Contact lenses for farsightedness: is it possible to wear and which is better?

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Contact lenses for farsightedness: is it possible to wear and which is better?
Contact lenses for farsightedness: is it possible to wear and which is better?
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Contact lenses for farsightedness: is it possible to wear and which is better?

Contact lenses for farsightedness
Contact lenses for farsightedness

Hypermetropia, or simply farsightedness, is a visual impairment in which a person has difficulty looking at nearby objects, while distant objects are seen quite clearly. However, this statement is completely true only for those people who are faced with age-related deterioration in near vision. If a person has already had refractive pathologies during his life, then after 40 years he will most likely see poorly at any distance. According to statistics, about half of pensioners suffer from nearsightedness and farsightedness at the same time.

Young people with hyperopia are thinking about wearing contact lenses for obvious reasons: firstly, these devices do not spoil the image, on the contrary, they can make the appearance brighter by changing the color of the eyes. Secondly, the lenses do not need to be removed and put on during the day. Thirdly, modern samples are distinguished by excellent hygienic properties, gas permeability, and complete comfort in use. However, contact lenses also have obvious disadvantages: the need for careful maintenance and regular replacement at a relatively high cost. So what do you prefer - glasses or lenses?

People often ask: can I wear lenses instead of glasses? Which of these methods of optical vision correction is better? Are there contact lenses specifically for senile farsightedness that can deal with multiple problems at once and provide clear vision in any conditions? At what age is it allowed to wear contact lenses, and how to choose the best option? Finally, how to use lenses correctly to avoid discomfort and complications? We will consider all these nuances in detail below. In addition, you will learn about contact lenses for correcting hyperopic astigmatism and special overnight lenses used in orthokeratology.

Contact lenses for farsightedness
Contact lenses for farsightedness

Can I wear lenses if I'm farsighted?

Can you wear lenses
Can you wear lenses

With the help of contact lenses, even a high degree of hypermetropia (+6 D and more) can be corrected, so the answer to the question is quite obvious - you can. But the fact is that it is necessary to treat the selection of these optical devices with all responsibility, because wearing inappropriate lenses is fraught with a further drop in near vision acuity, the development of asthenopia (eye fatigue, a feeling of sand poured into them, headaches), as well as the occurrence of complications (cataracts, glaucoma, inflammatory eye diseases).

Hyperopia refers to refractive errors and is expressed in the fact that the rays of light passing through the optical media of the eye are focused not on the surface of the retina, as provided by nature, but on a conditional plane behind, sometimes far beyond the eyeball. If the deviation from the norm is insignificant (within 3-5 diopters), it can be compensated by accommodation (change in the curvature of the lens). But with age, this mechanism is also depleted, then there is a need for surgical, laser or optical vision correction.

Hip contact lenses have positive diopters because they are designed to work in place of a worn lens or under-convex cornea by bringing light rays closer to the retina. This is possible due to the collecting optical design.

You need to understand that wearing contact lenses is not a method of treating farsightedness, age-related or congenital, but if you use these products correctly, you can achieve eye strain relief and slow down the wear of the visual apparatus. Modern SCLs (soft contact lenses) are very comfortable and safe, so they are allowed to be worn not only by adults, but even by children over 8 years old. In addition, there are special lenses for correcting nearsightedness and farsightedness at the same time, which is especially important in the case of presbyopia (“senile vision”).

Video: how to choose the right lenses and whether they can replace glasses:

Advantages and disadvantages of contact lenses

Lenses are better than glasses, if only because they do their main task much better. Not only do they provide high-definition vision, but they also maintain a good side view without causing distortion or narrowing the field of view.

There are other obvious benefits of contact lenses for farsightedness:

  • They do not need to be carried in a case, wiped, removed and put on during the day;
  • They are very effective and can correct even severe hypermetropia;
  • They can be considered comfortable and completely safe when used correctly, because the soft structure is not capable of injuring the eyes;
  • They are completely invisible, do not spoil the appearance and can even improve it if you prefer the color option;
  • They can be worn during active sports, thereby maintaining clarity of vision even in extreme conditions;
  • They do not glare and do not fog up, unlike glasses.

