BCGI Health Tips and Advice

Posts Tagged ‘micro organisms’

The invention of contact lens is one of the best inventions in human history. Contact lens was discovered in 1887, but it was not used at that time. At that time, contact lens were made of thick glass, as a result it was very difficult for the people to use it. Later, with advancement of technologies, contact lens became wearable. Nowadays, people prefer contact lens more than spectacles. Carrying a spectacle on their ears all day long is often a problem for hard working people and also for the young kids. For this kind of reason, people tend to use contact lens more than spectacles.

However, there are some problems about the contact lenses. Most importantly, it has to be cleaned regularly. Most people do not take much care of their lenses and are ignorant about it. There are several different options for cleaning and disinfecting a contact lens, depending on the type of lens a person is wearing. Not cleaning a contact lens regularly can cause discomfort and reduce vision and even contamination. However, contact lens cannot be cleaned like the glass spectacles; it should be cleaned very carefully. There are also certain limitations for cleaning a lens.

Why is contact lens care important?

Many contact lens user are either ignorant or didn’t do the right things when comes to caring contact lens. Depending on the type of lens you are wearing, there are many different options for cleaning and disinfecting your lenses. Like all synthetic materials, contact lenses are subject to a buildup of micro-organisms and deposits. If not removed, these deposits and absorbed materials can build up on the lens surface which over time may result in the reduction of comfort and vision as well as an increased risk of contamination.

This is why lenses need to be cared for on a regular basis using various types of solutions, which are not only compatible with the lens materials but also with the eye itself.

Why can’t water be used for rinsing contact lenses?

Tap water contains chlorine, minerals and metal particles, which can damage both the lenses and the eye. Among other things, water contains organisms, which can lead to serious infections of the eye through microbial contamination. Home made saline, purified or distilled water does not disinfect contact lenses and should not be used for rinsing the lenses. Saline are manufacture in a controlled environment and invloves designated amount of recipes of ingredients. As such home made saline, purified water from home tap should not be used to rinse contact lens.

A Contact Lens is a cosmetic lens used commonly as a corrective lens placed on the cornea of the eye. Czech chemist Otto Wichterle and Drahoslay were the inventor of modern soft contact lenses and the gel used for their production. Contact lenses are basically used for the same purpose as glasses. They are very light and are not easily visible. Some lenses are slightly tinted to make them visible when they are immersed in storage solutions. Nowadays lenses come with a UV coating this reduces the cornea damage. People also use contact lenses for cosmetic or decorative purposes to enhance their appearance. When you buy a pair of contact lenses, you should be particular about its usage. Before touching the lenses you should properly rinse your hands with soap which is not antibacterial and does not contain any allergies or moisturizers which would help in retaining the natural bacteria found on the eye. It takes some time and practice for the user to get rid of the instinctive hesitation against actually touching the eye ball. The toughest part in usage of contact lenses is its insertion and removal. Usually the lens is held on the tip of the index finger and placed on the cornea. Initially after contact with the eye you may ensue a certain period of irritation which is usually not more than one minute. Make sure while inserting the lens it does not turn itself upside down. The method of removal can be extremely irritating at first because of the blink reflex of the eyelids. You should avoid grasping with your fingers which would make it unusable. Usually the daily disposable lenses require no cleaning and storing precautions but the other types do. These lenses need to be cleansed and disinfected in order to retain clear vision. It helps to prevent uneasiness and infections caused by various micro organisms such as, bacteria, fungi etc. There are various kinds of cleansing agents which can be used for keeping the lenses clean and bacteria free. Some of them are multipurpose solutions, enzymatic cleaner, daily cleaner, saline solutions, Hydrogen peroxide solution etc. Only water should never be used to clean a pair of contact lens as it may not properly disinfect the lens and lead to lens contamination. You should make sure about which cleansing agent is correct for your lens. The lens container and the lenses should be thoroughly rinsed with water and multipurpose solutions to avoid bio-film formation on its surface. It is also important to make sure that the cleansing and storage solutions do not get contaminated with microorganisms. These containers should always be kept closed and stored in a safe place, where it does not come in contact with any other surface. To avoid the contamination of lenses now days the solutions come with no preservatives and can be used only for one or two weeks after they are opened.