FAQs: Contact Lenses & Eye Health | ACUVUE® South Africa

Question 1

How old do I have to be to wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

There is no age limit as such to start wearing contact lenses, it is more about being able to take on the responsibility of looking after them. Most people can start wearing contact lenses in their early teens, and some at a younger age.Speaking to your parents and consulting an eye care professional can help you figure out whether contact lenses are right for you.

Question 2

Are contact lenses comfortable to wear?

Accepted Answer

Correctly fitted contact lenses should feel comfortable, and most modern soft lenses are made from breathable, moisture-rich materials. As long as you keep to the replacement schedule and cleaning instructions that your eye care professional provides you with, and go back for regular check-ups, then contact lenses are a healthy vision correction option.

Question 3

Can contact lenses get lost behind my eye?

Accepted Answer

No, they can't. A membrane called the conjunctiva covers the white of your eye and connects to the inside of your eyelid so there’s no chance that a contact lens can go behind your eye.

Question 4

Can contact lenses get stuck to my eye?

Accepted Answer

Contact lenses can't get stuck to your eye if you follow your Eye care Professional's advice about wear, care and removal. Mastering taking off your lenses just takes a little patience and practice. Remember to remove your lenses before sleep, and if they feel dry try some rewetting drops before removing them.Find out about putting contact lenses on and taking them off.

Question 5

Can contact lenses pop out of your eye?

Accepted Answer

Properly fitted contact lenses should stay in place. In the rare event that a lens moves out of place, blinking a few times should move it back into position. Alternatively, you can gently massage your eyelid to help do this, or wash and dry your hands, then move the lens back in place with your finger.

Question 6

Can contact lenses scratch your eye?

Accepted Answer

Contact lens related problems can occur, however this is very unlikely. Most common eye-health issues are related to poorly fitting lenses or not following your eye care professional care and wear schedule. If you experience any unusual eye discomfort or changes to your vision while wearing your contact lenses, remove them immediately and call your eye care professional.

Question 7

Why do I need a prescription for contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

A contact lens is legally considered a medical device, which is why you need a prescription. Only a qualified eye care professional can properly measure you for vision correction and determine which size and type of contact lens is best for you. Also, safely wearing contact lenses requires periodic monitoring of your eye health and vision needs. Typically, an annual examination is recommended for renewal of your contact lens prescription, as your vision and eye health may change over time.

Question 8

Is my contact lens prescription different to my glasses prescription?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A prescription for contact lenses requires different information than a glasses prescription. Along with the level of vision correction, a contact lens prescription will include the lens type, replacement schedule, a measurement of the base curve and diameter of your eyes. These are fitting specifications, and they can be brand-and material-specific

Question 9

How do I get a contact lens prescription?

Accepted Answer

Start by scheduling a contact lens appointment with an eye care professional. Your first contact lens fitting will take a little longer than a regular eye examination, so make sure you specify that you are interested in contact lenses. You will often need to go back about a week later for a second appointment to confirm your prescription, so ask about scheduling any follow up appointments when you first call in. Want to find an eye care professional near you who carries ACUVUE®? Find a nearby one here.

Question 10

What is a base curve?

Accepted Answer

The base curve is the back curvature of a contact lens. It is used to determine the most comfortable natural fit to your eye.

Question 11

What is diameter?

Accepted Answer

Diameter is the distance across the surface of your lens, from edge to edge. Your eye care professional will determine the correct diameter for you at your contact lens fitting.

Question 12

Are contact lenses more expensive than glasses?

Accepted Answer

Contact lenses can be surprisingly affordable. And with vision insurance, out-of-pocket costs may be even less. Plus, replacing a lost contact lens can be cheap and easy compared to replacing lost or damaged glasses.

Question 13

Is it difficult to take care of contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Advances in technology have made contact lenses even more convenient than before. Caring for them is easy with multipurpose lens solutions that make cleaning, disinfecting and storing your contacts simpler and more effective. For the most convenient way to wear contact lenses, consider daily disposable contact lenses.Your eye care professional will give you advice about how to use and care for your contact lenses.

Question 14

Can I continue using my glasses if I start wearing contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Of course. A lot of people alternate between glasses and contact lenses depending on what they’re doing or how they feel. You'll still need to keep a pair of glasses as back up, but the majority of people can wear contact lenses every day.