Disadvantages of SCL include the following points:

  • Quite a long adaptation period. Moreover, some people, especially very young and elderly patients, refuse to wear contact lenses with farsightedness, because they cannot get used to the sensation of a foreign body in the eye;
  • The relatively high cost, combined with the need for frequent replacement, can make this type of optical vision correction simply unaffordable for some categories of citizens;
  • The need for very careful observance of the rules of hygiene, storage and care of products;
  • The likelihood of complications (conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis), especially if the above rules are neglected.

Contraindications for wearing contact lenses with farsightedness and any other visual defects are as follows:

  • Infectious and inflammatory eye diseases;
  • Pathologies of the lacrimal glands and violation of the composition of the lacrimal fluid;
  • Dry eye syndrome or vice versa, increased tearing;
  • Asthma, allergies, vasomotor rhinitis;
  • Injuries, functional and degenerative-dystrophic changes in the eyes (glaucoma, cataracts, dislocation and subluxation of the lens, severe strabismus, prolapse or incomplete closure of the eyelids (lagophthalmos).

Video from the program "Live great!" Glasses or lenses?

What are the types of contact lenses for farsightedness?

Many people are wondering what to look for when choosing such products? Indeed, after passing an examination by an ophthalmologist, you will only know what refractive power in diopters they should have, as well as what lens design is best suited to correct your particular visual impairment. But in addition to these aspects, there are others that directly affect the convenience, quality and cost of products. Let's consider the most important criteria for choosing an SCL in more detail.

Materials and characteristics

Currently, hydrogel and silicone hydrogel SCLs are most widely used. The second option is preferable because it is characterized by maximum safety and comfort. A few years ago, contact lenses made of water-gradient material appeared on the shelves of optics stores, which are superior to their old counterparts in all basic parameters, but are much more expensive.

Oxygen permeability, water content, radius of curvature, tensile strength, refractive power, design and purpose should be taken into account when choosing lenses for farsightedness.

In addition to soft products, there are hard contact lenses (LCL). They are made from polymethyl methacrylate and an organosilicon polymer, but they are used extremely rarely - only about 10% of visual impairments are corrected with LCL. We will talk about this in more detail below when we discuss night lenses and the orthokeratology technique.

What are contact lenses
What are contact lenses

Mode and duration of wearing

As for the service life of the LCL, on this basis they are all divided into four categories:

  • One-day;
  • Two weeks;
  • One month;
  • Quarterly.

We emphasize that we are not talking about continuous wear. Even a product intended for long-term use (3 months) is usually worn only during the day, and removed at night and stored in a special solution. In any case, after the expiration date, the lenses must be disposed of, as they lose their functionality and may even harm the eyes.

The operation mode of the MKL is as follows:

  • Daily - we described it above;
  • Flexible - allows continuous stay in the same lenses for 2-3 days;
  • Prolonged - the product can be left on for a whole week or more.

Even if the manufacturer assures that it is completely safe to wear their lenses for a long time, ophthalmologists still strongly recommend removing contact lenses at night and resting your eyes at least for the duration of sleep.

Practice shows that people who regularly use products with prolonged use are more likely to develop inflammatory complications, and sometimes there is even a rapid deterioration in visual acuity. So think about it, is it worth risking your he alth because of laziness? In any case, keep in mind that only silicone hydrogel SCLs, that is, “latest generation” products, are suitable for long-term wear.

Video: Contact lens complications:

Rules for fitting contact lenses

If you have farsightedness, which lenses are needed, only a qualified doctor can determine. He will also give practical advice regarding the type and mode of use of such products. Self-acquisition of SCL without prior consultation with an ophthalmologist is almost certainly a waste of money, and sometimes the cause of complications.

For the correct selection of lenses for farsightedness, the following diagnostic procedures may be necessary:

  • Visometry;
  • Refractometry;
  • Ophthalmoscopy;
  • Accommodometry;
  • Checking lateral vision and binocular functions of the eyes.

