5 Fast facts about contact lenses

1. MULTIFOCAL LENSES OFFER NEW OPTIONS FOR THOSE MIDDLE-AGED AND BEYOND
Once you reach age 40 or so, many contact lens wearers with nearsightedness -- meaning they have difficulty seeing things at a distance -- discover that they now have trouble reading up close, too. For some, that means having to wear reading glasses in addition to their contacts, which largely defeats the purpose.
"Now, there are blended contact lenses that people can wear for both distance and close-up vision," said Dr. Leslie Goldberg, director of ophthalmology at St. Francis Hospital and an eye surgeon based in Manhasset
These lenses are known as bifocal or multifocal lenses because they allow two or more levels of vision correction.
2. SOFT LENSES ARE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT ASTIGMATISM
Astigmatism, a condition that causes blurred vision, has long been difficult to correct through contact lenses, especially the widely favored soft ones.
But today, more soft contact lenses -- including daily disposables -- are available to treat astigmatism, Goldberg said. However, their availability still may be limited by a particular person's prescription.
Daily disposable lenses, for example, aren't available for some people who need higher levels of correction, he said, because there aren't enough people with those prescription levels for contact lens manufacturers to sell the lenses at a high volume.
3. CONTACT LENSES CAN COMBAT DRYNESS
Though some people can't wear contact lenses because their eyes are naturally too dry and become irritated by the contacts, "there are several new materials and designs which incorporate a lubricating agent within the lens or other treatments that can improve the long-term 'wetability,' " Goldberg said. "Dryness is less of a problem, and some people who couldn't have previously been able to wear contacts can wear them."
However, dryness still can be troublesome for some contact lens wearers, cautioned Dr. Gerard D'Aversa, an ophthalmologist in Valley Stream. "The contacts need to float on the surface of the eye for them to function properly," he explained. "Patients that have a dry eye syndrome could have difficulty wearing the contacts and, in turn, could have complications from the contacts mechanically rubbing up against the surface of the cornea without proper lubrication being present."
4. DON'T WEAR YOUR LENSES OVERNIGHT
"We see the most common problems related to contacts in patients who sleep with the contacts overnight," D'Aversa said.
"The contact lens is placed on the cornea at the front of the eye," he said. "This structure receives its oxygen and nutrients from the tear layer covering the cornea. Contacts slow or may prevent the flow of oxygen and nutrients
from being absorbed by the cornea. This leads to a breakdown of the corneal surface, which, in turn, can lead to infections of the cornea and ultimately scar tissue formation and loss of vision."
To prevent this from happening, it's crucial to allow the cornea "to breathe," he said, by giving it a break from contacts.
5. DAILY DISPOSABLES REMAIN THE SAFEST LENSES
To reduce the chances of developing an eye infection, ophthalmologists recommend that contact lenses be worn for the shortest time possible. The best way to do that is to put in new lenses each day, they say.
Dr. Pamela Weber, an ophthalmologist in Commack and Shirley who specializes in retina disorders, said that daily disposable lenses don't require chemical disinfection or cleaning, nor do they need to be stored in contact lens cases that can become contaminated.
She suggested that people who don't have daily disposable lenses replace their lens cases every month to avoid contamination.
And if you feel an eye irritation, Weber said, contact your eye doctor right away because you could have an infection. "Don't hold off," she said -- and be sure to take the lens with you to your appointment so your doctor can inspect it.