Features » Health and Beauty
THE DANGERS OF BUYING CONTACT LENSES ONLINE
Press Release / 2012-07-31 14:20:04
Specsavers Opticas on the Costa Blanca are warning contact lens wearers about the potential risks of buying lenses online. They have noticed a worrying trend in those buying online complaining of eye infections and irritation, and some cases have resulted in corneal neovascularisation due to the lack of expert advice, poor lens selection and no aftercare.
The key issues which can occur when buying lenses online are:
• Using an unsuitable lens due to inputting the wrong prescription or size into the site
• Misusing a lens due to a failure to understand the type of lens they have ordered and how these should be worn and cared for
• Failure to attend regular eye tests due to repeat ordering online
Louise Stone, Store Director at Specsavers Opticas Calpe, explains. “Contact lenses wearers should be supported by an optical professional to avoid problems with the lenses not fitting, having the wrong strength or being used incorrectly. We have recently seen cases where users have just relied on the internet and it has caused them some serious issues.”
“One man’s lenses were so tight they were actually leaving a mark on his eyes when they were removed, another had not realized that she was not supposed to sleep in her lenses and just reordered them for three years. When she came in to see us it was the worst case I have seen for 20 years, she suffered from neovascularisation, swelling and loss of transparency in the cornea and finally corneal exhaustion syndrome resulting in her eyes rejecting the lenses.
These cases show that choosing a lens should be about suitability rather than price. Many people assume that buying online is always cheaper than going to an optician, but it is not always the case. Many opticians are now highly competitive on price and offer the support of a qualified professional to help you get the lenses you need, at Specsavers Opticas for example, monthly disposables start from just 8€ per month.”
Keeping Eyes Healthy
Contact lens wearers are at risk of a number of eye problems such as infections, dry eyes and corneal neovascularisation, therefore regular eye examinations are important. Corneal neovascularisation is the growth of new, fragile blood vessels on the surface of the eye due to lack of oxygen and is caused by wearing lenses for extended periods. It can be easily identified with an eye test and simply treated but it can cause permanent vision loss if it is not diagnosed early.
“One woman I saw a few years ago didn’t heed my advice that her eyes had neovascularisation and she should be refitted with different contact lenses, so she just carried on buying her previous lenses online.”, Louise comments, “When she finally came back earlier this year her eyes were terrible, it has taken three months without lenses for her vessels to empty.”
Louise advises that all contact lens users should have an annual contact lens check with a full eye test every two years and they should always consult an optician to ensure their prescription is correct, that their lenses are suitable and that their eyes are healthy. To find your nearest Specsavers Opticas visit www.specsavers.es
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