Am I a Candidate for Contact Lenses?

Wearing contact lenses can be a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses. However, it is not an option for everyone. Some conditions can make them unsuitable for you. To be sure, your eye doctor will carefully examine your eyes before giving you the green light on wearing contact lenses. Here are some of the factors that they consider.

 

Do You Wear Eyeglasses?

Eyeglasses are probably the first determinant of whether you are a good candidate for contact lenses. A good candidate wears eyeglasses every day. However, he/she may want a break from them. Contact lenses may be more trouble than it is worth for people who do not need to wear glasses daily.

Engagement in Sports or Certain Work Environments

Some competitive sports may not be suitable for eyeglasses. For these, athletes may need to wear contact lenses instead. Some work environments may also not be appropriate for eyeglasses.

Unusual Refractive Errors

Contact lenses are a popular way of correcting refractive errors. The plastic or silicone discs rest on your eye, floating on the layer of tears. They are comfortable and give accurate vision for people with moderate refractive errors. They deal with refractive errors that include nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism. 

The more unusual your refractive error, the harder it is to fit you for contact lenses. People with high levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, or astigmatism fall into this category. Although there are improvements in contact lens technology, some unusual refractive errors remain hard to fit. Thus, you may not be a candidate for contact lenses.

Allergies

Allergies can make it quite uncomfortable to wear contact lenses—when allergies flare up, they can make your eyes itchy. The itching will interfere with your contact lens placement until you finally want to remove them. Other symptoms include eye redness, tearing, and sensitivity to light. 

You can cope with allergens if your allergies are not severe.  If you have severe allergies, the slightest exposure may result in a reaction. The blood vessels in your eyes may swell, and your eyes may burn. It may also result in discharge, which can be risky if you wear contact lenses. It can affect the cornea and cause scarring. The situation prevents you from being a good candidate for contact lenses.

Health

Your general health can affect the health of your eyes. You may need to undergo treatment for some diseases or conditions before your eye doctor fits you for contact lenses. Your doctor may start by getting your medical history. Afterward, they may conduct an eye exam to check if there are any conditions you may not know. 

These conditions may present their first signs in your eyes. They include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and brain tumors. The doctor will first refer you to a specialist before fitting you with contact lenses.

For more information on contact lenses, contact Highlands Optometry at our office in Bristol or Wise, Virginia. Call (276) 466-4227 or (276) 679-5612, respectively,  to book an appointment today.