Teens, Contact Lenses and Healthy Eyes

(NewsUSA) – As children enter their teenage years, many become
self-conscious if they must wear glasses. Contact lenses can provide a safe vision-correction
option for young teens.

However, contact lenses, and the solutions required to care for them, have been
identified recently as having their own set of 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," that caused blindness in a number of countries,
and Complete was contaminated with "Acanthamoeba," protozoa that can cause permanent blindness
within hours.

Even with uncontaminated solution products, teenagers who wear contact lenses can be at
risk. To properly care for lenses, teens must use solutions to rinse, rub, re-rinse and properly
store their contacts every time they wear them. In almost every case, teens should not wear
contacts for more than eight hours at a time or sleep while wearing their contacts.

The contact lens industry admits that most adults do not properly disinfect and
clean their lenses. In the American Optometric Association's 2007 American Eye-Q Survey, 79 percent
of the contact lens wearers interviewed admitted to showering, swimming and sleeping in their
contacts, not to mention wearing their contacts longer than recommended.

What's the problem? Teens and adults who over-wear, or don't properly clean and disinfect
their lenses risk infections that can result in significant sensitivities, impaired vision and even
partial or complete loss of their vision.

One FDA-approved product, the LensComfort Ultrasonic Cleaning, Disinfecting &
Storage Unit, makes contact lens wear safer for teens. It is an automatic, one-step device that the
teen uses to store lenses overnight and then plugs in for 15 minutes before they apply them to the
eye.

Ultrasound technology is used in hospitals and dental practices to remove microscopic
pathogens from equipment used in surgery and patient care. In the case of contact lenses, the
LensComfort Ultrasonic Unit and LensComfort MultiPurpose Solution act together to actually clean in
15 minutes and disinfect all types of contact lenses

The ultrasonic unit can extend contact lens life and prevents teens from ripping their
contacts during cleaning (rubbing). This helps parents save money and ensures that their teenagers
will have healthy eyes and good vision.