consuming. Here are 5 downfalls of wearing contact lenses:
1. Time Consuming
As hygiene is an important part of wearing contact lenses it takes time to keep them clean so there are no complications, this involves:
- Washing hands before and after every application
- Cleaning and disinfecting each lens (for non daily users)
Other time consuming elements of wearing contacts are:
- Can take a few attempts to put them in each time
- Takes time to adjust to new lenses and new strengths
- Yearly check ups and eye exams are needed
- The need to remove them every night
2. Restrictions
Wearing contact lenses restricts certain elements of daily life. This can be an inconvenience to many people and include:
- Not being able to sleep or nap in lenses as they can cause discomfort or even blindness
- They can only be worn for a certain length of time
- Contact lenses are very fragile and easily damaged
- As they are small and clear, contact lenses can be easily lost
Bacteria can easily appear in contact lenses through daily activities such as swimming and showering, which can lead to infection and other problems.
3. Not Recommended for Everyone
Not everybody is suitable to wear contact lenses. Due to the materials used in the lenses and with the lenses it can cause allergic reactions in some users. Not only is it just allergies but if an individual has a high mucus content in their tear ducts it can lead to irritation and complications and are therefore often advised not to wear contact lenses.
As everybody is individual there are not common contact lenses to fit every eye shape, this may be an inconvenience and lead to further costs to get them specially made. There is also the issue that contact lenses cannot always correct certain vision problems.
4. Discomfort
As contact lenses are worn in the eye, which is a sensitive part of the body, they can easily cause discomfort such as:
- Foreign bodies can get caught underneath the lenses
- Scratching of the eye can occur when contacts are worn
- There is a common case of drying of the eyes
- First time users can find them very uncomfortable
- Contact lenses can sometimes be put in the wrong way which is uncomfortable
5. Cost
Finally, contact lenses are not free, they can cost up to £150 a year plus extra expenses for specialised or lost lenses. Unlike glasses which can last a few years or laser surgery which is a one off payment, and the benefits permanent.
Although laser eye surgery isn’t for everyone, some 30 million people worldwide have undergone the procedure and now enjoy much better vision, and most importantly, are free of contact lenses.
Manchester based clinics such as Freedom Vision are a great example of surgeries that offer great treatments and aftercare to their patients, who even if they have had terrible vision for years can wake up the next day with near 20/20 eyesight.
Featured images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-6358899-eye.php
Arthur Wilson has worked in healthcare in a hostpital environment. He now spends his days blogging and writing. You can follow him on Twitter @Ayup_Arthur.