8 Scary Contact Lens Myths Debunked

Contact Lens Myths

Have you ever thought about losing your contact lenses behind your eyes? Maybe you’ve even heard the story about a guy who got blinded because his lenses melted while he was grilling steak? There are a lot of scary contact lens myths that make wearing lenses seem like a bad idea. However, you’ll be happy to know that most of these myths are simply what they are; exaggerated tales that amuse and scary people.

The Truth Behind Contact Lens Myths

Before anything else, we should first establish the fact that contact lenses are generally safe to use. In fact, millions of people wear contact lenses for a lot of good reasons. For the most part, people use contact lenses for either cosmetic or corrective purposes.

Put simply, contact lenses can help you see better if you have vision problems. On the other hand, you can also use cosmetic colored contacts to change your appearance. Either way, the number of people who use contacts should be enough to ensure that contacts aren’t something to be afraid of.

Top 8 Contact Lens Myths Debunked

With all the random information circling around our world, it’s important for us to separate facts from fiction. When it comes to contact lenses, debunking some of the top myths can definitely help you enjoy your lenses with more enthusiasm. Read on and find out why you shouldn’t believe in these contact lens myths!

1. Contact lenses can melt in your eyes

The contact lenses that you often see are generally made of a soft plastic-like material. This design helps make your lenses sit more comfortably on your eyes. With this in mind, do you think your lenses will melt if you stand too close to a bonfire, a hot grill, or a steaming pot?

It may seem possible at first, however you’ll realize how funny this myth is if you really think about it.

For starters, it takes a lot more than the radiating heat of a grill to melt your lenses. In fact, you’d need so much heat that would harm your eyes before your lenses start to melt.

In other words, unless the heat burns your eyes, your lenses aren’t likely to melt while you wear them. This means that you can grill a few patties with your buddies on a hot summer day and not have to worry about your lenses melting.

2. Your lenses can get stuck behind your eyeballs

Having lenses stuck behind your eyeballs can sound very scary right? But before you decide on boycotting contact lenses, you should know that this myth is totally false. Though your contact lenses can sometimes get caught in your eyes, losing them behind your eyeball is very impossible.

Your eyes have the conjunctiva lining that sits between your eyeball and your eyelids. This means that there is definitely no room for anything, like your lenses, to slide behind your eyeball. Given these points, doesn’t this myth sound more silly now that you know the facts?

Facts about lenses getting stuck in your eyes

Losing your lenses behind your eyes is definitely impossible, however, your lenses can get stuck on your eyelids. Luckily, this isn’t really as bad as it sounds. In fact, the remedy is as simple as adding some eye drops, closing your eyes, and mildly rubbing your eyelids. Doing this should loosen your lenses and make them easier to take off.

3. You’ll lose a lot of money buying contact lenses

Are you afraid of going broke because of buying endless pairs of contact lenses? Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses have expiration dates. This means that you can’t just wipe away the dirt off your contacts and keep using them after they’ve expired. Though buying pairs of lenses may be true, the myth of being too expensive is a little over the top.

There are different types of contact lenses that are available in the market. Some of them can last for a few weeks while others can only be used for a day.

This means that you have plenty of options when it comes to finding the right lenses for your budget. In fact, there may even be contact lenses that can suit your lifestyle perfectly. To sum up, contact lenses are fairly affordable as long as you know how to choose the best ones for you.

Common types of contact lenses to choose from

If you’re looking for affordable contact lenses, you need to know the different types to choose from. After all, knowing each type can help you determine the value-for-price which makes choosing the right lenses easier.

Here are the common types of lenses that you can buy in stores:

Daily Disposable Contact Lenses. You can only use this type of lens once and then discard them right after. Disposable lenses can help you avoid the hassles of cleaning and maintaining your lenses each day.
Daily Wear Contact Lenses. You can generally reuse daily wear lenses for a week or two. This depends on the brand and instructions of the lenses that you get. You need to disinfect this type of lens each night to ensure that they’re safe to use daily.
Extended Wear Contact Lenses. Extended wear contacts are a less common type of lens that you can wear for days without removal. Though wearing your lenses for too long can be harmful, people with certain work arrangements may benefit from this type of lens.

4. Contact lenses can ruin your eyes

First of all, there is a certain amount of truth to this myth. But you shouldn’t throw away your contact lenses just yet because it really isn’t as bad as this myth makes it out to be. In fact, a study shows that 90 percent of doctors agree that daily disposable lenses are very safe for your eyes.

There are a lot of regulations that ensure that the contact lenses in the market are perfectly safe to use—as long as you use them correctly and follow the instructions.

Contact Lens Myths: Facts about contact lens problems

As long as you follow the right steps in purchasing and using your lenses, you should be perfectly fine. For example, you should get a proper contact lens prescription to ensure that you can buy the right lenses for your visual needs. Additionally, you should only buy contact lenses from reliable stores and clinics.

