When it comes to wearing contact lenses, are you doing it right? When you first got your lenses, you were given information from your doctor about how to care for them. However, as time has gone on, you may have gotten lax about following those instructions precisely. Many contact lens wearers make mistakes that could potentially have a negative impact on their eye health. Are you making these common mistakes?

• Do you wear your contacts too long? Some people wear their contact lenses until they begin to feel uncomfortable, but this is a mistake. Follow your doctor’s instructions, because wearing contacts that have outstayed their expiration date can be bad for your eyes, and may keep you from being able to see well.
• Stick with the program. Keeping your contact lenses clean is of utmost importance, yet some people don’t follow instructions about how to do this. Use contact lens solution every time- not, saliva, water, or any other liquid.
• Don’t neglect to wash your hands. Part of keeping your lenses clean is not introducing them to more germs. If you touch lenses with dirty hands, you’re contaminating them. This can cause eye infections which sometimes cause permanent damage to the eyes.
• Washing isn’t enough- you’ve also go to dry them! You’ve washed your hands, but did you dry them? Many people don’t think about it, but water on your hands can conduct harmful microorganisms onto the lenses and then right into your eyes.
• Cheaper isn’t always better. The desire to be frugal is admirable, but choosing a cheap, generic contact lens solution will cost you in the long run. It’s a much better idea to choose the care system made specifically for your lenses, so that you can properly care for them and, by extension, your eyes.
• Dirty cases mean dirty lenses. Clean hands- check! Clean lenses- check! But if you put them away in a dirty case, you’re undoing all the good work you just did, when you took so much care to get them clean. Empty out the old solution, wash the case with new solution and allow it to dry. Every now and then, clean it with boiling water. Even if you keep it perfectly clean, though, the case should still be replaced every three months.
• You snooze, you lose. While there are some lenses approved by the FDA for overnight use, it’s best not to sleep in your lenses. That’s because sleeping in your lenses can decrease the amount of oxygen your eyes take in, and can also cause little abrasions on the surface of your eyes. This damage to the eyes can have a negative effect on your vision, but it can also make it impossible to even wear lenses at all. It’s a better idea to take the extra few seconds and remove your lenses before you doze.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: choose a good eye doctor, and then follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to caring for your eyes. One of the leading eye centers in Illinois, the Gerstein Eye Institute in Chicago has been helping patients take care of their eyes since 1968. Our certified professional staff has decades of ophthalmologic experience, and has worked together to perform over 20,000 procedures. Dr. Gerstein, well-versed in the most advanced technologies, is committed to helping patients find the treatment that’s right for you. For more information call (773) 596-1245 or visit our website today.

If you wear glasses, do you wear the same lenses all the time? It may be time to rethink that. Advances in eyewear have created so many different options that it’s possible to find lenses that make everything you’re doing a little bit easier, from computer work to playing sports and everything in between. In fact, there are so many options that you may be confused about which lenses are right for you. Here, we break down some different types of lenses to help clear up any confusion.

• Glass lenses are not a great idea. Glass used to be the only option, but it’s heavy and prone to breakage. That’s unfortunate because glass has the best optical clarity, but with all the other choices, it’s just not very practical. Now that there are so many other good options on the market, glass lenses are hardly ever used.
• CR-39 plastic lenses provide almost as much optical clarity as glass but are half as heavy. They’re also inexpensive, resistant to shattering, and not easily scratched. However, if you have a high prescription, CR-39 lenses will be very thick. Also, while they’re tough enough to handle the stress of regular life, they may not be the best option if you’re rough with your glasses. If you plan to go mountain-biking, for instance, you might want to choose another option.
• High-index plastic is lighter and thinner than CR-39. High-index lenses come in a variety of prescription options and are compatible with anti-reflective coating.
• Polycarbonate has been around since the 70’s, but it’s still a popular choice. Lighter and more impact-resistant than CR-39 plastic, polycarbonate was originally developed for safety applications, like bulletproof glass and Air Force helmet visors. It’s a great choice for children’s eyewear, safety glasses, and sports eyewear.
• Trivex is a lot like polycarbonate, but better. It’s got the same impact-resistant properties, but is lighter weight and is less likely to cause optical distortions in the peripheral vision. Both Trivex and polycarbonate lenses block UV rays without the need for special coating, which is also beneficial.
• Gunnar lenses make screen time easier on the eyes. That’s because they have a special anti-reflective coating that blocks high-energy artificial blue light, UV light, and glare, in order to protect your vision and reduce eye-strain. They’re expensive, even when they’re not prescription lenses, but it may be worth the money if you spend a lot of time in front of a screen, and you’re experiencing issues like strained, dry, or red eyes, blurred vision, or headaches.
• Transition lenses work both in and out of the sun. A convenient option, these lenses darken when the wearer goes out into the sunlight, and lighten indoors. This eliminates the need for two pairs of glasses, which saves money and hassle. They come in many different varieties, including shatter-resistant, bifocal and progressive.

The first step in choosing the right lenses is choosing the best eye doctor. One of the leading eye centers in Illinois, the Gerstein Eye Institute in Chicago has been helping patients take care of their eyes since 1968. Our certified professional staff has decades of ophthalmologic experience and has worked together to perform over 20,000 procedures. Dr. Gerstein, well-versed in the most advanced technologies, is committed to helping patients find the treatment that’s right for you. For more information call (773) 596-1245 or visit our website today.