Contact lenses for your lifestyle

If you exercise or play sports regularly, you could notice quite a difference wearing contact lenses rather than glasses.

• Whether you’re on the rink or the tennis court, with your whole field of vision in focus, you can follow the action with clarity.

• Unlike glasses, contact lenses won’t slip down your face if you’re sweaty, or bounce up and down while you’re running.

• They’re great for fast‑paced sports that require you to be at your most agile.

• They don’t get in the way of helmets or headgear, and you don’t have to worry about prescription goggles or sunglasses coming off if you’re into snow sports.

• During rough or contact sports, contact lenses remove the risk of eye injury from broken glasses.

As a rule, contact lenses and water don’t mix. Not only can they dislodge or come out, but water‑borne bacteria can attach themselves to your lenses and cause infections. So if you’re a regular swimmer, your optometrist might suggest you avoid wearing contact lenses, and instead invest in some prescription goggles.

If that’s not an option, daily disposable lenses are the safest type of lens for swimming. There’s less chance of a bacteria build‑up as you can take them out, throw them away and start again with a fresh pair.

For long journeys or holidays, it’s easiest to travel with daily disposable contact lenses.

You don’t have to worry about losing or damaging them while you’re away or making sure that you pack all the solutions you need – especially if you only have hand luggage. If you normally wear reusable lenses, it might be a good idea to ask your optometrist about switching to daily disposables during your trip.

The air conditioning and pressurized cabin makes wearing contact lenses for flights uncomfortable. Best to give your contact lenses a break, especially for long haul flights.

Tips on how to travel with contact lenses

• Keep your lenses in your carry‑on bag so that you won’t be without in case your hold baggage gets lost in transit.

• Don’t transfer your contact lens solutions into smaller bottles as this can affect the sterility of the solution – get a travel size bottle to take with you in your hand luggage.

• Whether you’re driving, flying, or sailing, make sure you stay hydrated and apply eye drops to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

• Stock up on your supply before you leave – it’s better to have more lenses than you need.

• If you have reusable lenses, bring a spare pair with you in case you lose or damage a lens.

It doesn’t matter whether you work in an office or not, we spend a lot of time staring at phone screens, tablets, laptops, and televisions. You may not realize it, but this can put quite a strain on your eyes.

Blinking is your eyes’ natural way of keeping your eyes clean and moist. When you look at a screen all day, especially if you’re concentrating, your blink rate reduces. Coupled with an air‑conditioned office environment, this can cause your eyes to dry out and become uncomfortable.

You might experience symptoms like:

• Dry, itchy, red, or irritated eyes

• Computer eye strain

• Blurred vision

• Tired eyes

Here are some things you can do to keep your eyes comfortable while using screens:

• Use eye drops throughout the day to keep your eyes moist and comfortable

• Take a break from the screen every 20 minutes

• Make an effort to blink often and fully – this will help to keep your eyes and contact lenses moist

• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated

Applying make‑up

• Always put your lenses in before you apply your make‑up. If you have moisturizer or foundation on your hands, it’ll transfer on to your lenses, making them appear cloudy.

• Make sure your hands are clean and dry before putting your lenses in, as well as before touching the area around your eyes, like when putting on eyeshadow.

• Avoid putting eyeliner onto the waterline (the part of the eyelid that touches the eye) as this can block the oil glands that help moisten the eyes with tears. This can lead to dry eyes, dirty lenses and sometimes styes.

• If you do, then make sure that you use a clean, sharpened pencil.

• Never share your eye make‑up or use someone else’s.

• Apply your mascara from the middle of the eyelash, brushing outwards – rather than from the base of the lash.

Removing make‑up

Always remove your lenses before you take your make‑up off. This ensures that you don’t get any make‑up on the lens which will make it more difficult to clean, or will stick to your lens increasing the chances of infection or irritation. Daily disposable lenses are a great option, as you can start fresh with a new lens every day without the hassle of cleaning them.

If reusable lenses are more your thing, then make sure you’re diligent with cleaning your lenses. Sticking to the routine recommended by your optometrist and regularly cleaning your contact lens case is your best protection.

If you ever find that your eyes aren’t feeling right, just come in and see your optometrist in store.

Contact lens‑friendly make‑up

• Try to use oil‑free, fragrance‑free, hypoallergenic products. Oil‑based products can sometimes make their way into your eye and will make your contact lens appear cloudy.

• Basic waterproof mascara is best, as lengthening or specialized types tend to contain fibres or thickening agents that can get into your eye.

• Go for cream eye shadows over powder. But if you have powder, just make sure you give the brush a tap to get rid of any excess before applying.

• Replace your make‑up, especially mascara, every 2‑3 months.

• If at any point your make‑up is causing discomfort or irritation, stop using it. If you carry on using the wrong product, it could lead to a number of eye conditions, including red eye, itchy eye, dry eye, or styes.