What is conjunctivitis?

The conjunctiva is a clear, thin membrane which stretches between your eyelid and your eye. It is what prevents contact lenses from being lost behind a wearers eyeball. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of this membrane. There are three major types of conjunctivitis: viral, bacterial and allergic. This article will discuss these three types of conjunctivitis and explain how they may be treated.

What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis / how do you diagnose conjunctivitis?

You may have conjunctivitis if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Itchiness Redness Sensitivity to light Swelling of your eyelids

 

If you experience any of the above symptoms of conjunctivitis you should stop wearing your contact lenses immediately. Wearing contact lenses whilst suffering from conjunctivitis can cause damage to the cornea of your eye so please make sure you don't take any unnecessary risks by continuing to wear your contact lenses.

If you consider any of your symptoms severe you should book an appointment to see your GP / Optician. When you visit your GP / Optician, he / she will carefully examine your eyes and check for swelling or tenderness around your jaw and ears. Your GP / Optician may also take a sample of liquid from your eyes in order to test what types of infection is present.

How do you treat the different forms of conjunctivitis?

Viral conjunctivitis eventually goes away on its own, even if it isn't treated. Your GP / Optician may however prescribe eye drops to help to manage your symptoms. Antihistamine pills may also help to relieve the itchiness. Viral conjunctivitis usually gets worse for around a week after the first symptoms. It usually gets better after between ten days and a month.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic eye drops. These eye-drops help to wash your eyes gently. Bacterial conjunctivitis normally improves in less than two days after antibiotic eye-drops are first used. If after three days of applying antibiotic drops to your eyes the conjunctivitis has not cleared up then you should book an appointment with your GP / Optician.

Allergic conjunctivitis should be treated by first ensuring you are no longer exposed to the allergen. Once this is achieved, the symptoms should reduce naturally. Antihistamine tablets or certain eye drops may sometimes be prescribed to speed up the process.

Is there anything I can do to reduce the chances of getting conjunctivitis?

There are a few precautionary steps that contact lens wearers can take to reduce the chances of getting conjunctivitis. Please always:

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly Avoid excessively rubbing your eyes Avoid sharing eye makeup or cosmetics Do not share towels or washcloths with others

 

By following the advice above you should reduce the risk of catching conjunctivitis. However, if you do think you are suffering from conjunctivitis and it is not clearing up then it is essential that you stop wearing your contact lenses and visit your GP / Optician.

conjunctivitis not clearing uphow to spot pink eyepink eye not clearing up

Today, a wide range of procedures are performed on the eye, with local or general anesthesia. The choice to apply lidocaine topically or put the patient to sleep depends on the procedure, the age and the anxiety of the patient regarding the surgery.

Speaking about eye surgery procedures, it goes without saying that all the necessary measures are taken to ensure an optimum result. The patient’s heart rhythm is monitored throughout the entire time, precautions are taken to maintain a sterile operating area and all the instruments are previously cleaned.

Given the modern advances in medicine, it’s no wonder that most eye surgery procedures are done with the laser. One of the many examples that could be given is represented by treating the rupture of the retina through laser eye surgery. There are many procedures recommended to patients who have been diagnosed with cataracts, an eye disease that involves the opacification of the natural lens of the eye. Usually, the patient’s lens is replaced with a new one, made of a highly resistant material.

When it comes to cataract eye surgery, the patient is commonly administered a local anesthetic and there is very little discomfort associated. There are no complications following this particular procedure and the patient’s vision is successfully restored, thanks to the newly introduced lens implant. Eye surgery might also be performed in patients who have been diagnosed with glaucoma, affecting the optic nerve. The procedure that doctors used to reduce the increased intraocular pressure is known as canaloplasty, based on the use of microcatheters. This type of eye surgery is considered minimally invasive and it is highly effective when it comes to treating intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma.

Refractive surgery has become an important part of modern eye medical interventions, encompassing a wide range of surgical techniques that correct refractive disorders. Whether we are talking about reshaping the cornea, treating hypermetropia (farsightedness) or correcting astigmatism, the equipment used is of the latest technology and always guarantees the expected results. Other advanced procedures refer to a corneal transplant (using the cornea from a donor, a procedure known as keratoplasty), repairing the retina after a complete detachment or sealing a tear using the laser photocoagulation technique.

