Great question from earlier this week on Quora: How do I overcome the fear of wearing contact lenses?
A good first step for anyone fearful of contact lenses is identifying why they’re afraid.
- Fear of pain/discomfort: modern contact lens materials are very comfortable. A properly fitted lens will provide the wearer with discomfort-free wear. Persistent issues with comfort, irritation, dryness, etc. might suggest that an alternate contact lens material would be more appropriate. You and your eye care professional will work together to find the best option for you.
- Fear of losing a lens in the eye: contrary to urban legend, a contact lens will not roll up and enter your brain
The worst a lens can do is fold up and get temporarily lodged under the upper or lower eyelid. Eye anatomy prevents the lens from exiting from anywhere but the front. - Fear of losing a lens outside of the eye: believe it or not, this isn’t the end of the world. Many of today’s soft contact lenses are supplied in multi-packs allowing for easy replacement of a lost lens.
- Fear of infection: modern contact lens disinfection systems, when used as directed, do an excellent job of making lenses cleaner and safer than ever before. Daily disposable contact lenses are also an option for people looking for a brand new, clean lens each day.
Fear of wearing contact lenses isn’t bad because it actually means the potential wearer is looking at them as the medical device they truly are. With proper care, however, there is no reason to be afraid as contact lenses have never been safer or more comfortable.
Great article! These are all my fears about getting contact lenses and I’m glad to see that I was being silly. I’ve regularly seen my mother get cuts in her lenses (and thus her eye!) which is another fear. Thanks for putting me at ease.