I wore contact lenses for years and can honestly say I did not know that water and contact lenses were a bad combination. There were definitely times when my contacts were bugging me and I didn’t have any solution and tried rinsing them with water.  This always made my eyes very sore and uncomfortable and I’d always end up just taking them out.  After reading an article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I now know why this was the case.

Apparently water in any form, be it showering, swimming, hot tub, etc. is a bad combination when it comes to contacts.  Water can cause soft contacts to change shape, swell, and/or stick to the eye.  This can be very uncomfortable and can scratch the cornea.  If there’s a scratch in your cornea, then it’s easier for germs to enter the eye and cause infection.

Should water touch your contact lenses, take them out as soon as possible.  Throw them away or disinfect them overnight before wearing again.  Never store your contacts in water, not even tape water.

Q:  Is it okay if I put my contacts in at 8:45 pm and take them out at 6:00 pm? 

A: The length of time a person can wear their contact lenses safely and comfortably varies with each individual. Each contact lens brand also has its own FDA-approved guidelines for how often you should replace them and how long you can keep them in (i.e. daily wear vs. overnight wear).

Many factors, including certain corneal conditions, tear film instability, dry eye symptoms and eyelid inflammation can lead to a decrease in contact lens wear time for some people. Your eye care professional should be able to tell you the appropriate amount of time you may safely wear your contact lenses based on the type you have.

Because improper use of contact lenses can put you at risk for eye infections and corneal ulcers that have the potential to cause blindness, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidelines for their safe use:

• Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses to reduce the chance of getting an infection.
• Remove the lenses immediately and consult your eye care professional if your eyes become red, irritated, or your vision changes.
• Always follow the directions of your eye care professional and all labeling instruction for proper use of contact lenses and lens care products.
• Use contact lens products and solutions recommended by your eye care professional.
• Do not use contact lens solutions that have gone beyond the expiration or discard date.
• Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
• Clean and disinfect your lenses properly following all labeling instructions provided with your lens care products.
• Do not “top-off” the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the left over contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
• Never use non-sterile water (distilled water, tap water or any homemade saline solution). Exposure of contact lenses to water has been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.
• Do not put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
• Clean, rinse and air-dry your lens case each time lenses are removed. You may want to flip over your lens case while air drying so excess solution may drain out of the case. Contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth.
• Replace your contact lens storage case every 3 to 6 months.
• Do not transfer contact lens solutions into smaller travel size containers. This can affect the sterility of the solution which can lead to an eye infection.

If you are experiencing abnormal eye symptoms or would like to discuss eyeglasses or contact lenses, be sure to contact the Student Health Services Optometry Department – we’re here to help!

Julia Geldis, OD
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University

Have you ever seen flashes of light or weird little floaters in your vision? Wonder what causes them, and if they’re something to worry about?  Well wonder no more my friends!

Your eye is composed of a gel-like substance called the vitreous that helps maintain the shape of the eye and acts as a “shock absorber” to protect the fragile retina. As we get older, the vitreous begins to liquefy and deteriorate, and the contents of the vitreous clump together. These clumps of vitreous can appear in your vision as “spots,” “cobwebs,” or “floaters” and may vary in size and location. These floaters tend to appear as moving spots in your vision and can come and go throughout the day.

Floaters are quite common and usually harmless, but they may lead to other more serious conditions, such as retinal tears or detachments. It is important to see an eye care professional immediately if you experience any of the following:

• sudden onset of floaters
• loss of vision that accompanies the floaters
• numerous or large floaters
• floaters associated with trauma to the eyes or head
• a sudden increase (or “shower”) of floaters
• flashes of light

Flash of light are a little more worrisome.  They are caused by stimulation of the retina, which can be due to many things:

• a retinal tear or detachment
• a posterior vitreous detachment (common)
• migraine headaches (common)
• rapid eye movements (very common)
• retinal infections or inflammations (rare)
• central nervous system disorders (rare)

If you see any flashes of light it is very important to see your eye doctor right away to make sure you don’t have a retinal tear or detachment; if left untreated they can result in vision loss. 

