Novelty contact lenses
contact; lens; eye; novelty;
Contents
Contact lenses can be used to correct vision, like a pair of glasses.
Novelty contact lenses don't change your vision, but can change the appearance of your eyes. They are a fashion item and are available in a wide range of colours, patterns and looks.
- Like contact lenses that change vision they are soft plastic lenses that sit on the surface of the eye and they can damage the surface if they do not fit well or are not cared for correctly. Most require daily cleaning and most can't be left in the eye for long periods.
- Buying novelty contact lenses overseas, from markets, or via the Internet can be dangerous to the health of your eyes because they might not fit or they may not be sterile.
Not everyone can wear contact lenses. An optometrist needs to check the shape and size of your eye to determine whether you can wear novelty contact lenses and what type.
The Australian Government has changed the Law to protect users from inferior products or non-sterile packaging. As from October 2007 you need a prescription from an optometrist or doctor to be able to buy novelty contact lenses in Australia, just like sight-changing contact lenses.
The information below comes from the site of the South Australian Department of Health.
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=352
Wearing novelty contact lenses
If you get novelty contact lenses, you need to also get advice about how to care for them and for your eyes.
- Do not wear 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.
- Put your lenses in before applying make-up and take them out before removing make-up.
- Putting novelty lenses in your eyes and taking them out is not always easy – an optometrist can show you how to do this safely.
Cleaning and storing novelty contact lenses
- 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.
What can go wrong?
- 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 novelty contact 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 an optometrist urgently.
- You don't need a referral from a doctor to see an optometrist.
- 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.
Wearing novelty contact 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!
For more information, have a look at the South Australia Department of Health website 'Novelty contact lenses'
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=352
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
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