As teens reach their teenage years, many children become embarrassed to wear glasses. Contact lenses offer a safe way to correct vision for young teens.
Contact lenses and the care required for them have been recently identified as having their own hazards. Last year, the FDA recalled two widely used contact lens solutions brands, ReNu with MoistureLoc, manufactured by Bausch & Lomb, and Complete MoisturePlus, manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics. The B&L solution was contaminated with a dangerous fungus, “Fusarium,”Complete was also contaminated by the virus, which caused blindness in several countries. “Acanthamoeba,”The protozoa can cause permanent blindness within hours.
Contact lenses worn by teenagers can pose a risk even with non-contaminated solution products. Teens should properly care for contact lenses. Teens must rinse, rub, rewash, and store them properly every time they wear them. Teens should not wear contact lenses for longer than eight hours or sleep with them.
The majority of adults do not properly clean and disinfect contact lenses, according to the industry. According to the American Optometric Association’s 2007 American Eye Q Survey, 79% of contact lens wearers admitted to using their lenses for swimming, showering, and even sleeping.
What’s the problem? Teens and adults who don’t clean or disinfect their lenses properly or over-wear them are at risk of developing infections that could cause significant sensitivities, impaired or total loss of vision.
One FDA-approved product, the LensComfort Ultrasonic Cleaning, Disinfecting & Storage Unit, makes contact lens wear safer for teens. The device is a one-step, automatic product that the teen uses for storing lenses overnight. After that, they plug it in for 15 minutes and then apply the lenses to their eyes.
Ultrasound technology can be used in hospitals and dental offices to remove microscopic pathogens. It is also used in dentistry to treat patients and equipment. Contact lenses can be cleaned with the LensComfort Ultrasonic Unit or LensComfort MultiPurpose solution. They are both designed to disinfect and clean all types of lenses in 15 minutes.
Ultrasonic units can prolong contact lens life, and prevent teens from damaging their contacts when cleaning them (rubbing). This saves parents money and ensures good vision for their teens.
