It is advisable for new patients to start off with a pair of glasses. After some time, you may wish to wear contact lenses for convenience or vanity reasons i.e. sports and formal functions. There are different types of contact lenses to cater to the different needs of the patient – Daily wear, continuous wear, daily disposable, RGP and etc. Enquire more from your local eye care professionals.

You may also consider LASIK treatment if you want a hassle-free vision correction option. LASIK is a refractive surgery which corrects your shortsighted problem using laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). After LASIK, you will not need glasses or contact lenses anymore to have perfect vision. However, it is quite a costly option and may not be suitable for all patients. Prior approval by doctors is required before going ahead with the treatment.

Shortsightedness can begin from as early as 10 years old, but LASIK is not good/applicable to the eyes while in the growing up stage as the eyes are still not stable in shape.

Contact lenses are suitable for people aged 16 and over as they would be mature enough to handle the contact lens and manage hygiene procedures. However, it is recommended that contact lens users still keep a pair of spare spectacles to rest their eyes sometimes.

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Before handling contact lens, wash your hands thoroughly. Make sure the lenses are already soaked in solution. If you discover defects on the blister or storage box, please do not use it.

Step 1: Place the lens on the index finger, inspect the contour to confirm the reverse side.

Step 1 Figure:   Step 2 Figure:

Step 2: Use your left hand's index and middle finger to hold the eyelid, pull the lower eyelid with your right middle finger, then put the contact lens onto the eye. (Repeat the above steps for the other eye)

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The recommended period is 8 hours a day. Again, the hours of wearing varies depending on the condition of the eyes of different wearers. Some may have dry eye symptom and can only wear 4 hours while some may suffer from sensitive eyes and may only wear for a short period of time. Follow the instructions of your ECPs and always be alert on your eye condition.

If at all you feel dryness while wearing lenses, it may be due to the environment that you are in – air conditioned, windy, countries with a low level of humidity etc. In this case, use contact lens drops such as blink™ contacts eye drops. It contains Sodium Hyaluronate (HA), a natural ingredient which can be found in your body and is able to hold water 1,000 times its weight. It is also gentle for the eyes as it is preservative free.

blink™ Product Guide

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Step 1: Keep your eyes looking up, pull down the lower eyelid, gently let the lens slide onto the sclera, then gently pinch the lens with the index finger and thumb and take out.

Step 2
Wash and dry your hands prior to handling your lenses.

Step 3
Rub each side for 10 seconds.

		Place 3 drops of more of COMPLETE® MPS on one side of the lens surface.
		Rub your lens gently from the centre to the edges for at least 10 seconds. (Never rub in circular motions, because it may tear the lens and not clean the outer edge surface).
		Repeat the rubbing steps for the other side of the lens.

Step 4
Rinse eac h side of the lens for 5 seconds.

Step 5
Soak for 6 hours

Fill your contact lens case with fresh COMPLETE® MPS and allow it soak for a minimum of 6 hours.

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Absolutely not! The eye is totally separated from what lies behind. Contact lenses can slide off the cornea and they can also get stuck in the corners of the "pocket," but it is not dangerous, and the lenses can easily be removed once they are located. If you think you have a contact lens someplace in your eye, and you can't find it, call your eyecare practitioner.

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It is NOT recommended/safe to sleep with daily wear lenses. Your eyes will be exposed to a higher risk of infection due to a lack of oxygen supply.

Please consult your contact lens practitioner if you need further assistance on this subject.

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It is recommended that you wear goggles for safety. Water from the swimming pool and sea contains dirt and germs that increases the rate of corneal infection when wearing contact lenses (decrease in the metabolism due to lack of oxygen). Bi-weekly, monthly disposable and conventional lenses are not recommended to be put on for swimming as micro-organisms such as acanthameba found in pool, can contaminate your contact lenses. However, if it is necessary for you to wear contact lenses during swimming, it is advisable to wear daily disposable lenses that are meant to be worn and thrown away without the need to clean or disinfect.

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Please consult your Eyecare or Contact Lens practitioners as some dry eye patients can be helped by using eye drops and special lens type material.

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Contact lenses are medical devices and are fitted to the specifications of each individual's eyes. Exchanging lenses can also transmit harmful bacteria, which can lead to an eye infection or other potentially dangerous eye conditions.

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Do follow the COMPLETE 7 Steps to Healthy Lens Wear which are:-

1. Wash and dry your hands before putting on or removing lens.
2. Always clean and air-dry the contact lens case.
3. Rub your lenses for extra cleaning or based on your optometrist’s advice.
4. Don’t wear lenses beyond the recommended period.
5. Never reuse old solutions.
6. Don’t touch the tip of the solution bottle to any surface.
7. Remove/stop using lenses if you experience unusual eye symptoms.