The world is changing and daring procedures are being proposed as we speak. Doctors talk about making a prosthesis for the cornea out of a tooth, about freezing the retina in order to repair damaged tissue and they are constantly on the lookout for experimental procedures.

Throughout Los Angeles, lasik eye surgery is offered by skilled surgeons that provide detailed care for your eyes. When your eyes are developing, the cornea of your eye can develop in the wrong shape. Just being slightly extended can cause you to lose some vision in your eyes where others would have perfect vision. Each person has their own level of difficulty with this, but your doctor will work with you to alter the shape of your eye using lasik so that your eye's can ultimately improve to better vision. One thing that you will want to learn about though, is the role that contact lenses play in lasik surgery.

Although there are many ideal locations and surgeons that can provide some pretty complex procedures in Los Angeles, lasik eye surgery does require you to do a few things for yourself. For starters, you need to stop wearing your contact lenses at least a few days, preferably longer, before you talk with your doctor about lasik. Contact lenses can change the shape of your eyes which means that your doctor can not provide you with a clear diagnosis until they have come back from this shape.

If you wear hard contact lenses, you need to keep them out of your eyes at least four full weeks before having your evaluation. For those that have toric soft lenses or RGP contacts, at least three weeks is advisable. If you wear soft contact lenses, you still need to remove them and keep them out for at least two weeks prior to being screened. If you don't do this, your doctor can not get an accurate measurement and therefore can't do as successful of a procedure on you.

When you meet with your Los Angeles lasik professional, they will instruct you on the specifics for your case. Take a few minutes and ask about contact lens usage.

do contact lenses change the shape of your eye

There are many renowned as well as diverse laser eye surgery clinics that offer the best available treatments at the most affordable prices and also achieve high quality clinical excellence. Laser eye surgery could cost approximately $1000 and the quick and simple procedure offers freedom from blurred and incorrect vision and provides an alternative to wearing glasses as well as contact lenses.

Laser eye surgery is not like other operations in that it is only performed on people with healthy eyes in order to cure eye diseases. There are different laser eye surgeries such as lasik, epi-lasik, wavefront lasik/epi-lasik, and femtosecond lasik or the new state of the art all laser lasik.

Lasik, Epi-lasik, and Wavefront Surgeries

Lasik is used in correcting a broad spectrum of prescriptions and is most suited for the correction of mild to severe short sight, mild and long sight as well as astigmatism where the patient would generally recover in a day's time. Epi-lasik is not as invasive as lasik and can be used to correct mild to moderate short sight as well as astigmatism.

Wavefront lasik/epi-lasik is a treatment that can be customized and is designed to correct unusually shaped eyes as well as cases of unsatisfactory results from using lasik or epi-lasik treatments and is greatly instrumental in improving night vision. When the patient is undergoing laser eye surgery the surgeon most often uses a device known as the Excimer Laser which helps to shape the patient's cornea forever.

In PRK, the surgeon utilizes a laser beam that is guided with the help of a computer to vaporize small amounts of tissue that is present on the surface of the cornea. Using PRK helps in removing the right amount of tissue and reforms the cornea to enable corrected vision and the healing process may last a week or so.

Laser eye surgery is usually performed by very experienced as well as highly trained specialists and the results vary from satisfactory to excellent. In many cases the patient finds his or her life vastly improved as a result of such treatment since they may not have to use prescription glasses or contact lenses after the surgery. However, the patient should have realistic expectations before the eye surgery is performed and for those who are above 40, they should know that it may still be necessary for them to use reading glasses, even after the surgery.

Contact lenses can give you better vision than glasses but if you don't care for them properly you may not only impair the way you see through them but you could also harm the health of your eyes. That's why it is critical that you develop proper care habits when it comes to your contact lenses.

First and foremost, you should follow the guidelines for the type of contacts you wear. Different makes of contacts have different procedures for cleaning and storing and you need to care for them per the manufacturers instruction. Improper care can result in uncomfortable contacts and could also ruin your contact lenses or harm your eye.

When it comes to your eyesight you need to take every precaution to protect them but many contact lens wearers are lax in this area. Proper cleaning is important and you should use the solutions suggested by the manufacturer and not plain water. Water and homemade saline solutions can contain micro-organisms, chlorine and other minerals that can damage the lens and harm your eyes.

