Why Should I throw my lenses away every day?

In this busy world, convenience is king.  So from the stand point of, you the patient, there is nothing more convenient.  But from the doctor stand point, there is nothing more upsetting then a patient suffering with extreme pain from contact lens related infection.  

The studies have shown that patients wearing reusable contact lenses are 12 times more likely to have a serious eye infection then lenses that are disposed of everyday.  

Most of the time we can treat the patients and restore their vision.  But not always.  Is it really worth the risk and the pain and suffering of the patient.  I say no.  Plus even though the lenses cost a little more, whats the cost of loosing a day of work or more. 

Astigmatism? What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance.

 Astigmatism is a very common vision condition. Most people have some degree of astigmatism. Slight amounts of astigmatism usually don't affect vision and don't require treatment. However, larger amounts cause distorted or blurred vision, eye discomfort and headaches.

Astigmatism frequently occurs with other vision conditions like nearsightedness (myopia) andfarsightedness (hyperopia). Together these vision conditions are referred to as refractive errors because they affect how the eyes bend or "refract" light.

The specific cause of astigmatism is unknown. It can be hereditary and is usually present from birth. It can change as a child grows and may decrease or worsen over time.

A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing for astigmatism. Depending on the amount present, your optometrist can provide eyeglasses or contact lenses that correct the astigmatism by altering the way light enters your eyes.