Contact lenses

Oh my that is so worrying my son wears contact lenses, do you have a link to the report please

I haven't seen any recent reports. Where did you hear/read this, Yamyam?

Just found some info on net saying that you should never rinse anything to do with your contact lenses in tap water, apparently there is a bug in tap water that causes an infection in the eye that causes blindness. but please do do your own research.

But it says, quite clearly on the solution that you wash and soak your lenses in, not to use tap water for that very reason. I wouldn't dare take a risk with my sight to save a pound or two on solution. Perhaps the risks should be emphasised.

I think these reports are slightly scare mongering, I've used contacts for years, and as long as you go for regular check ups, clean them as directed and take care generally, I think modern contact lenses are very safe.

Contact lenses are very safe as long as the wearer complies with the wearing schedule and cleaning regime explained to them by their optometrist. Tap water should never be used. Daily disposable lenses are the way to go if you are worried about problems caused by ineffective cleaning.

Make sure you attend all aftercare appointments and follow the professional advice given and there are unlikely to be any problems.

Yamyam do you have any information on these reports?

Sorry, no. These reports were in the paper so were just written by a journalist.
I use contacts intermittently ( when I am feeling particularly vain)
I use daily disposables and always wash my hands (and dry them) before inserting or removing them. I also have lens-wearer check-ups with my optician.
Of course the people in these 2 cases were going for litigation and I just feel so sorry for the manufacturer because obviously it would be difficult to prove poor hygiene. Some people are so stupid and ignorant.
The reason I asked was that I feel quite indignant that these people will probably be awarded costs - doesn't seem fair to me. But it hasn't put me off wearing them!

OK I'll get off my soapbox now....

Roseyk- sorry to have panicked you re. your son's lenses. I'm sure he treats them sensibly and with respect. I suppose it was the litigation bit that got to me and I wondered how others felt.

Yamyam sorry to say but it seems to be the society that we now live in very sad really imo.

To Glammanana- this whole litigation thing started (in the NHS anyway) at the end of the 80's/beg.90's where the consultant in charge of our A&E, warned all the casualty officers that even if a patient came in at 3am, and if they didn't do ALL necessary investigations immediately, (I'm talking about minor injuries here, ie tiny piece of glass in finger etc.) they had to be prepared for possible litigation. We didn't have triage in those days, unfortunately.
This all came from USA. What next I wonder?

(I'd love to be on that programme "Grumpy Old Women")

If it's the problem I recently heard about it's related to buying contact lenses online. Customers just have to say that they have a valid prescription and can buy online without having regular check-ups.

So if you develop a problem it could go unnoticed if you are not seeing the optician regularly.

I was speaking to someone about this and he said that it would apply to people that do not use contact lenses as it is the tap water that is the main problem as this is were the germ is that causes the damage--I am not sure this is the case and will speak to a Doctor friend of mine and will report back--this is sooo scarey to me as I had a phobia abot my eyes and am worried as my youngest uses contact lenses

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As long as people are careful about hygiene, I think they're pretty safe. I use them less now though because I find them more uncomfortable. I believe eyes become drier with age and this is probably what I'm experiencing.

I used to wear contacts , but no longer , All my children wear them and have done so for years , no sign of any problems glad to say .

Apart from a break of about 5 years around the time my Mum died I have worn contact lenses since I was 20. I am now nearly 65 and so far(touch wood) have had no problems apart from occasional dry eyes and problems with dust in really windy weather.

I wore contact lens off and on for many years but had to stop when first, I became allergic to the paraben preservative used in all the recommended cleaning and lubricating fluids, I could only use saline solution, and then to the lens themselves. One eye coated the lens with protein within an hour of putting it in so that I could not see through it.

However through all my vicissitudes my lenses never caused me any infections and DD and DS have worn contact lens day in, day out for 20 years or more without any problems.

But as the Ronseal container that happens to be sitting on the kitchen table in front of me says: 'If you do exactly what it says on the tin this product will do exactly what it says on the tin' and it is exactly the same with contact lenses and other things. Follow the instructions about care and use and problems are unlikely to arise.

Flickerty- I had that problem with protein for years, struggling to get the right cleaning stuff etc. then I found the daily use lenses which are fantastic for my lifestyle, only occasional use
They are much safer in my opinion than the others, be they weekly ( couldn't bear to think of sleeping in them!) or monthly having to sterilise every night.
Riverwalk- I buy mine on line, they have been OK'd by my optician but I suppose it all boils down to taking responsibility for your own health.

Unfortunately, I did have daily use lenses, and they still proteined up.

Fortunately, I developed cataracts five years ago and when I had the operations I chose to have prescription lens that mean I do not need glasses for close work, only distance, I wear them to drive. This means for most of the time I do not wear either lenses or glasses, After nearly 60 years of needing glasses or lenses all the time this is a real PLEASURE.