MCC Daily Tribune
Contact Lens Safety Month
Contact Lens Safety Month was declared to be observed every October by a non-profit eye health association known as Prevent Blindness. The association seeks to reduce preventable blindness, by educating lens wearers on the proper ways they can use and care for their lenses.
HOW TO OBSERVE CONTACT LENS SAFETY MONTH
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Create awareness on social media
Most consumers of lenses claim they were not educated on the proper usage of eyewear, while healthcare practitioners attest that they educate every individual that comes in for a prescription. It is safe to say that a number of consumers were not paying attention, and what better way to get their attention than through social media?
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Put up posters
Order posters from the Centre for Disease Control and prevention that highlight the implications of improper lens wear and usage and paste them up in an eye clinic, hospital, or on a library board.
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Contribute to any causes for eye care
You can make a one-time or monthly donation to any of the accredited eye health organizations. These organizations have transparency and share periodic reports of their finances and how they were disbursed.
5 FACTS ABOUT CONTACT LENSES ALL WEARERS SHOULD KNOW
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Better vision
Contact lens is a medical device designed to correct common eye problems.
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They were not always comfortable
Contact lenses in their early days were not as comfortable as present-day lenses.
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They can be used in surgeries
Anesthetic drugs can now be administered using contact lenses by having the lens release them.
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Used for innovative acting
Most decorative lenses are used for entertainment and leisure purposes only.
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Mostly used by women
Contact lenses are used more by women due to lifestyle and personal preferences.
WHY WE LOVE CONTACT LENS SAFETY MONTH
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It raises awareness amongst the general public.
Not many lens users know the basic guidelines of contact lens care. Similarly, the usage of contact lenses for beautification is miscommunicating the actual purpose of contact lenses. Contact lenses are not over-the-counter products and should not be used as such.
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It educates consumers on the functionality of lenses
Most corrective eyewear users are skeptical about trying contact lenses because of the perceived discomfort and bothersome routine that comes with them. This month seeks to educate us on the alternative to eyeglasses and the stereotypes that are false and also true to a certain extent.
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It connects a community
Contact Lens Safety Month connects physicians, researchers, contact-lens users, and corrective eyeglass wearers. A stronghold of information is developed when these people communicate their experiences, research, questions as well as answers.
Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
10/26/2022