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Everything you need to know about wearing contact lenses

You might be wondering

    Who can wear contact lenses? Most people can wear contact lenses! Contact lens technology has rapidly evolved in recent years, just like all forms of technology. Optometrists can offer you contact lenses for nearly every type of vision correction: short- and long-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia, often both in a daily and/or monthly wearing modality. Please reach out to your optometrists as they will be able to answer all your questions and help you choose the lenses that suit your eyes.

      There are different ways to apply and remove your lenses and you should follow the way you have been shown by your optometrist. As a refresher you can also hit play on our handy tutorial video , which explains how to easily apply and remove a pair of contact lenses.

        Yes, your contact lenses should be comfortable. Your optometrist will measure your eye and recommend a suitable type of lens. Some contact lenses are so comfortable, you won't be able to feel them on your eye^.

         

        If you are experiencing discomfort, please speak to your optometrist for advice.

          Yes, your contact lenses should be comfortable. Your optometrist will measure your eye and recommend a suitable type of lens. Some contact lenses are so comfortable, you won't be able to feel them on your eye^.

           

          If you are experiencing discomfort, please speak to your optometrist for advice.

            Presbyopia is a natural condition that affects all of us eventually and makes it harder to see and read things close-up. Over time, our eyes lose some of their elasticity. With this, they lose some of their ability to change focus for different distances. The loss is gradual. Contact lenses are now becoming a popular choice for presbyopia.

              Astigmatism is a common and usually minor eye condition that causes blurred, distorted or ‘fuzzy’ vision. It usually occurs when there is an imperfection to the curved shape of the cornea. The more irregular the curve of the eye, the more likely you are to need corrective lenses to help you focus.

                Contact lenses work in a similar way to glasses. Both forms of vision correction alter the direction of light rays to correctly focus light on the retina. Contact lenses correct your vision in a few ways. They myopia correct  – or nearsightedness – by using a concave ‘minus powered’ lens. Similarly, they correct hyperopia – or farsightedness – with a convex ‘plus powered’ lens. When either type of lens is placed in front of the eye, it moves the image back onto the retina and clarifies it, which gives the wearer clear vision. There are two other commonly-occurring conditions – astigmatism and presbyopia. Contact lenses correct astigmatism by using different correctional powers across the meridians of the lens. And for people with presbyopia, multifocal lenses are used to correct vision across many different distances.

                  This is a common question before people try contact lenses for the first time. The fear is understandable because it may be related to a natural human reluctance to touch the surface of your eye. After learning how to correctly apply and remove their lenses, most people find it's comfortable and easy to do so. However, we always advise you to contact your optometrist for advice if you experience any discomfort.

                    Trust the expert! Our number one piece of advice to any contact lens novice is visit an optometrist and have a professional fitting with them to get their advice on wearing contact lenses. In fact, 2,000+ are registered on our site throughout Australia and New Zealand and it's possible someone is just around the corner from you.

                      Daily disposable contact lenses are designed to be worn once. They are usually sold in packs of 30 or 90 lenses. Each lens comes in an individual small blister pack. Daily disposable contact lenses are usually applied in the morning, then taken out at the end of the day and disposed of.

                        Daily disposable multifocal contact lenses are the same as regular daily contact lenses, but with one key difference – they are contact lenses for people with presbyopia, usually worn by those over 40. They are designed so that the wearer can see things sharply near, intermediate and far away.

                          Daily disposable toric contact lenses are the same as regular daily contact lenses, but with one key difference – they are contact lenses for astigmatism. In general, people with astigmatism sometimes experience blurred or distorted vision which can be corrected using toric lenses.

                            We don’t recommend swimming with contact lenses, however if you wish to do so, you may want to consider the following:

                            Watch out for bacteria
                            Bacterium containing microscopic organisms can cause irritation and infection when they meet lenses. Therefore, we recommend keeping your contact lenses out of submerged water.

