Contact Lens 101

A lot of people online have been asking me about contact lens, the terms, safety, specifications and all.. Honestly, I'm no expert, but I would like to share what I know and what I've gathered from my experience.
For this, I'll use Geo Nova Blue as an example.

Photos and information belong to solution-lens.com

Sellers always provide a photo of the lens design.

According to the site:

• Diameter: 15mm

Of course, diameter is the overall size of the lens. Although, some lens who have specifications like 16mm, 17mm or even 20mm may refer to how big your eyes will look once you wear them.

• Water content: 42%

Higher water content means more oxygen can pass through the lenses to let your eyes breathe. Since soft lenses are soaked in solution most of the time, the water fills up the small spaces in the lens to keep the lens soft and clean up those spaces so that once you wear them your eyes won't be suffocated. It also goes without saying that those with higher water content are more fragile to tearing.

• Base curve: 8.6mm

When you look at your lens sideways (put it on your finger and hold it at eye level), and measure the length of it, the result is the base curve. The base curve actually determines how curved or straight your lenses are. Lenses are made to fit the curve of your eye so that they stay on easily and to avoid discomfort.

• Shelf life: 3 years

A common misconception about this is that this is the total lifespan of the lens. NO! It means the lifespan of the lens WHEN IT IS STORED AND UNOPENED/NOT IN USE. It means it's in an airtight vial/case soaked in medical solution. This is how long the lens can live if its not used.

• Lifespan: 1 year

Now this is the lifespan of your lenses WHEN YOU USE IT AND WHEN YOU HAVE OPENED IT FROM THE ORIGINAL VIAL/CASE. The shortest spans I have seen is 6 months and longest is 1 year.

 

Some shops provide a 'when worn' photo.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• When not in use, always put it in the lens case and nowhere else. This is to avoid infection.
• Never share your lenses with someone else.
• Wash your hands before you put on and take out your lenses.
• Dip your fingers in solution before removing your lens. NEVER USE WATER.
• Don't sleep overnight with your lens on. Short naps (30 mins max) are okay, but you'll feel the lens kinda stick to your eye. Solution will help if you want to remove them.
• When putting on makeup: Contact lens FIRST.
• When removing makeup: Contact lens FIRST.

 

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me, or your local doctor. :)

Thanks for reading~