Your eyes are very sensitive and can easily become infected when you do not clean your lenses properly. The lens develops a build up of deposits that can irritate the eye. Lens cleaning solutions will break down the deposits and disinfect the lens.

Unless you are wearing disposable lenses you must clean your contacts after every wear. Use an appropriate lens case for storage and clean the case and allow to air dry between uses.

Do you try to extend the wearing of your contacts? You should refrain from doing this as it can cause discomfort. Some contacts are meant to be thrown out after one day of wear. Others can be worn for a week or a month without removing them in between. Most require removal and cleaning every day. It is important to know the schedule your contacts are intended for to prevent problems with your eyes.

Removing your contacts can be a chore at the end of the day but it is important to remove them properly. When you remove or insert your contacts be sure to handle them with clean, dry hands. Avoid washing your hands with soaps containing perfumes or oils and don't allow sunscreen, hand cream or nail polish remover to come in contact with them.

If your eyes are dry and irritated you can also use eye drops to remoisten your contacts while wearing them rather than trying to take them out. In fact, if your eyes do feel dry and the contact is sticking try to remoisten your contacts before attempting to remove them.

If you wear makeup you should insert the contacts before applying cosmetics and remove them before washing cosmetics off. Powders and sprays can irritate contact lens wearers so be careful when applying powdery shadows or hair spray when wearing contact lens.

If your eyes do become irritated when wearing your contacts do not rub them! This can be very harmful to the lens or your eye. If it is not comfortable to wear them, simply remove them and clean them in cleaning solution before putting them in again. Sometimes it is best to wait a day or two before trying to put them back in. Make sure you store them properly during this time.

Your vision is pretty important so you want to take care to protect it from harm. This means seeing your eye doctor regularly and following his directions for care. If you do think you've injured or infected your eye do not wear your contacts until you have been seen by an eye care specialist.

If, like most of us, you wear glasses or contact lenses, the possibility of having good eyesight without them may seem remote. For years you have been stuck with only these two options-or a third, of not seeing very well.

Today, Lasik eye surgery is all you ever hear about and you probably know several people who have already been through the process. They just rave over how quick and easy the process was and that they do not have to be bothered wearing glasses or taking care of contact lenses. And, you are seriously considering doing the same thing. But, are you a good candidate for this surgery?

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate is to schedule an appointment with an eye surgeon and have an examination. There are certain standards that your eyes must meet in order to be considered for the surgery. They are:

* A correctly sized pupil,
* A cornea of the right thickness,
* A cornea that is structurally normal (not an unusual shape),
* Have a healthy pressure within the eye, and
* Have basically healthy eyes (with no diseases or injuries that might interfere with the surgery).

Okay, you are ready to go. You have received your eye examination and have been approved for the procedure by the eye surgeon. Now what? You schedule a date and show up at the appropriate time. You know that you will be awake for the procedure and everything has been carefully explained. Now, it is time to prep for the surgery.

You are finally in the laser suite where you will be positioned comfortable on your back under the excimer laser. Your surgeon will put anesthetic eye drops in your eyes to numb their surface. The eyelashes are taped out of the way and an eyelid speculum is placed between you eyelids to keep you from blinking.

Small reference marks are put on your cornea to serve as positional guides for replacing the corneal flap. A suction ring is placed on your eye to hold it is position and to maintain the pressure within. The corneal flap is now created and folded back. The next step is for the laser procedure to sculpture the cornea by vaporizing small amounts of tissue-this step can take anywhere from 20-90 seconds to complete. The eye is then flushed out to remove any debris and then the corneal flap is put back into its original position.

You will be asked to sit quietly with your eyes closed for about 30 minutes and then the eye surgeon will come back and check to make sure that everything is all right. You may have a sensation that there is something in your eye, but this will pass. When it is time to go home, you will be given antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops, and lubricating eye drops along with a detailed set of instructions on what to do and when to do it. In addition, you will schedule several postoperative appointments to have your doctor check on your eyes.

Now, you know the basics. If you are considering lasik eye surgery, make sure that you do your research and find the best eye surgeon in the area. Once everything is completed, you will enjoy the freedom of not dealing with glasses and contact lenses.

