Growing up sitting in one of the back rows at school to avoid the teaching picking on me was a double-edged sword. Sure “Mr Banson” tended to avoid me for his devilish mathematics questions but I couldn’t see the board properly to copy down his notes.
I failed my maths exams miserably…..
Moving to Australia later in life I shall never forget when I left a previous half-lifetime of denial behind and finally took the plunge and started wearing glasses. It was an optician in Bondi Junction and after getting my new specs as my father used to call them I went to watch a local cricket match.
The angels were celebrating – I could see the ball properly for the first time in my life!
Around ten years ago I decided to buy contact lenses but I had some comfort issues perhaps due to a poor fitting from the place I chose, not the excellent one in the link now that I found.
I gave up on lenses and returned to glasses. But recently I saw an article about improved contact lens tech that made me try again.
Modern silicone hydrogel lenses reduce the risk of complications increasing comfort for extended wear. Improved biocompatible materials enhance comfort and reduce redness as they mimic the natural area of the eye more precisely.
Comfort enhancements now include better hydration and sustained-release wetting agents and besides, lenses have got thinner making them more comfortable and less noticeable than even a decade ago.
Enhanced designs for multi-focal lenses mean that great sight over a variety of distances can now be achieved more consistently. There are even innovations in what is known as ortho-K lenses that reshape the cornea overnight to correct vision.
This can mean reducing or even eliminating contact lens wear entirely in some cases.
There are even smart lenses that have integrated sensors and electronics – I was amazed – that can monitor health metrics such as glucose levels for diabetes management. You can even get personalised lenses made using a 3D printer. Is there no end to the latest tech?
Anti-microbial and anti-UV coatings have been developed preventing bacteria and harmful light, a real boon for Aussies outdoors. And bear in mind that cleaning and storage products are improving fast too.
Sustainability issues have improved with biodegradable and recyclable lens materials. Improved longevity of lenses also means less waste which can’t be a bad thing.
Finally the development of particularly shaped “toric lenses” offer better stability and clarity for folks with astigmatism while scleral lenses that are larger and create a tear filled area over the cornea have been superb for those with irregular corneas or people suffering from severe dry eye.
In conclusion, if you have tried lenses before years ago and they didn’t work out, why not try again at a fully qualified and up-to-date supplier who can give you the tests and have you seeing better today.
Without glasses!