And here are the main criteria to consider when choosing a CL:

  • Optical power - this indicator is measured in diopters and characterizes the degree of hypermetropia in a particular patient;
  • Radius of Curvature – The structure of the eyeballs varies from person to person, but most patients fit lenses with a standard radius of 8.6mm;
  • Water content - higher water content is softer and more comfortable, but harder pieces provide better vision;
  • Oxygen permeability - the risk of complications depends on it: "breathing" SCLs are safer in this regard;
  • Ultimate strength - directly affects the lifespan of each individual pair of contact lenses.

How to use contact lenses?

How to use contact lenses
How to use contact lenses

Before putting the SCL on your eyes, you must wash your face and wash your hands with soap and water, then dry thoroughly. Any manufacturer of optics must attach an instruction manual to their products, where there is a schematic representation of the procedure that you have to perform. Follow the prompts and in a few seconds the lenses will be in place.

In the evening, before going to bed, the CL should be carefully removed, also relying on the attached manual, and stored in a special solution. It has a typical composition and is sold in all major optics stores. However, it is worth clarifying which drug is best suited for your type of SCL. Both the solution and the plastic container for storing lenses must be replaced every 3-6 months.

If in the process of wearing contact lenses you find signs of SARS, influenza, bacterial lesions of the upper respiratory tract - immediately remove the SCL and do not resume their use until complete recovery!

Otherwise, you will very easily infect the eye. It goes without saying that it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist in case of already existing symptoms of inflammation of the eyes. In addition, you should be alert for any manifestations of discomfort directly or indirectly associated with the LCL, ranging from lacrimation to headaches. Perhaps the lenses do not fit you or no longer fit. An urgent visit to an ophthalmologist requires such situations as a sudden progressive deterioration of vision, pain and swelling in the eyeballs, a sharp aggravation of asthenopic syndrome.

Lenses for age-related farsightedness

Older people are most concerned about the question of whether there are lenses for the correction of presbyopia and associated visual impairment, and what is better - to get suitable glasses for the long term or to regularly spend money on buying SCLs?

As for the functionality of modern contact lenses, they are in no way inferior to glasses, and in some aspects even surpass them. For example, if we are talking about astigmatism against the background of hypermetropia. With such a common diagnosis among pensioners as nearsightedness and farsightedness at the same time, LCLs also do an excellent job. Let's see how they do it.

So, presbyopia is corrected with the following types of contact lenses:

Bifocal. Otherwise called variables. These are the simplest of all SCLs designed to correct age-related visual pathologies. In such lenses there are two optical zones: the upper "for distance" and the lower "for near". The disadvantages of bifocal SCLs include a too sharp transition, the absence of a segment for a clear visualization of medium-distance objects, as well as a narrowing of the field of view. That is why many older people cannot get used to wearing such devices.

Multifocal. This is an improved version of the previous LCLs. In addition to the optical zones for near and far vision, there is a third, “middle” zone located between them. Adaptation to such products is usually easier, but it’s also not always possible to see the objects on the side well - you have to turn your head in the right direction instead of squinting your eyes. The disadvantages of multifocal SCLs, of course, include the high cost.

Spherical. These contact lenses are used to correct age-related farsightedness using the monovision method. The doctor determines which eye of the patient sees better near, and which one - far. Then a lens is selected for each eye that can provide respectively clear near and far vision. When the human nervous system adapts to different SCLs, the brain will choose which eye to look in a given situation. The downside is that products of this type are not suitable for drivers, since they cannot guarantee full binocular vision.

Aspheric. Also known as progressive. Are made strictly individually, under the order. The central optical zone of these lenses allows you to see well near, and the peripheral one - far. Moreover, the transition between them is smooth. This design takes into account the natural mechanism of constriction and expansion of the pupil. After all, when we look at nearby objects, our pupil narrows, and when we look at a distance, it expands. Aspheric LCLs are the most perfect and are able to provide even a high-quality side view. Of the shortcomings - only a high price and a rather long period of addiction.

