Are you at risk by buying your contact lenses online?

Optometry Australia has warned consumers that their eyesight may suffer if they take contact lens prescribing into their own hands when purchasing from online retailers who do not require them to validate their contact lens prescriptions.

At Core Optique we have seen an influx of patients who have been purchasing their contact lenses online, especially from retailers who only offer one type of lens. We understand that finding a competitive price is necessary, but at what expense? Is your eyesight worth the $10-$20 saving a month?

At Core Optique, we are happy to assist you in finding contact lenses which suit your budget, we want you to see the world as clearly as you can, but with contact lenses which fit correctly and provide you with optimal health performance on the eye.

We can’t stress enough that this one-size-fits-all approach is concerning because one size and one type of contact lens material does not meet everyone’s eye health requirements.

Within Australia, prescription contact lenses are considered medical devices and therefore their supply is governed by the Therapeutics Goods Administration.

To be fitted for contact lenses requires a comprehensive eye examination with our highly trained optometrists, where we will conduct the relevant tests to prescribe lenses which best suit your particular vision conditions, such as long or short sightedness, presbyopia or astigmatism.

Many people aren't aware that contact lens prescriptions are more complex than spectacle lens prescriptions as detailed size information (curvature and diameter) of the eye, along with a material choice for optimal health performance of the contact lenses need to be taken into consideration.

Contact lenses are not ‘one size fits all’ and must be properly fitted as lenses that are too tight can result in acute red eye, bound lenses and a risk of damage to the eye when the wearer is unable to safely remove them. Lenses which fit too loosely will be unstable on the eye and risk mis-location up under the lids where they become an infection risk.

Contact lens material is also critical and makes up a major component of prescriptions. Newer materials like silicon hydro-gels are able to ‘breathe’ much better than older materials and let significantly more oxygen through to the front surface of the eye.

Lens breath-ability is particularly important for patients who require high powers (and consequently thicker contact lenses), as lack of oxygen to the eye can lead to blood vessels growing into the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye), painful red eyes and an increased risk of corneal ulcers and permanent vision loss.

Different materials also carry a different electrical charge which affects the way protein or deposits are attracted to material and influence wetting, comfort and physiological response, and patients may develop a hypersensitivity to a material, which can lead to giant papillary conjunctivitis.

These mentioned affects are checked at the aftercare period when trialing contact lenses. Before purchasing your lenses, we at Core Optique book you back in with our optometrist to make sure everything is going the way we had planned, and if you are having any issues with your prescribed lenses, at this point we can make changes to the material/type of lens we have prescribed.

It's also important to know that not all brands are the same. Contact lens manufacturers often specialise in making lenses for different eye conditions. Yet when purchasing lenses online, a patient may not understand the differences between brands, materials or differing prescription requirements.

Contact lens prescriptions are typically valid for a one-year period as regular annual health assessment is essential to minimise risk of contact lens complications, or to see if you require any changes to your current contact lenses.

Please remember, contact lenses are not toys. When prescribed accurately and when worn under the supervision of your optometrist they provide a safe and effective means of correcting your vision.

Before you go back to your online retailer, book your Contact Lens consultation, and discuss your needs, budget and concerns about your current contact lenses, and let us fit you with the correct contact lenses for your visual needs.

Because how important are your eyes to you?

Book now 02 8593 7156 / www.coreoptique.com/booking

CORE OPTIQUE - 215 Glenmore Road, Paddington, Sydney NSW