Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom, Clinical Adviser at the College said; “I sometimes see a patient who has lost an old contact lens, as in Kate’s case, and have occasionally found two. This really does highlight how important it is to have good contact lens hygiene and regular check-ups. If you are ever in doubt or are experiencing poor vision, discomfort or redness, always call your local optometrist for advice. Even if there is a lockdown in place, it is important to contact your optometrist by phone in the first instance. Contact lens wear is safe during the pandemic, but it is important you adopt scrupulous hand hygiene and follow the wear and care instructions as directed by your clinician. ”
Daniel has the following tips for contact lens wearers:
Do:
Wash, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses
Have an up-to-date pair of glasses for when you need to remove your lenses
Replace the lenses at the interval specified by your practitioner
Have regular check-ups with your practitioner as recommended
Seek professional advice if you are having problems with your contact lenses.
Don’t:
Go to bed with a painful red eye – seek advice immediately
Bring any contact lens into contact with tap water
Wet your lenses with saliva
Wear your lenses for swimming.
Watch our how to videos on inserting and removing contact lenses to find out more.
For the very last issue of Optometry in Practice, Professor Jonathan Jackson MCOptom reflects on the past two decades of the journal and its contribution to our learning.
This paper explores trends in where patients seek information on contact lenses, who has the most influence on their decision making and the perceived importance of the patient–practitioner relationship.