Practice the above to ensure your lenses are clean and safe for wear.

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We recommend you to choose multi-purpose solutions that:-

1. Enhance corneal natural protection against micro-organisms penetration and hence protect against eye infections more effectively.
2. Have superior protein removal on your lenses, leaving lenses clean and comfortable
3. Is gentle to your eyes with lowest incidence of irritation, allergies and sensitivity compared to other brands
4. Contain beneficial electrolytes to help maintain tear ilm & corneal health.
   

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80% of the oxygen needed by the cornea comes through the dissolved oxygen in the atmosphere. When your eyes are dry, it is unable to utilize oxygen from the atmosphere. Only by maintaining eye moisture can the eyes breathe naturally. Also, try to avoid drinks like coffee as coffee has a diuresis function, meaning that it elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion. Reduce coffee drinking to reduce dehydration of the body and the eyes.

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Each contact lens care solution has different chemical contents. Some use harsh preservatives that cause sensitivity and even allergy in a high percentage of users. Some can discolor a patient's contact lenses, making them unwearable. Sometimes the chemicals in one lens cleaning system can improperly combine with the chemicals in another system when they are used in combination, causing a reaction for the user. Currently in the market, COMPLETE® MPS is the least cytotoxic multi-purpose solution. If in doubt, refer to your eyecare practitioner for recommendations.

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Yes, even if your lenses don't have any vision correction in them (called "plano" lenses) and are used solely for cosmetic purposes, you still need an eye care practitioner to identify the suitable base curve and diameter of lenses for your eyes.

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This is usually the most difficult question for a first-timer! And it all boils down to this:
What kind of person are you? For instance, if you are a bold person:

• If your natural eye color is brown, choose contact lenses in violet, green, or blue.
• If your skin, hair, and natural eye colors have cool, blue-red undertones, choose a warm-toned contact lens such as light brown.
• If your skin is dark, choose bright-colored lenses.
• Do you wear eye makeup? Choose a contact lens color that will stand out from the shadow and mascara colors you like to wear.

If you are a shy person or just want a natural look:-

• If your natural eye color is blue, choose contact lenses in gray or green.
• Another option is an enhancer lens in blue, which defines the edges of your iris and deepen your natural color without changing it dramatically.
• If your skin, hair, makeup and natural eye colors are warm-toned, choose a warm colored contact lens such as hazel to match and blend in.

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Put on your contact lenses before applying cosmetics and remove your lenses before removing your cosmetics. This is important as we do not want to have any foreign cosmetic chemicals or particles on your fingers to come in contact with the surface of your lenses.

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The ideal distance between the monitor and your eyes is 20–30 inches from your face. If the distance is greater or less than this, it could cause problems in vision and posture eventually. Do not position the monitor at an angle.

Make sure that light does not reflect from the computer screen. If bright light from the window falls directly on to the screen, rotate your work station to avoid it. If this is not possible, tone down the light coming in with blinds or shutters. It is good to have your work area well lit but it becomes pointless if the bright lights are going to bounce off the computer screen. Organize the lighting so that the illumination is comfortable for you.

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There are several types of food which are very beneficial to our eyes and vision especially when it comes to preventing macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and also functioning as anti-oxidants. Take more food that contains Vitamin A, C and E which are commonly found in carrots, sweet potatoes, cod liver oil, almonds, hazelnuts, oranges and broccoli.

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Seek treatment from a doctor urgently to identify the cause and treat it according to your doctor’s advice.

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Patients after an eye surgery, with eye disease or elderly contact lenses users should be extremely careful while traveling.

It is advisable that patients should avoid long distance flights after an intraocular surgery (particularly involving the cataract, radial keratotomy, cornea transplant). This is because unstable cabin pressure especially during take off and landing may affect the unhealed wound.

Traveling within two weeks of surgery should be highly avoided. Generally, most wounds will only heal in a month. However, it is still best to seek your doctor’s advice before traveling. Traveling on ground is fine unless it irritates the wound. Follow your doctor’s advice and medication as prescribed. Bring along a surgery report in case of emergencies.

What are the things eye patients should be conscious of while traveling?

There are two possible situations:

For the first classification patient who has to take medication on time (such as glaucoma patient), there are several suggestions:

1.One or two days before departure, seek for an eye specialist inspection, medical prescription adjustment and request for a patient booklet.