Want to buy new contact lenses? Here we provide you with a review so that you can compare the price and quality of top branded contact lenses including disposable, dailywear and colored.

Focus Dailies: Focus dailies are very small, thin & light and comfortable to wear. You will not feel any edge; as cut by laser cutting process.

Good points of focus dailies:
a. Daily disposable use is amazingly hassle-free.
b. Light and comfortable for eyes.
c. Smooth rounded edge

Bad points of focus dailies:
a. Costs more than fortnightly or monthly lenses.
b. Feel tight on the eye. after a full days wear.
c. Can be difficult to remove due to this tightness.
d. Can't sleep in them.

Ciba vision optix: They offer high breathability at lower rates. You can wear them for more than ten hours per day without any irritating.

Good points of Ciba vision optix:
a. Highly breathable.
b. Comfortable and durable.

Negative aspects of Ciba vision optix:
a. They are expensive.
b. Can not sleep wearing them.

Fresh Look Colorblends: They are the cheapest Color Lenses available in the web. Lot of color variation is available to choose from. Crazy Color contact lenses are also available to give Halloween effects.

1DAY ACUVUE: If you are among them who replace their contact lens per day, nothing to disappoint, you too have something new. 1 DAY ACUVUE offer you most convenient and healthiest way to wear contact lenses. No lens case, No solutions and no need of maintenance. Just use and throw. Wear a new contact lens every day and feel your self fresh from dawn to dusk. 100% satisfaction guarantee provided by ACUVUE is signature of their proficiency.

Some unmatchable properties of 1 DAY ACUVUE:
a) Provides freedom for sports or active lifestyles.
b) No lens care, cases or messy solutions required.
c) Protects you from ultra violet radiations.
d) Perfect for allergy sufferers.
e) Great for occasional uses.
With the help of available reviews you can buy the best contact lens suitable for you.

Being a contact lens wearer can be quite a hassle. You have to buy, maintain and replace your contacts plus have annual eye tests. If you're looking for an alternative you may find that either a 30-day contact lens is the solution or you may find that corrective eye surgery is the only way forward. Although both methods are great, they also have some disadvantages. So make sure you understand the pros and cons of each before you make a decision.

Advantages of 30-day Continuous Wear Contact Lenses

Quick - You will notice an improvement in your vision the moment you place the contacts in. If you find them at all uncomfortable it's probably because you've been given the wrong prescription. All you have to do to rectify the problem is to go back to your optician.

Low Cost - These lenses do not cost a fortune and there's no need to take out a loan to finance them. When you have worn them for 30 days all you have to do is dispose of them and buy new ones. This means you won't have to have so much in the way of cleaning products. However it's still recommended that you keep a bottle of cleaner to hand.

New Technology - The silicone hydrogel which is used to make these lenses are much more efficient at allowing oxygen into the eye. Your eyes will stay much healthier and irritation-free.

If a recent eye examination shows you need to change your prescription this is a very easy process.

Disadvantages of 30-day Continuous Wear Contact Lenses

Even though technology has come a long way, you may find that sleeping with your contact lenses in is a bit uncomfortable. If this is the case they may not be the best choice. You also have an increased chance of getting an infection if lenses are worn while you sleep.

Because your eyes can change over the years it's strongly advisable to keep going for annual eye examinations to make sure your prescription is still valid.

Advantages of LASIK Eye Surgery

Success rates are now very high for LASIK operations. Technology, training and experience have improved a great deal over the years. In most cases people completely restore their vision to 20/20 or even better. The results are also long-lasting.

The results you get from LASIK are pretty much immediate and a lot of patients can drive home after the operation.

Disadvantages of LASIK eye surgery

Costs are significant with surgery. It costs generally around $2,000 an eye so you may have to take out a loan. Talk to your surgeon to see if there are any financing options available.

Like any other surgery, LASIK is not guaranteed and mistakes can, and sometimes do, happen. Some patients don't see improvements or suffer side effects such as the appearance of spots, glare and dry eyes.

Also some people aren't eligible for surgery because the health of their eyes aren't up to scratch or they are generally not in good health.

Although surgery is long lasting, you may still need to wear prescription glasses in years to come as presbyopia becomes an issue.

