As a potential wearer of contact lenses, it is important for you to understand the facts around wearing contact lenses. There are millions of people on this planet, right now, wearing contact lenses. If they weren't safe to wear why would this be true?

TALK TO A PROFESSIONAL.

Your eyes are a very delicate member of the body and should be treated with utmost respect. As a first port of call, if you are wondering about wearing contact lenses, we recommend seeing a registered optician in your local town or suburb. When with the optometrist, ask them about contact lenses. As a first step, the very least you'll need is a contact lens prescription which will indicate which type of contacts you need. Once this has been established, your optometrist will have some options of contact lenses you can try. Everyone is different however there are going to be at least two or three different options of contacts that will suit you. The different options may be specified according to:

• Wear Schedule
• Base Curve dimension
• Strength and Orientation parameters
• Brand
• Budget (i.e. how much you're prepared to pay)

With this established, you are well on the way to getting some safe contact lenses for your eyes.

MAKING A DECISION.

Once you've lined up the options, you'll be set to make a decision. The lenses you choose will have a certain Wear Schedule - how long you are allowed to wear them for. Contact lenses can have a daily, fortnightly or monthly wear schedule and it's important you find this out at the time of purchase. It's very important you pay attention to the wear schedule of the lenses as wearing the lenses beyond their recommended time could cause irritation and infection. (Not Safe!)

USE THE CORRECT SOLUTION

If you've got fortnightly or monthly-wear contact lenses, you'll need to take your lenses out at night and store them in MedSafe approved contact lens solution. Placing them in water or in no solution at all will expose the contacts to unhygienic object which will cause the contact lenses to become unsafe to put in your eye.

CONTACT LENSES AREN'T NATURAL.

Your body was not created to have contact lenses so give your eyes 'time-out' from contacts will let the natural breathing habits of your eyes to take place. The surface of the eye needs oxygen and contact lenses - although they are carefully designed - don't let 'natural' levels of oxygen through to your eye. Taking your contact lenses out an hour or so before bed will help keep your eye healthy. As safe as contact lenses are, they can still become 'unsafe' if you don't listen to advise. Don't think you know better. Even if you can't see any immediate issues with breaking the rules, there may be some long-term detrimental effects that are lying dormant only to hamper you later on in life. Abide by the 'rules' and you can be assured that contact lenses are safe.