2. Take medication on time (especially glaucoma patients). If traveling long distance, please be aware of time zone changes and try to keep to the original medication time.

3. Have two sets of medication with you. One set should be carried on you while the other is kept in the suitcase. Buying drugs in a hurry can cause distress.

4. Maintain a relaxed mood. Avoid tight traveling schedules and tension.

5. If your eye condition worsens during travel, please seek the local doctor’s advice.

Second classification patients are those who do not need medical treatment, such as conjunctivitis, trachoma, and cataract patients. There are no special cautions for these patients except basic eye hygiene.

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If traveling by ground, the general routine care is sufficient. Contact lenses should be removed before sleeping. Some suggestions for traveling long distance:

1.Cabin air is drier, causing soft lenses to lose its moisture faster. Use of contact lens lubricants every 2 hours will help retain lens moisture. The same suggestion applies when traveling to cold countries.

2. Bring along your spectacles while traveling to interchange with contact lenses or as a standby if contact lenses are damage or lost.

3. Bring along a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes against sun rays and reflection of harmful UV rays.

4. Remove your lenses if you feel uncomfortable wearing them. Clean it well and soak in a multi-purpose solution. You may try to put on your lenses again the next day. If the problem persists, remove the lenses and do not attempt to put it on anymore to avoid injury to the eyes.

5. Bring along antiseptic eye drops for emergency purposes.

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Eye strain must be controlled appropriately, but most important of all is our lifestyle.

The deadline is coming, you stayed up all night for three consecutive days and finally the work is completed. After a few days of rest, the eyes still feel tired, slightly aching and you are struggling to keep it open. Under such circumstances, are the eyes sick? Are they all right?

This is the sign of eye fatigue, often occurred when one works too long and does not have enough rest. Other reasons include: wearing inappropriate glasses, early glaucoma, iritis, chronic conjunctivitis, and weakness of the mind.

Other than eye related symptoms, you may get headaches, and the symptoms get more obvious while working and reading. Although it is not a very serious condition, it is not good for the eyes over time.

How to treat "eye fatigue"?

The most important thing is to live a healthy lifestyle, have sufficient rest and sleep.
If your visual ability is affected, seek an eye care practitioner for a vision check up.
If suspected of contracting glaucoma, iritis, or conjunctivitis, you must seek eye treatment immediately.
If it is a body disease, then take oral medicine or others that a doctor has prescribed.
If suffering from mental illness, please seek suitable psychiatric treatment.
Improving the work and study environment, as well as maintaining a healthy mind and body the best prevention strategies.

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Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding eye injuries. Below is some advice for different situations.

At home:
As there are many items at home which may cause eye burns, below are some items to pay special attention to:

a. When using aerosol sprays, make sure the nozzle is facing the opposite direction when pressed.
b. Read the instruction and usage guides properly when using cleaning, laundry powder, ammonia, or chemical products. Wash your hands thoroughly immediately after using these products.
c. When using cooking oil on wok, use a nitroglycerine net on the wok to reduce oil splashes.
d. When using powder chemicals, wear special protective goggles to guard against soot and dirt.
e. When using or exposed to solar lights, wear dark opaque lens to protect against cornea burns.

At work:
Pay attention to the following:

a. Wear protective goggles in required environments.
b. Read the tools instruction guide properly and follow the guidelines.
c. Before working, find out potential hazards and be extra cautious during work.

Kids playing:
Many kids do not recognise the danger surrounding them during playtime:

a. Toys and games must be suitable for children. Dangerous toys, such as: sharp, high elastic, or explosive toys must be avoided.
b. Supervise children when they are playing high risk games.
c. Educate children on hazardous items, such as: the correct usage of scissors and pencils.

During sports:
a. Before embarking on a sport, first understand your own limitations and understand the rules and hazardous factors involved.
b. While playing sports such as baseball, tennis or basketball etc, you can wear protective glasses or "safety lenses" that will not directly injure the eye even if it breaks.
c. During high-risk sports such as hockey, fencing and taekwando etc, you should wear safety helmets or other suitable devices to protect your face.


While gardening:
Outdoor accidents which occur during gardening are quite common. Organize and keep garden chemicals and tools well as it may cause eye injuries:

a. While using a lawnmower, do not let anyone stand in front or the at the side of it during operation.
b. Before using the lawnmower, remove any stones or hard objects, so that those objects would not fly and hurt the eyes.
c. When using pest control sprays, make sure the nozzle is facing away from you.
d. While gardening, be aware of low-hanging branches to avoid being pierced in the eye by accident.

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