If you have any concerns about your vision, you can make an appointment with Student Health Optometry Services – we’re happy to check you out.

Tia Tucker, OD (Ohio State College of Optometry Alum)

Julia Geldis, OD (Staff Optometrist, SHS)

Q: Is it OK to sleep in my contact lenses? What if they are a “Night & Day” brand?

A: Even though there are particular designs of lenses that are approved for “extended wear” (the industry term for overnight wear), it is very important to have your eyes examined to ensure that they would be safe for wearing lenses overnight.

The cornea (the clear, outermost layer covering the colored part of the eye) has no blood vessels so it gets all of its oxygen from the outside environment. Even though contact lenses let some oxygen pass through to your cornea, they filter out a significant amount so wearing lenses for a long period doesn’t let your cornea “breathe”. This can lead to significant degrees of inflammation, irritation, redness, and discomfort. 

Additionally, nighttime lens removal, cleaning and soaking in a disinfecting solution (NOT JUST SALINE) is an essential step to maintain adequate eye health for contact lens wearers. This overnight soak removes deposits and neutralizes bacteria and viruses that build up on the lens throughout the day. So, when you wear lenses overnight, they are often contaminated with bacteria that increase the risk of infection. This can lead to a potentially serious disorder called a corneal ulcer, which can lead to blindness.

Because of these serious consequences, we recommend that you only wear your lenses overnight under the guidance of an eye doctor. However, we realize that not all overnight wear of contacts is planned. If you think there is a chance that you might be sleeping in your lenses, stick a lens case in your pocket or purse. If you do forget to take out your lenses, be sure to consult your eye doctor if you experience any redness, discharge, pain, light sensitivity, or reduced vision. Even if you don’t have any of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to wear glasses the next day to give your eyes a chance to “breathe.”

The staff of Ohio State Student Health Optometry Services is always happy to see you about your eye safety concerns.  We’re here to protect your sight and keep your eyes healthy!

Adam Brandeberry (OSU College of Medicine and Public Health)

Gregory J. Nixon O.D., F.A.A.O. (Associate Professor of Clinical Optometry, OSU College of Optometry and Student Health Services)

Have you ever been told you have astigmatism at your eye exam? And have you ever wondered what the heck astigmatism actually is? Well, allow me to bring this very common condition into focus for you.

Astigmatism is a condition in which the light rays that enter the eye do not focus at the same point on the retina, or the back surface of the eye. This results in a blurry image, which may cause you headaches and eyestrain. The light rays may scatter due to the curvature of the cornea, which is the clear front surface of the eyeball, or as they pass through the intraocular lens inside the eye. Thankfully, having astigmatism does not mean you have some scary eye disease! It is actually considered to be a part of your refractive error – the prescription you get for glasses or contact lenses.  

A person can have astigmatism while also being near-sighted or far-sighted. It may be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. If you have been experiencing blurry vision, headaches or eyestrain, please feel free to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive vision exam at our Optometry Services at The Wilce Student Health Center. To learn a little more about astigmatism, check out the information and video posted on the American Optometric Association’s website.

Julia Geldis, OD
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University

There’s a great story in the New York Times about how to pick the best pair of sunglasses.  There’s actually more to consider than just how cool they look.  If you don’t get the right type of sunglasses, you could actually end up putting your eyes at more risk from the harmful effects of the sun.

But looking cool is important too, and luckily you will have a chance right here on campus to check out the latest styles for the spring!

The Optometry Clinic is hosting their semi-annual Spring Fashion Frame Expo from 9-6 next Tuesday, April 12th.   

In addition to their normal selection of 2000 frames, many eyewear manufacturers (including Gucci, Sean John and LaCoste among others) will present their Spring Fashion Collections.

Featured frames will be specially priced, and there will be licensed opticians there to make sure your eyes will feel as good as you look!

John A. Vaughn, MD
Student Health Services
The Ohio State University