Also make sure you attend regular eye examinations.

The secret to finding and buying discount contact lenses is that you should look for a professional outlet. Your contact lens outlet should be able to supply you with your discount contact lenses because they have a superior business model.

You definitely don't want a contact lens supplier that takes shortcuts through the system. The internet is full of questionable contact lens stores. You could place an order with an inferior company that sends you the wrong prescription, the wrong contact lens brand or the wrong contact lenses altogether.

When you need a new prescription, you need it immediately. You don't have time or money to waste on sham companies that are willing to take risks with your health and your eyes. You should only deal with companies that want to protect your eyesight and your health. Hygiene and packaging is of the utmost importance.

A good indication of the quality of a contacts lens dealer is the time that it has been in business. Has it been around for a number of years or is it a recent startup? Years of experience show that a company knows what it is doing. It also indicates that the dealer has a solid base of customers who keep coming back.

Such a dealer will have an established reputation in the eye care and medical optical business. It will have solid relationships with the best and most well-known contact lens manufacturers. The top manufacturers are willing to supply them with quality discount contact lenses. It is low risk and high volume business to them and they respond with low prices and quick delivery. Make sure that you only purchase contact lenses from a supplier have the infrastructure and experience necessary to back up their promises.

You should not even consider buying no-name discount contacts, look for reputable products from top companies in America and the world. These will be companies like Bausch & Lomb, CIBA Vision, Johnson & Johnson, Wesley-Jessen, and a couple of others.

Look for discount contacts lens suppliers that guarantee purchase satisfaction, prompt shipping, safe shipping, low prices, and quality after sale service. Your eyes are worth the time it takes to do the research. Find an internet contact lens supplier that can provide all of these benefits.

If you don't take care of your contact lenses, they can do you more harm than good. Contact lenses are a very popular alternative to corrective vision, and they can really help your eyes if you take care of them. There are ways that you can get the most from your contacts, and ensure that they remain comfortable for as long as you wear them. Below, you will find some tips on how to get the best from your contacts.

To ensure that your contacts remain healthy, you should always replace them as required by the manufacturer or type of contacts you are using. Most types of contacts need to be replaced every 2 weeks, and replaced with a fresh pair. If you are using daily disposable lenses, you should always throw them away before you go to sleep, then wake up to a fresh new pair in the morning.

Another common mistake people make, that can easily damage or affect contacts, is swapping them with other people. You should never swap your contacts, even with a family member or friend. No matter how well you know the person, you should never switch contacts with them. Swapping contacts can damage your eyes, in the terms of protein and contact shape/power.

Anytime your eyes start to bother you, you should take your contacts out and allow your eyes time to rest. Normally, if your contacts are causing irritation, allowing your eyes ample time to rest will correct the problem. If it happens to be more than just tired eyes or irritation, you should leave your contacts out until you can schedule an appointment with your optician and get them checked.

Before you handle your contacts, or put them in your eyes, you should always wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly. If you handle your contacts with dirty hands, you could easily get dirt or debris on your lenses and transfer that dirt that you put on the lens into your eye - which could result in an eye infection. If your hands aren't clean, you can also scratch or tear your contact lens, which can do damage to your eyes, possibly even scratch the cornea.

When you handle your solution, you should avoid letting the tip of the bottle touch any surface. You should also make sure that you read the label on the solution bottles, as there are some types of saline solution that are intended to be used with certain contacts. Some types of solution aren't meant to be put in your eyes, while others can be used as eye drops. To be on the safe side, you should always read the label and know what you can and can't do with your solution.

When you put your contacts in, you should try and put them in using the same order each and every time. This way, you'll know which contact goes in first and you won't get them mixed up. Before you put them in, you should always inspect them each and every time to make sure they aren't torn or damaged. If you notice a tear or anything wrong with your lenses, you should immediately discard them and switch to a fresh pair.

To get the most from your contacts and ensure that they remain comfortable, you should always take care of them and use a bit of common sense. If you experience any problems with your contacts, you should take them out and let your eyes rest for a while. Contacts are great to have, although you'll need to rest your eyes every so often. This way, your eyes will get the rest and oxygen they need, and you can go back to wearing your contacts after a few hours.