Care & Handling

Learning how to apply and remove custom contact lenses is an important step that ensures long term wearing success. We encourage you to share these videos below with your patients. The videos may be seen in its entirety or you may reference individual sections as needed in your patient compliance training efforts.

In-Office Handling of your Newly Manufactured GP Lenses

It is recommended that GP lenses soak in conditioning solution for a minimum of 4 hours before they are verified or handled in the office. This will allow the lens to hydrate completely and will prevent oils and debris from attaching to the surface during the verification process. It is also important to insure all office personnel handling contact lenses are avoiding lotions, soaps, and antibacterial sanitizers that contain moisturizers and emollients while in the office.

Videos

Corneal GP Care and Handling

Scleral GP Care and Handling

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Wear

Custom Contact
Lens Wear Do’s and Don’ts

For successful long term contact lens wear, follow these important tips from the FDA. For additional information on contact lens solution care, visit FDA Guidance and view FDA contact lens safety video here.

Do

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.
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.
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 that excess solution can drain out of the case. Contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth.
Replace your contact lens storage case every 3-6 months.

Don’t

Don’t use contact lens solutions that have gone beyond the expiration or discard date.
Don’t “top-off” the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the leftover contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
Don’t expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake, or ocean water. 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.
Don’t put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
Don’t transfer contact lens solutions into smaller travel size containers. This can affect the sterility of the solution which can lead to an eye infection. Transferring solutions into smaller size containers may also leave consumers open to accidentally using a solution that is not intended for the eyes.

FAQs

Answers to Frequently Asked
Patient Questions

Are soft or GP contact lenses better?

Many patients can wear both types of contact lenses. Often patients, especially those with astigmatism and presbyopia, will find that the firmer GP lenses provide clearer, crisper vision than soft lenses. For patients with keratoconus GP lenses may be the only option for clear vision.

GP materials are a very healthy lens option since they provide excellent oxygen transmission and allow eyes to breathe. Also, because the lenses are firm they are easy to care for and last longer than soft lenses.

How long does it take to get used to GP lenses?

Adaptation to GP lenses is different for every patient and depends on eye sensitivity. Most patients who are new to contact lenses in general, or GP contact lenses more specifically, will be aware of their contact lenses at first. But, that sensation will go away after a few days to few weeks and the contact lenses will be very comfortable.

Are GP lenses an old fashioned lens technology?

Or Are GP lenses the same as hard lenses? No! GP lenses are not the same as the original “hard” lenses. In fact, GP contact lenses were introduced after soft lens technology. First launched in 1979, new generations of GP materials continue to be developed. Additionally, laboratories such as Art Optical use state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to improve vision and comfort with their GP lens designs.

Do bifocal contact lenses work?

Yes! There are many GP bifocal and multifocal lens options that meet the needs of most patients. With a contact lens evaluation it can be determined if the patient is a good candidate. GP bifocal and multifocal lenses will meet most visual needs, however, for some tasks it may be necessary to partner contact lenses with eyeglasses.

Is it difficult to get used to bifocal contact lenses?

Getting used to bifocal contact lenses is like getting used to bifocal or progressive spectacle lenses. If the patient is wearing contact lenses for the first time, they will be aware of the lenses for a few days, but that will go away.

Can I sleep in contact lenses?

There are highly oxygen permeable lens materials that can be slept in if prescribed for this purpose by the contact lens professional. Before sleeping in any lenses patients must first be evaluated for overall eye health and tear composition to determine if they are a suitable candidate.

How does Orthokeratology work?

Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K, corneal reshaping, vision shaping treatment or CRT, is a non-surgical way to eliminate or reduce the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day. Specially designed contact lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the surface of the eye while the patient sleeps. In the morning after the lenses are removed clear vision generally lasts during all waking hours, thus eliminating the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses during the day.