What are the most common myths surrounding contact lens wear?

MYTH 4: Wearing contact lenses is not healthy.

Contact lens materials are biocompatible. Similar materials are often used in medical and healthcare applications. They provide the eye with sufficient oxygen – making oxygen deficiency a thing of the past when wearing modern silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The design of modern contact lenses allows them to adapt to the shape of the eye, providing optimum comfort. This means that properly selected by your eye care professional, and properly cared for, contact lenses are a healthy way to correct your vision. As contact lenses are a medical device, it is important to follow the instructions of your eye care professional.

MYTH 6: Contact lenses can get stuck in the eye.

No, it is not possible for a contact lens to get lost or stuck behind the eye. The contact lens can only stay in the front of the eye or under the eyelid if it has been incorrectly inserted. There is a protective barrier in the eye that encloses the white of the eye and the vaults under the upper and lower eyelids, so the contact lens will not slip behind them in any way.

MYTH 8: Contact lens cleaning takes forever.

Cleaning your contact lenses is very important for the health of your eyes and now it’s so easy!

Disposable contact lenses are the most comfortable way to wear contact lenses. Since you throw your lenses away every night, you will enjoy a new pair of contact lenses every day. So you never have to worry about cleaning your lenses.

Modern multi-purpose solutions make the care and use of contact lenses much easier. The best way to disinfect and clean your lenses is to leave them in the care solution overnight while you sleep. Always follow the instructions in the contact lens care solution instructions.

MYTH 10: Coloured contact lenses do not require an eye care professional.

Coloured contact lenses are available with and without dioptres. This means that you can wear coloured lenses if you don’t need vision correction. However, coloured contact lenses are a medical device and must be fitted by an eye care professional as they require the same care as other lenses. It is important to know that contact lenses should NEVER be shared with others in order to maintain healthy eyes.

MYTH 12: The higher the water content of a lens, the higher the oxygen conductivity.

This is a very common misunderstanding. In the new generation of silicone-hydrogel lenses, the water concentration is often much lower than in soft hydrogel lenses, but the oxygen conductivity is higher.

MYTH 14: Contact lenses are expensive.

The real cost of contact lenses is lower than people think. In reality, a day’s worth of contact lenses can cost less than what you spend on a newspaper or a cup of coffee every day. Depending on the type of contact lenses you wear and how often you change them, your eye care professional will help you find the contact lenses that best suit your vision correction, lifestyle needs and financial means.