Though contact lenses are generally safe to use, they are still medical devices that can harm your eyes if used incorrectly. However, you shouldn’t worry about anything as long as you know these things:

Get a contact lens prescription. You need a specific type of prescription if you want to buy contact lenses. In other words, you should visit an eye doctor and ask for a contact lens prescription before anything else.
Don’t reuse expired contact lenses. All contact lenses expire at some point. When this happens, you should dispose of them right away. Reusing expired lenses could lead to serious eye problems.
Always wash your hands. The most important practice for all contact lens owners is to wash their hands before handling lenses. Dirty hands can easily contaminate your lenses which could lead to eye infections.
Don’t share your lenses. Your lenses are specifically designed to fit your eyes which means that sharing lenses could harm your eyes. Additionally, sharing contacts is very unhygienic and can lead to spreading of diseases.
Keep your eyes moist. Contact lens irritation usually comes from your eyes drying up while you wear lenses. The moisture in your eyes helps keep your lenses from harming your cornea. This means that the drier your eyes the more prone you are to eye scratches.
Look out for signs of irritation. Whenever you feel any signs of contact lens irritation, you should remove your lenses immediately. You should also wash your eyes with warm water and have them checked by a professional.

5. Only people with eye problems should use contacts

Though contact lenses were primarily made to help people with vision problems, you can now use them for various reasons. For example, people now use contact lenses for either vision correction or fashion. In fact, there are even lenses that can change your eye color and improve your eyesight at the same time.

With all things considered, this contact lens myth is definitely not true. After all, cosmetic colored lenses are now commonly used for lots of things. You can find colored contacts in movies, fashion photos, costumes, cosplays, and more. In fact, you can even get enhancement tint lenses that can make your eyes look more amazing in a subtle manner.

6. Eyeglass are better than contact lenses

This myth is a classic case of eyeglass vs contact lenses. When it comes to vision correction, eyeglasses and contact lenses generally offer the same effects. However, there are specific cases that may require you to choose special types of lenses for your eyes.

For the most part, choosing eyeglasses over contact lenses depends on your personal taste. For example, eyeglasses may be easier to put on but contact lenses offer a more natural field of vision.

Put simply, each of these options have their own pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide. In fact, some kids may even find contact lenses to help with confidence compared to glasses.

7. Fashion contact lenses are illegal and dangerous

As previously mentioned, lots of people now use colored contact lenses to enhance their looks. In other words, fashion and cosmetic lenses are perfectly safe to use as long as you follow the right guidelines. Check out our list of guidelines that you can follow to ensure your colored lenses are safe to use:

Get a prescription. You still need to get a contact lens prescription even if you’re only buying cosmetic or fashion lenses.
Buy from a reliable seller. Never buy from sellers who do not require a prescription when you purchase your lenses.
Use your lenses properly. Always make sure to learn the basic ways of taking care of your contact lenses properly.

8. Contact lenses break while you wear them

Are you afraid of your contacts shattering while you wear them and scratching your eyes? If so, you really shouldn’t because contact lenses are generally made with a very soft material. This design helps your lenses fit comfortably well as you wear them.

And as long as you keep your eyes moist, you shouldn’t worry about your lenses scratching your eyes at all. Just make sure to remove them whenever you feel any irritation.

Why are some contact lens myths so believable?

Have you ever been pranked in your life? People who love to do pranks often know how to trick people into believing a lie. Similarly, contact lens myths are specifically designed to distort real issues into something horrific. In other words, these myths are exaggerated versions of our most common fears.

If you always find yourself struggling with false rumors, the best course of action is to find facts for yourself. Here are some things that you can do to identify contact lens facts from fiction:

Look out for familiar stories. People often have different variations of similar myths and false rumors. This means that stories that seem familiar may often be contact lens myths that you’ve heard of.
Ask for credibility. Before you make up your mind and believe something, you need to test its credibility first. For example, you could try asking where the story came from or how believable the person sharing it is.
Think rationally. Contact lens scare stories are often designed to provoke your emotions, making your believe in them more easily. When this happens, try to detach yourself from your fear and try to think rationally. Most of the time, thinking without feeling can help you identify fact from fiction.
Do your research. If all else fails, the best thing to do is to research the topic. Credible information can be accessed online, so make sure to search thoroughly and find out the truth.

Final Thoughts

Though contact lens myths aren’t inherently harmful, spreading false information may lead to negative situations. With this in mind, contact lens owners have a responsibility to educate people in their community about the truth regarding contacts.

Whether it’s debunking myths or teaching the proper contact lens practices, sharing useful information is very essential. Now that you know a little more about this silly contact lens myth, it’s time for you to spread the word and enjoy your lenses!

TIPS FOR PROPER CONTACT LENS CARE

5 TIPS ON HOW TO CLEAN CONTACT LENS CASE

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CONTACT LENS COLOR?

CONTACT LENS CARE: PREVENT EYE INFECTION AS YOU KEEP YOUR CONTACT LENSES CLEAN

ENHANCEMENT TINT CONTACTS: COLORED CONTACT LENSES

CONTACT LENS PRESCRIPTION: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW