Lots of time at the Computer can strain your eyes and cause a condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome, even with the best contact lenses.

Why is this?

Nearly Seventy million people suffer from eye problems due to computer work– and that number is rising each and every year. Why is this?

Primarily its computers straining our eyes, creating a condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

The images you see on your computer are created from thousands of tiny dots, known as pixels; which means there is no proper image for your eye to focus on.

Instead your eyes have to keep refocusing to make the images sharp– and after only two hours you end up with a sort of repetitive stress in your eye.

Using the best contact lenses can help here; and it won’t necessarily cause permanent eye damage, but it can be a considerable irritant.

What should I look out for?

The symptoms are red, dry, irritated eyes; with headaches; back and neck pain; and having trouble focusing, even with the best contact lenses. Lots of people don’t even know they have CVS. But once they are aware of the possible symptoms many people soon realize they may be suffering unnecessarily and take some action to improve their working conditions.

What to do next?

• Keep your computer screen within 20″-24″ of your eyes
• Keep the top of your computer screen slightly below eye level
• Minimize the distance between your computer screen and any documents you need to reference while working
• Adjust lighting to minimize glare on the screen
• Take a break every 15 minutes to focus on a distant object
• Blink frequently

 Colour lenses don’t always change your vision: only the appearance of your eyes. They are a fashion item and are available in a wide range of colours, patterns and looks.

• Like normal contacts, they are soft plastic lenses that sit on the surface of the eye and can damage the surface if they are not properly fitted or used correctly. Most require daily cleaning and many can’t be left in the eye for long periods.

So if you buy some novelty or contact colour lenses, you need to follow these basic rules for your eye health and safety.

Not everyone can wear contact lenses, which means an eye doctor needs to check the shape and size of your eye to determine whether you can wear novelty contact lenses and what type.

• Always get a proper prescription from your eye doctor, even of you don’t normally wear contacts
• Do not wear contact colour lenses for long periods of time.
• Do not leave your lenses in while you sleep.
• Never share your lenses or borrow a friend’s lenses – you risk a serious infection, which can cause vision loss.
• Wash, rinse and dry your hands every time before you touch your lenses.
• Always put your lenses in before applying make-up and take them out before removing make-up.

• Your eyes are very sensitive and any infection in the eye can develop very quickly increasing the risk of vision loss.
• If they are left in too long the surface of the eye can become starved of oxygen, and an ulcer can develop, increasing the risk of infection.
• If a contact colour lens doesn’t fit your eye properly it can scratch the surface of the eye and cause injury or infection.

If your eyes become red, irritated, sore or your vision changes while wearing your lenses, take them out straight away and visit your eye doctor.

• There have been a number of cases where people have left novelty lenses in overnight or shared them with friends and they developed permanent damage to their eyes.

• Novelty contact lenses need to be cleaned, rinsed and disinfected after every use – just like sight-changing contact lenses.
• Never ever use saliva to wet your lenses or put the lenses in your mouth. Saliva carries germs.
• Use only a proper contact lens solution recommended by an optometrist for cleaning and lubricating your lenses. These cleaning solutions are available from your optometrist or local pharmacy.

Wearing contact colour lenses can be fun and make your eyes look very different for a while. Wearing them without proper advice and handling can make a difference to your health for a lot longer and that’s not fun!

Dry eyes can be a problem for many people. Maybe you live in a windy climate, work in an air conditioned office or even spend a lot of time outside.

Years ago it was thought that having dry eyes meant you couldn’t wear contact lenses. But that’s not the true today.

 Some of the best contact lenses are really comfortable even if you suffer from extreme dry eyes.

With the latest technology you can get a contact lens with a high water content that makes it so comfortable to wear, as well as allowing that essential oxygen, for white eye health.

These lenses are made from Silicone Hydrogel which is very soothing for dry eyes, and ideal if you need to wear contacts for extended periods

Some of the other best contact lenses are made from a similar polymer called Omafilcon A, as well as Bio Compatible contact lenses, from ProClear, which adjust to the character of your eyes.

If you are using extended wear lenses then you must keep your contacts moist and conditioned with the right solution and hygiene is always critical for dry eyes, so ensure you wash your hands and be careful with makeup

If you need a special lens for astigmatism, no problem. The best contact lenses have a high moisture content, which helps you with dry eye and designed especially for your needs.

As always you should take recommendations from a good eye specialist and get your eyes tested regularly. Always ask for a national brand on your prescription so you can compare and get the best contact lenses and value on line.

So don’t think that dry eyes will keep you from wearing contact lenses. It’s just not true anymore.

What can I do if my eyes are dry after wearing a prescription contact lens?

You may find that your eyes feel dry after long periods of wearing contacts. Initially try some of the artificial tear solutions that are approved for contact wearers and maybe go back to using glasses for a couple of days.

If the problem is still around it may be best to see your eye doctor and consider changing your contact lenses or your wear schedule to daily disposable lenses

What happens if I put two contact lenses into the same solution compartment?

Many people have pairs of clear and colored lenses, but you should always keep them separate.

If they are cleaned together they sometimes stick and the cleaning process just does not work properly, leaving harmful residue on the lens surface.

Can you swim with contacts?

Sometimes your eyes can become irritated and the pool water can damage your lenses. Not everyone seems to have a problem, so it you want to try it with lenses, best to use a good pair of tight fitting goggles, especially in chlorinated pools.

What happens if you sleep in prescription contact lenses?

Fine if they are designed for overnight wear, such as Acuvue Oasys, as they have very high oxygen permeability, for healthy eyes. If it happens very occasionally with your Daily’s then your eyes may feel very dry the next day as the lens isn’t designed to let through the essential oxygen. Best to stick to the wear schedule

How long does a prescription contact lens last?

In short there are 2 dates to look out for. When you receive your box of lenses, there will be an expiry date on them – say 20 Dec 2012. Then there is the life of the lenses once the individual seal is broken i.e. Daily, 14 or 30 day etc.