Is My Teenager a Good Candidate for Contact Lenses?

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Contact lenses help us see. Contacts are a great product that can help you enjoy clear vision without wearing eyeglasses. Many teenagers want to wear contact lenses instead of eyeglasses. Some teenagers like seeing their face without their glasses. For others, the hassle of wearing eyeglasses is just too much.

Either way, if you’re a parent to a teenager, you may be faced with the question of whether you should allow them to wear contacts. Your child’s eye doctor in North Syracuse, NY can help you decide whether contact lenses are a good option for your child.

How Can I Tell If My Teenager Is a Good Candidate for Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses need to be properly maintained. Many contact lenses are designed to be removed at the end of the day. Other contact lenses are designed to be left in at night and removed in the morning for cleaning and to give the eyes a rest. Some contact lenses are only removed once per week.

Whatever the maintenance schedule for your child’s contact lenses, your child must be capable of staying on schedule and cleaning their contact lenses as instructed by their eye doctor.

If your child cannot maintain their contact lenses on the recommended schedule, then they are probably not ready for such a responsibility. Failure to take good care of contact lenses can result in trips to the emergency room and even permanent eye damage. Don’t let your child have contact lenses unless you feel confident they can care for their lenses properly!

What Are the Benefits of Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are comfortable and convenient for many people. Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses don’t involve any frames that can get in the way of your child’s vision. If your child can be responsible for contact lenses, then they can definitely benefit from wearing contacts!

Want to Know More About Contact Lenses for Your Child? Call Your Eye Doctor

At McPherson Optometry P.C., we provide contact lenses in North Syracuse, NY. We can help you learn more about getting contact lenses for your child. Call today to make an appointment.

The Dangers of Wearing Daily Disposable Contacts for Longer Than a Day

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Here are a few consequences of wearing your disposables for longer than a day.

  • Dry Eye

Wearing your disposable contacts longer than a day will generally result in dry eye. This is because disposables don’t allow moisture to get to your eye. And this gets worse the longer you wear them.

  • Eye Irritation

Disposable contacts aren’t designed to be worn for more than a day. Therefore, when you wear them longer than recommended, they sustain dirt and damage that could cause eye irritation.

  • Corneal Infection (infectious keratitis)

This could be serious. You might want to read this section twice!

Daily disposable contacts in North Syracuse, NY, don’t allow oxygen to get through the contacts and to your eyes. Additionally, they don’t retain moisture very well either. So when you wear them for more than a day, you increase your chances of them giving you a corneal infection. The best-case scenario is that you won’t be able to wear your contacts temporarily until your eyes heal. The worst-case scenario is that the old contacts could permanently damage your eyes. But that’s not all…keep reading.

When you get a corneal infection, also called infectious keratitis, this could cause your eyes to get red and become irritated. When this happens, they will hurt and tear up. And this will lead to blurred vision and sensitivity to light and could ultimately cause blindness. Yes, blindness!

  • Corneal Scarring

Just like a corneal infection, since daily disposables don’t allow oxygen and moisture to get to your eyes, another result of wearing them too long is that they could cause corneal scarring, which as you know from reading the last section, could cause severe eye problems up to and including blindness.

Do You Need an Optometrist in North Syracuse, NY?

Would you like to talk with an optometrist in North Syracuse, NY? If so, please Contact McPherson Optometry. We are a top-rated provider of optometry services in the North Syracuse area. And our goal is to ensure you get the highest quality eye care available now and for years to come.

What’s the Best Way to Clean Contact Lenses?

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Contact lenses present a subtle and convenient solution for vision correction, offering a welcome alternative to traditional eyeglasses. Ensuring that they are cleaned and maintained correctly is vital to prolonging their usability and keeping your eyes safe from infections.

The Importance of Cleaning Contact Lenses

Cleaning your contact lenses removes the dirt, dust, and debris that accumulate on the lenses throughout the day, preventing irritation and maintaining clear vision. It also eliminates bacteria, fungi, and other harmful microorganisms that can cause eye infections.

Contact Lens Cleaning Process

To effectively clean your contact lenses in North Syracuse, NY, start by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water. This step helps to prevent the transfer of bacteria and dirt from your hands to your lenses.

Next, gently remove the lens from your eye using your index finger and thumb, taking care not to damage it. With the lens in the palm of your hand, apply some contact lens cleaning solution and rinse it thoroughly to remove any debris or deposits. Gently rub the lens in a circular motion using your index finger for about 10 seconds. After rubbing, rinse the lens once more with the cleaning solution or a contact lens rinsing solution.

To store, place it in a clean contact lens case filled with fresh contact lens solution, making sure to securely close the case to avoid contamination. Repeat the entire cleaning process for your other contact lens.