Concentric. Otherwise they are called circular and, in fact, they are a modification of bifocal SCLs, with the only difference that the optical zones for near and far vision are alternating 4-5 times concentric circles. At the same time, in the center of one lens there is an area “for near”, and in the center of the other - “for distance”, so that, as in the case of spherical SCLs, the brain itself chooses the “leading” eye depending on the situation. These products are not easy to get used to, and they are also not suitable for driving.

Lenses for age-related farsightedness
Lenses for age-related farsightedness

Toric lenses for farsightedness and astigmatism

Toric lenses for farsightedness
Toric lenses for farsightedness

Astigmatism is a very complex refractive error, which is characterized by the presence of several focusing points of refracted light rays on the retina or even a focus in the form of a line, figure eight, irregular figure. Often this pathology is combined with other defects, including hypermetropia. So, there are lenses for farsightedness that can correct astigmatism at the same time, and they work better than glasses, because they are attached directly to the cornea, while the lenses of the glasses are about 12 millimeters away from the eyeballs, and this distance has a bad effect on efficiency of optical correction.

Such devices are called toric contact lenses (TCL), they are made of the same modern materials as regular SCLs, they have the same advantages: convenience, safety, clarity of visualization. They can also be both transparent and colored. Only the design differs - the TCL is spherical in shape, that is, one lens has two optical powers at the same time. The first value is responsible for correcting astigmatism along the desired meridian, and the second for correcting the concomitant pathology of refraction, in this case, farsightedness.

The selection of toric contact lenses requires an in-depth examination by an ophthalmologist. Wearing such products is indicated for astigmatism from 0.75 diopters and above.

Toric lenses for farsightedness
Toric lenses for farsightedness

Night lenses for farsightedness

Night lenses
Night lenses

This is a very special type of optical products designed for the temporary correction of visual impairment using the orthokeratology method. Night contact lenses can be used for both myopia (nearsightedness) and hypermetropia (farsightedness). But they are not suitable for correcting age-related refractive pathologies, since in older people the cornea is usually already thinned, and there may be other contraindications.

The essence of the technique is to wear rigid gas-permeable lenses during the night's rest. From the outside, they look like ordinary SCLs, and the inner surface is shaped so that when pressure is applied to the upper layer of the cornea, its curvature changes. If a person suffers from myopia, the night lens should flatten the cornea, pressing it in the central part. If the patient has farsightedness, then the impact is on the periphery, so that the center, on the contrary, arches outward. During the night, the cornea acquires the necessary refractive power, which is maintained throughout the next day, providing clarity of vision.

Night lenses must be worn for at least 8 hours. They are quite effective for myopia up to -6 diopters, hypermetropia up to +3 diopters and astigmatism up to 1.5 diopters. They can be used by patients aged 10-40 years, provided there are no contraindications.

Benefits of night lenses for farsightedness:

  • They do not need to be worn during the day like regular contact lenses or glasses;
  • They are much less likely to provoke inflammatory reactions and complications in the form of dry eye syndrome or tearing;
  • They are very convenient for women to use, because there are no restrictions associated with makeup;
  • They can h alt the development of progressive myopia in children by pressing on an overly convex cornea while it is still growing.

Special contraindications for wearing night contact lenses (in addition to those already mentioned, relevant for any type of such products):

  • Keratoconus and keratoglobus;
  • Corneal astigmatism 1.75 diopters or more;
  • Thinning or reduced sensitivity of the cornea.

In general, the orthokeratology technique is quite effective and safe, but it has ideological opponents. Some ophthalmologists believe that regular pressure on the cornea can lead to its accelerated wear, persistent curvature and the development of astigmatism. However, even if such visual impairment does occur, it is usually reversible and resolves on its own shortly after wearing nocturnal contact lenses.

In any case, remember - if you have farsightedness, which lenses are best for you to use, only a qualified specialist can recommend based on the results of a full study of visual functions. Take care of your eyes and stay he althy!

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