Contact Lens Safety Month was declared to be observed every October by a non-profit eye health association known as Prevent Blindness. The association seeks to reduce preventable blindness, by educating lens wearers on the proper ways they can use and care for their lenses.
History of Contact Lens Safety Month
Contact lenses were designed to make eyecare neater and more convenient, but this invention has been misused and its misuse causes a series of eye complications, ranging from mild (itching and redness) to severe (permanent visual impairment and even blindness). Each time a foreign object or material is placed in the eye, the possibility of a complication increases greatly.
To fully maximize the advantages of the contact lens, lens wearers need to be careful. Contact lenses provide comfortability and ease in style and other activities like sports and swimming. They generally improve the quality of life without placing undue restrictions on the wearer. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Association, about 45 million Americans wear contact lenses.
Contact Lens Safety Month is observed to further educate wearers on the complications that may arise if the application, usage, care, and removal of lenses are not done carefully and or properly.
Contact Lens Safety Month timeline
Unbeknownst to Da Vinci, his theory on how the human eye adjusts focus on a distant object will be used for correctional eyewear.
Fabricated lenses that do not cover the whole eye are designed to be used a couple of hours per day.
President Lyndon B. Johnson becomes the first president to publicly wear contact lenses.
Soft and oxygen-permeable lenses are developed by Czech chemists Wichterle and Drahoslav.
Contact Lens Safety Month FAQs
How long do contact lenses last?
The expiration of contact lenses depends on usage and purpose. Disposable lenses last for about a day to a month, while prescribed hard lenses can last for a year to two years. All expired lenses should be disposed of properly.
Can I sleep with my contact lenses in?
With some types of contact lenses, you are advised not to sleep with them in. If you accidentally sleep with such lenses in, do not forcefully remove them, but apply a contact lens solution and use a contact lens picker to remove them. See a doctor if you experience any eye discharge, itching, or redness.
Are contact lenses better than glasses?
Contact lenses provide a clearer view as they are closer to the eye and do not include the hassle of having an object on the face, while glasses are easier to wear and remove. Both options are great depending on your lifestyle, budget, and frequency of usage. It is not a bad idea to have both and alternate based on the occasion or usage type.
How to Observe Contact Lens Safety Month
Create awareness on social media
Most consumers of lenses claim they were not educated on the proper usage of eyewear, while healthcare practitioners attest that they educate every individual that comes in for a prescription. It is safe to say that a number of consumers were not paying attention, and what better way to get their attention than through social media?
Put up posters
Order posters from the Centre for Disease Control and prevention that highlight the implications of improper lens wear and usage and paste them up in an eye clinic, hospital, or on a library board.
Contribute to any causes for eye care
You can make a one-time or monthly donation to any of the accredited eye health organizations. These organizations have transparency and share periodic reports of their finances and how they were disbursed.
5 Facts About Contact Lenses All Wearers Should Know
Better vision
Contact lens is a medical device designed to correct common eye problems.
They were not always comfortable
Contact lenses in their early days were not as comfortable as present-day lenses.
They can be used in surgeries
Anesthetic drugs can now be administered using contact lenses by having the lens release them.
Used for innovative acting
Most decorative lenses are used for entertainment and leisure purposes only.
Mostly used by women
Contact lenses are used more by women due to lifestyle and personal preferences.
Why we love Contact Lens Safety Month
It raises awareness amongst the general public.
Not many lens users know the basic guidelines of contact lens care. Similarly, the usage of contact lenses for beautification is miscommunicating the actual purpose of contact lenses. Contact lenses are not over-the-counter products and should not be used as such.
It educates consumers on the functionality of lenses
Most corrective eyewear users are skeptical about trying contact lenses because of the perceived discomfort and bothersome routine that comes with them. This month seeks to educate us on the alternative to eyeglasses and the stereotypes that are false and also true to a certain extent.
It connects a community
Contact Lens Safety Month connects physicians, researchers, contact-lens users, and corrective eyeglass wearers. A stronghold of information is developed when these people communicate their experiences, research, questions as well as answers.
Contact Lens Safety Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October 1 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | October 1 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | October 1 | Thursday |
| 2027 | October 1 | Friday |
| 2028 | October 1 | Sunday |
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