Contact Lenses

Lens made of special materials attached to the front surface of the cornea to correct the refractive errors of the eye are generally called "contact lenses". These lenses are placed on the front surface of the cornea and correct the refractive error of the eye, thanks to their optical refractors, and provide clearer vision.

Today, appearance and the discomfort of wearing glasses are the main reasons for wearing contact lenses. People who do not want to use sports activities, intense work pace or glasses prefer to use contact lenses.

It is necessary to wear contact lenses in order to obtain the best visual quality, especially in those who use high-grade glasses, those with a high difference between the two eyes, and those with irregular and high astigmatism. Not only these people, anyone who does not want to wear glasses and whose eye structures are suitable can use contact lenses.

Today, thanks to the needs of people and developing technology, many types of contact lenses are available. Despite being under many names and shapes, contact lenses can be examined under 4 main headings in general.

• Soft contact lenses
• Gas permeable lenses
• Rigid contact lenses
• Specially produced contact lenses

Soft Contact Lenses

They are lenses designed to completely cover the cornea and iris layer of the eye and to cover 1-2 mm more on the iris edge. Due to their soft structure, they fit snugly on the cornea and do not give the user a feeling of discomfort. They can stay in the eye for a long time depending on their oxygen permeability and water content. If used correctly, they do not harm the eyes, but if care is not taken into account, allergic problems may occur, as with all lenses. There are many subgroups of soft contact lenses. Soft lenses other than toric contact lenses are used to correct myopic and hypermetropic refractive errors, they have very little effect on correcting astigmatism.

Classic Long Term (Conventional) Contact Lenses:

• These are contact lenses that can be used daily or for a long time, with a lifespan of 3-12 months. Although they have a long lifespan, the deposits formed on them can cause allergic symptoms and problems in terms of eye health.
• Myopia or hyperopia flat clear lenses
• Myopic or hyperopia colored lenses: These are soft contact lenses used to make the iris color of the eye look different, with or without numbers.
• Toric (astigmatized) clear lenses: These are soft contact lenses specially produced for the correction of astigmatism as well as myopic or hyperopia refractive errors
• Toric (astigmatic) colored lenses
• Multifocal (far-close use) clear lenses: These are the lenses used in near vision impairment. It helps in correcting the far and near refractive error.

Planned Replacement Lenses:

The lenses used in these lenses are changed at certain times and the accumulations on the lens surface and related problems are minimized. Today, it is widely used all over the world and is preferred by doctors and people with refractive errors. Lenses can stay in the eye for a long time depending on the doctor's advice and material properties. They are lenses that are easy to find and maintain with their wide production parameters.

Monthly Planned Exchange Lenses

• It is produced to be used for 30 days, it can stay in the eye for 1-30 days depending on the doctor's advice and lens material properties.
• Myopia or hyperopia flat clear lenses
• Myopia or hyperopia colored lenses
• Toric (astigmatic) clear lenses
• Multifocal (far-near-used) clear lenses
• Progressive (far-near-use) clear lenses: These are lenses with a balanced distribution of near and far numbers used in near vision impairment. It helps in correcting the far and near refractive error.

Weekly Scheduled Exchange Lenses

• It is produced to be used for 7 days. According to the doctor's recommendation, it can stay in the eye for 1-7 days.
• Myopia or hyperopia flat clear lenses

Disposable Lenses

• These are lenses that are used for 1 day and thrown away.
• Myopia or hyperopia flat clear lenses

Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

They have features between hard and soft lenses. It has oxygen permeability properties. It is attached to the corneal surface on the eye, and tears may pass between the lens and the cornea. They do not cause allergic problems and can correct astigmatism to a large extent due to the lens structure. It can be preferred in those with allergic eye structure, those with astigmatism, and young patients. It takes longer to get used to than soft lenses. They are easy to maintain and durable lenses.

Hard Contact Lenses

It is produced from a material called PMMA, it has less oxygen and liquid permeable properties. Not widely used today

Custom Made Contact Lenses

Lenses produced according to the eye problems of people.

Picy-Back Lenses

Mid partial hard lens for cornea used in keratoconus disease and irregular high astigmatism are contact lenses with soft lens edges

Prosthetic Lenses

Lens used for aesthetic and therapeutic purposes in iris problems.

Lens Care

Maintenance of soft conventional hand lenses

• Every time you remove your lenses, be sure to clean them according to the nature of the care solution you use. In some solutions, mechanical cleaning is done by taking it in your hand and dripping a few drops of solution when you remove it. In some solutions, mechanical cleaning is not required, due to the nature of the solution, it is sufficient to stay in it only overnight.

• In such lenses, lens protein cleaning should be done once every 15 days.

• If the wearing of lenses is to be interrupted in any way, the solution in which it was kept must be changed once a week. Normal cleaning should be done before reuse.

• It should not be checked by a doctor between 6-12 months and if there is wear on the lenses, they should be replaced.

• Every time we remove your lenses, make sure to clean them according to the nature of the care solution we use. In some solutions, when removed, mechanical cleaning is done by taking it in your hand and dripping a few drops of solution. In some solutions, mechanical cleaning is not required, due to the nature of the solution, it is sufficient to just stay in it overnight.

• If the wearing of lenses is to be interrupted in any way, the solution in which it was kept must be changed once a week. Normal cleaning should be done before reuse.

• Lenses should not be worn beyond the prescribed wear time (30 days, 1 week). Maintenance of gas permeable lenses

Features To Look For In Your Contact Lenses

• Correct the refractive error completely or to the best possible level

• Should not disrupt the physiological structure of the eye and should not cause pathological changes

• Oxygen permeability must be high

• Should be able to use it for a long time during the day and at night if necessary

• Easy to use and maintain

• The deposits that may form on the surface should be easily cleaned

• Should not cause discomfort in the eyes

To Keep Your Contact Lenses Healthy and Not to Harm Your Eyes

• Contact lenses must be worn and used under the supervision of a doctor.

• Attention should be paid to the use, cleaning and maintenance of the lenses.

• Checks and replacements should be made when necessary.

• Your lens wearing times should be the times your doctor deems appropriate for you.

• For the slightest discomfort you feel in your eyes and lenses, see your doctor, remember that a small problem can reveal bigger problems if neglected.

• It is necessary to comply with the recommended usage and care rules to protect your eye health.

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