Question 15

I don't need glasses all the time. Why should I wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Even if you only wear glasses part-time, contact lenses can offer a convenient and easy alternative for certain activities like playing sports.Unlike glasses, in normal wearing conditions, contact lenses won't smudge or steam up, and they give you a wider field of vision. However, if doing watersports, like swimming or surfing, then you should remove your contact lenses first.

Question 16

Can I wear contact lenses while participating in sports or recreational activities?

Accepted Answer

Contact lenses are a great option for sports and an active lifestyle. They offer crisp, clear, uninhibited vision—and you won’t have to worry about them fogging up, falling off or breaking during a game like glasses can. Unfortunately this excludes watersports. Contact lenses should be removed when taking part in watersports.

Question 17

Are eye infections common when wearing contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Contact lens-related health problems can occur, but they're rare. With proper care, the risk of eye infections is minimal. Infections are most often related to poor cleaning routines or other lens care related issues, so it is important that you follow your eye care professional's wear and care advice.

Question 18

What’s the difference between daily disposable and reusable contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

The main difference is how often you replace the lenses for a new pair. Daily disposable contact lenses are used for one day and then thrown away, so they don’t involve the use of contact lens solutions. You'll start with a new pair every time you put on your contact lenses.Reusable contact lenses for daily wear require cleaning after you take them off, and are normally left to soak overnight in contact lens disinfecting solution. The lenses are replaced with a new pair according to your eye care professional’s instructions, usually every two weeks or every month.

Question 19

What’s the difference between astigmatism and toric contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Astigmatism is a common condition that can result in blurred or distorted vision at all distances. It can affect people at any age and often people with astigmatism are short-sighted or long-sighted too. Astigmatism occurs when the surface of the eye (cornea) or the lens behind it is not a round shape, but oval like a rugby ball. This distorts the light entering the eye which does not focus correctly on the retina, and as a result the image is blurred.Toric is the name for the design of contact lenses needed to correct astigmatism. A toric lens has a different focusing power horizontally than it does vertically, enabling it to correct astigmatism.

Question 20

What's the difference between bifocal, varifocal and multifocal contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

In general, bifocal contact lenses are designed with only two zones of vision (near and far) in the same lens. Varifocal contact lenses are otherwise known as Multifocal contact lenses and are designed with more than two zones of vision (near, far and in-between) in each lens and are used to correct presbyopia.

Question 21

What is hydrogel?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogel is a soft, water-holding polymer plastic used to make contact lenses.

Question 22

What is a silicone hydrogel?

Accepted Answer

Silicone hydrogel (SiHy) is the newest generation of soft contact lens material. The SiHy material is more porous than hydrogel which allows more oxygen through the lens.

Question 23

What does Dk and Dk/t mean?

Accepted Answer

Dk, or oxygen permeability, is the rate that oxygen can flow through a contact lens material.Dk/t or oxygen transmissibility, determines how much oxygen gets through a lens of a particular thickness.Dk or Dk/t are not direct indicators behind lens comfort as several other factors can play a part.Your optician is the best person to advise you about this.

Question 24

I've been told I have astigmatism. Can I still wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ACUVUE[^®] offers contact lenses that are specifically designed for people with astigmatism. You can wear daily disposable lenses such as 1-DAY ACUVUE[^®] MOIST for ASTIGMATISM or ACUVUE OASYS[^®] 1-Day for ASTIGMATISM, or reusable daily wear lenses such as ACUVUE OASYS[^®] for ASTIGMATISM (2-weekly replacement). Your eye care professional can help you decide which of these products is the best one for you.

Question 25

Can I wear contact lenses if I’ve had cataract surgery?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, however your eye care professional will be able to advise you on this, as it varies for everyone.

Question 26

If I’ve had LASIK or another refractive surgery, can I still wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, your eye care professional can tell for certain. LASIK surgery permanently alters the shape of your eye, but doesn’t prevent the development of presbyopia, so you may still need vision correction at some point. If your optician feels that contact lenses are still an option, we believe that ACUVUE[^®] is an excellent choice.

Question 27

How do allergies affect contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

The eye's response to allergens like pollen and dander can make contact lenses more difficult to wear. Allergens may accumulate on the contact lens causing additional discomfort. Always follow your optician’s wear and care advice, and opt for contact lenses suited for eyes with sensitivities, for example, daily disposable lenses like ACUVUE[^®] OASYS 1-DAY or 1-DAY ACUVUE[^®] MOIST which are fresh and clean every day.

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