Looking After Contact Lenses Flashcards
What are the materials of soft lenses
Hydrogels
Silicone Hydrogels
What are the modalities of soft lenses
Dailies
2 - Weekly
Monthly
Annual
What are the materials of rigid lenses
PMMA - Not used routinely
Rigid Gas Permeable
What are the modalities of soft lenses
Annual
Contact Lens Wear - Do
- Have regular check-ups as advised by your practitioner
- Always wash and dry your hands prior to handling your lenses
- Always rub, rinse and store your lenses in the recommended solution
- Single-use lenses, which should be discarded after each wear
- Always apply the same lens first to avoid mixing them up
- Check the lens is not inside out before applying
- Check the lens is not damaged before applying
- Handle carefully to avoid damaging the lens
- Apply your lenses before putting on make-up
- Remove lenses then remove make-up
- Keep your eyes closed when using hairspray or other aerosols
- Replace your lens case regularly
- Wear only the lenses specified by your contact lens practitioner and stick strictly to the recommended wearing schedule
Contact Lens Wear - Don’t
- Use tap water, or any other water, on your lenses or lens case
- Sleep in your lenses, unless specifically advised to by your practitioner
- Use your lenses for swimming, hot tubs or water sports, unless wearing goggles
- Share contact lenses or wear any lenses not specified by your practitioner
- Wet your lenses with saliva
- Put a lens on the eye if it falls on the floor or other surface, without cleaning and storing again
- Re-use or top up solution – discard and replace with fresh solution each time lenses are stored
- Wear lenses left in the case for more than seven days without cleaning and storing them in fresh solution
- Wear your lenses when showering
- Switch the solution you use, except on the advice of your practitioner
- Use any eye drops without advice from your contact lens practitioner
- Apply a lens if it is dirty, dusty or damaged
- Continue to wear your lenses if your eyes don’t feel good, look good, or see well
Why do contact lenses need to be cleaned?
Build up of deposits
Lipid ( oils ) - Silicone Hydrogels = blurry vision
Protein – Hydrogels = discomfort
Hypersensivity (allergy)
Infection risk ( if too much protein build up ) - bacterial ( if you don’t clean your hands )
Acanthamoeba
are among the most prevalent protozoa found in the environment.
Soil, air, sewage, seawater, chlorinated swimming pools, domestic tap water, bottled water = LIVES IN WATER
Highly robust
Contact lens cases - gets contaminated, if theres lots i.e. build up = lives on lens, in eye, it scratches
What are symptoms of Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Sensitivity to light
Red eye
Painful
Reduced Vision
What may Acanthamoeba Keratitis lead to
Permanent loss of vision
What time frame can Acanthamoeba Keratitis progress within
Days ( 48 hours ) to weeks
What are the contact lens solutions for Soft lenses
Multipurpose solutions
Hydrogen peroxide
What are the contact lens solutions for RGP lenses
Abrasive cleaner
Conditioner
Multipurpose solution
Simple and convenient
Cleaning, disinfecting, storing
Clean, rub, rinse, store
Easy to use
Hydrogen peroxide
Metallic disc in case or tablet to neutralise the disinfectant before wear
Bleach
No adverse reaction to preservatives = no irritation
Disk at bottom, put hydrogen peroxide solution in case of disk, put lenses in, after 6 hours it will neutralise the peroxide
Abrasive cleaner
Remove lipids and mucus
Can enhance the disinfecting action of soaking solution
Conditioner
Saline to rinse
Protein removing tablets
Peroxide cleaner
3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Minimum of 6 hours
Rinse with saline in the morning
RGP cleaner
Rub lenses with cleaner
Rinse with saline
Store in case with conditioning solution
What does a contact lens teach do
Aim to teach a new wearer How to handle lenses How to know if the lens is inside out To safely apply/insert the lens To safely remove the lens Includes how to clean the lenses as appropriate
Key points in a contact lens teach - insertion and removal steps
Touching the lens, not the eye.
Good control of top lid needed – hold lashes
Lens applied to the cornea – when teaching the public we refer to it as the coloured part of the eye
Once lens touches the eye – don’t blink straight away
Have your patient look up, down, left and right
Let go of the lashes slowly
What to say when telling px’s to remove contact lenses
Slide the lens part off the cornea and pinch the lens off the sclera
Why isn’t PMMA lenses used routinely
Doesn’t allow much O2 to eye
Which lenses are used for cleaning
Monthlys
