Contact Lens Myths

• I can't wear contacts
• Contact lenses get lost
• Contact lenses cost too much
• Contact lenses can get stuck or fused to my eye
• Contact lenses are painful
• Contact lenses are good beyond their prescribed compliance
• Contact lenses cause eye infections
• Contact lenses can get lost behind my eye
• I'll never be able to get contact lenses in my eyes
• Contact lenses are not for children
• Contact lenses are a pain to clean and care for
• It's not safe to wear contact lenses when playing sports

I can't wear contacts

More than likely a myth. Contact lenses cater to the vision correction needs of an enormous demographic; young and old, good eyesight and bad. More teenagers and children are choosing contact lenses over eyeglasses, as are seniors with post cataract surgery needs, and mid-lifers suffering from presbyopia. In fact, only a handful of people can’t wear contact lenses and it’s usually a result of some type of physical impairment. Ask your eye doctor about the pros and cons of wearing contact lenses.

Contact lenses get lost

Contact lenses popping out and getting away from the wearer is a bit over exaggerated. Although this happened typically with older hard contact lenses that were prone to bounce around, modern soft contact lenses are much easier to handle and more stable in the eye. Proper fitting by your eye care professional, along with placing contact lenses in your eyes correctly, should ensure that your contact lenses stay in place with little difficulty.

Contact lenses cost too much

At one time, contact lenses were more expensive then eyeglasses. Those days are gone. Contact lenses are now just as affordable as a pair of eyeglasses and, for many, much easier to wear and maintain. A year's supply of two-week disposables cost about the same as one pair of spectacles in an 'average' set of frames. Either way, you can expect to spend at least $300 a year for quality vision correction.

Contact lenses can get stuck or fused to my eye

This is surely a myth. Most of the time, contact lens wearers think this is happening because they’ve either let their eyes run dry or they may be wearing contact lenses beyond their prescribed compliance. If you ever find yourself in this predicament, splash a little cool water on your eye and wait a minute or two for the lens to loosen. If you fail at this, a nurse at a local clinic or hospital can remove your lens without any problem. The key is not to panic. Dry eyes and / or dry contact lenses are typical for non-compliant wearers and those with bad contact lens habits.

Contact lenses are painful

The majority of contact lens wearers experience some slight discomfort when they first begin wearing lenses, which may last for only a few minutes once contact lenses are inserted into the eye-nothing that can be described as pain unless other factors are involved. Much of the discomfort associated with old fashioned hard contact lenses has been dispelled by new designs and contact lens materials that are much softer, more flexible and durable than hard contact lenses.

Contact lenses are good beyond their prescribed compliance

Absolutely a myth, and a very dangerous one at that! Disposable contact lenses need to be discarded on the date set by the manufacturer. Keep in mind that compliance dates (1-2 week disposables; 1-3 month disposables; daily disposables) are approved by the FDA, as contact lenses fall under the category of healthcare. To fall out of compliance means to risk eye health and can result in impaired vision and ultimately cause permanent damage to your eye. Disposable contact lens material also begins to break down when used post compliance, which is a detriment to contact lens performance.

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Contact lenses cause eye infections

Most contact lens problems (including eye infections) stem almost invariably from poor hygiene, improper handling of contact lenses and wearing contact lenses beyond the manufacturer’s prescribed compliance. If you follow the professional advice you receive from your eye doctor when getting fitted for contact lenses, you are at an extremely low risk of suffering any adverse effects or infections.

Contact lenses can get lost behind my eye

An absolute myth. A thin membrane called the conjunctiva forms a barrier between your eyeball and eyelid making it impossible for the lens to move from the front part of your eye to the back.

I'll never be able to get contact lenses in my eyes

It may appear daunting at first, but you'll quickly get used to putting contact lenses in your eyes and taking them out with ease. A yourlens.com eye care professional will show you best practice ways of inserting and removing your contact lenses. Before you know it, you're a pro at contact lens wear and will look back at your old fears and laugh.

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Contact lenses are not for children

A huge contact lens myth! As long as children are old enough to understand good hygiene, the importance of contact lens compliance and how to properly handle and care for contact lenses, they are old enough to wear contacts.

Contact lenses are a pain to clean and care for

Nothing could be farther from the truth, especially when considering daily disposable contact lense,s which you throw away and replace with fresh lenses every day. Spectacle wearers that switch to disposable contact lenses rarely go back to wearing glasses.

It's not safe to wear contact lenses when playing sports

Contact lenses provide superior peripheral vision without the obstruction of eyeglass frames and the distraction associated with seeing the edge of your lenses in front of you. Contact lenses are also void of glare, so playing sports when facing in the direction of the sun isn’t a problem. Contact lenses are not recommended for water sports, as they can more easily fall out of your eye.