                            Protect your eyes and your lenses
                            Use googles to minimise the risk of infection. Once you’ve finished swimming, remove your contact lenses and discard them – you may put a fresh pair of daily disposable lenses in.

                            Alternatives
                            To avoid the hassle, you can wear prescription googles or dive masks.

                            Important information
                            Speak to your optometrist about swimming with contact lenses. If you experience discomfort, redness, irritation and blurred vision, get in touch with your optometrist as soon as possible.

                              Yes, if you play a lot of sport, then wearing contact lenses may be right for you. Contact lenses can give you freedom from the challenges of wearing glasses. They also give you a wider field of view than glasses, which is great when playing sport.

                                TOTAL1™ contact lenses are the first and only contact lens to incorporate water gradient technology, allowing for nearly 100% moisture at the surface# creating a cushion of moisture on the eye to keep them comfortable throughout the day.

                                  Yes! You can get a voucher for a 5-day supply of free~ trial of TOTAL1TM contact lenses. You can claim the voucher with your name, email address, and select an optical store you would like to redeem it. After you download the voucher, make a booking with the store and take it to the optometrist who can recommend and fit the TOTAL1TM contact lens that’s right for you. To find more click on the "Offer" page on the top right hand corner.

                                    Daily disposable contact lenses need to be replaced every day. They are designed for single use; you put them in every morning and toss them at night. It’s that simple.

                                      No. Sleeping in contact lenses not designed to be worn overnight can increase the risk of certain contact lens-related complications. Speak to your eye care professional and always follow their recommendations for contact lens wear, care and replacement.

                                        For step-by-step instructions on how to insert and remove daily contact lenses, watch our simple steps guide here.

                                          No, when inserted correctly contact lenses cannot fall out of the eyes. To ensure lenses are properly inserted, follow your contact lens packet or optometrist's instructions. For further help on inserting daily contact lenses, watch our simple steps guide.

                                            Yes, contact lenses can be inside out. To ensure they are the correct way before inserting them into the eye, check that the lens isn’t bending outwards. If it does bend outwards towards your finger, the lens is inside out. With clean hands, reverse the lens in the palm of your hands prior to insertion.

                                              No, contact lenses cannot get stuck behind the eye. Contacts can however get stuck behind the eye lid. If this happens, simply rinse your eyes with sterile saline or contact your local Eye Care Professional for further advice.

                                              References: 1. CLO870-C003 DAILIES TOTAL1 Toric Fit and Rotation Claims Trial - Claims Support Summary 2. CLO870-E004 Dispensing Clinical Performance Evaluation of Silicone Hydrogel Soft Toric Contact Lenses (clinical study summary) 3. Pitt W, Jack D, Zhao Y, Nelson J, Pruitt J. Loading and release of a phospholipid from contact lenses. Optom Vis Sci. 2011; 88(4)502-506. 4. CLO870-C002 TDOC-0055438 Comparison of Two Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel Toric Contact Lenses. 5. Greiner JV, Glonek T, Korb DR, Leahy C. Phospholipids in meibomian gland secretion. Ophthalmic Res. 1996;28(1):44-49. 6. Shine WE, McCulley JP. Polar lipids in human meibomian gland secretions. Curr Eye Res. 2003;26(2):89-94. 7. Angelini TE, Nixon RM, Dunn AC, et al. Viscoelasticity and mesh-size at the surface of hydrogels characterized with microrheology. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:E-abstract 500. 8. Thekveli S, Qui Y, Kapoor Y, et al. Structure-property relationship of delefilcon A lenses. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2012;35(Supp1):e14. 9. Analytical and Material Property Verification Testing of DT1 UV HEVL Lenses: Spectral, Luminous, UV Class, and HEVL Percent Transmittance. Alcon data on file, 2018. Available on request. 10. Perez-Gomez I, Giles T. European survey of contact lens wearers and eye care professionals on satisfaction with a new water gradient daily disposable contact lens. Clinical Optometry. 2014;6:17–23. Sponsored by Alcon.