Maintaining Your Contact Lenses

To ensure proper contact lens care, always use the cleaning solution recommended by your optometrist or lens manufacturer. Avoid using water, saliva, or homemade solutions, as these can damage your lenses and increase the risk of eye infection. Replace your contact lens case regularly, preferably every three months, to maintain a sanitary and healthy environment for your lenses. Lastly, follow the cleaning and replacement schedule provided by your optometrist to ensure safe and comfortable lens usage.

Thorough and regular contact lens cleaning is crucial for maintaining clear vision and protecting your eyes from infections. By following the steps outlined here and paying attention to your optometrist’s advice, you can enjoy the benefits of contact lenses while keeping your eyes in optimal condition. To get new or replacement contract lenses or an eye exam, book an appointment with your North Syracuse, NY optometrist today.

The Effects of Corrective Lenses on Common Eye Conditions

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Pretty much everyone everywhere is familiar with eyeglasses. And possibly, you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses yourself because they help you to see better close up, far away, or both. But how, exactly, do eyeglasses work? Have you ever wondered? And are there any eye conditions that can’t be improved through the science of corrective lenses? If you’re experiencing changes in your vision, and you wonder if a new set of corrective lenses can help, your eye doctor in North Syracuse, NY, has answers.

How Corrective Lenses Work

Eyeglasses and contact lenses work by correcting refractive errors. There’s a light-sensitive area in the back of the eye called the retina. When light enters your eye and falls in the exact right place on the retina, you see a clear image. However, if something — usually the shape of your eye — causes that light to fall in the wrong place on the retina, the image you see may appear blurry or distorted. Corrective lenses work by redirecting the source of light so that it falls exactly where it should, thereby eliminating errors in refraction. Your vision becomes clear, and all is well again.

There are several common types of refractive errors, including:

  • Nearsightedness
  • Farsightedness
  • Presbyopia
  • Astigmatism

All occur because of the way the shape of your eye focuses light on the retina. For these common eye conditions, corrective lenses are the go-to solution, and vision can almost always be improved or completely restored.

Do Corrective Lenses Always Improve Vision?

However, there are some eye conditions that can’t be improved through the science of refractive correction. Cataracts is a good example. When you have cataracts, a cloudy film forms across the lens of your eye, impeding the retina’s access to light. Neither eyeglasses nor contact lenses will improve vision loss if you have cataracts. However, other treatments, such as removing the damaged lens and replacing it with an artificial lens, can work wonders.

Where to Find Corrective Lenses in North Syracuse

For help with eyeglasses or contact lenses in North Syracuse, NY, call McPherson Optometry. At McPherson Optometry, we specialize in finding solutions for all eye conditions — both common and uncommon. Call today to schedule a convenient time to come in.

Are Costume Contacts Safe?

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Although changing the way your eyes look can be a lot of fun, wearing costume contact lenses (aka decorative or cosmetic contact lenses) can be detrimental to your eye health. Even wearing these lenses for just a few hours can damage the eye.

What Makes Costume Contacts Dangerous?

For contacts to fit correctly, they must be customized for a specific individual. Wearing contacts of the wrong size and shape can result in painful, potentially blinding corneal ulcers and abrasions.

Costume contact lenses may reduce the amount of oxygen the eye gets. This lack of oxygen results from the pigments and paints used while creating cheap, non-prescription decorative contact lenses.

Cheap, ill-fitting contact lenses can scratch, cut and permanently damage the eyes. Damaging the eye in this way leads to unpleasant, very uncomfortable symptoms, with the worst-case scenario being blindness.

A one-size-fits-all contact lens can scratch and cut the eye, making it susceptible to bacteria. When bacteria enter into the eye, an eye infection is likely.

It Only Takes a Few Days for Keratitis to Destroy an Individual’s Vision

Once bacteria enter the eye, a serious bacterial eye infection (e.g., keratitis) may result. The type of keratitis infection varies, with some having the ability to destroy an individual’s vision within just a few days.

What Are the Risks Associated with Wearing Costume Contact Lenses?

Wearing any type of contact lenses can lead to eye damage; however, costume contact lenses make an injury more likely because they are not tailored to fit the wearer’s eyes. Nonetheless, individuals interested in wearing costume lenses in North Syracuse, New York, may be able to get the contact lens design they want through Dr. Rebecca McPherson.

Potential risks include:

  • An allergic reaction resulting in watery eyes that are red and itchy.
  • A corneal abrasion.
  • Infection.
  • A decrease in vision.
  • Blindness.

What Are the Signs of An Eye Infection?

Whether wearing prescription contacts or some type of decorative contact, knowing the signs that indicate the possibility of an eye infection could save your sight.

Signs of an eye infection include:

  • Persistent eye pain.
  • Redness.
  • Decreased vision.

When any of these signs are present, you need to make an appointment with a licensed eye doctor right away. Left untreated, an eye infection could lead to a loss of sight.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, or you would like to learn more about the colored prescription contact lenses available at McPherson Optometry in North Syracuse, New York, please call 315-458-1000. McPherson Optometry, 105 North Main Street, North Syracuse, New York.