Do you have questions about wearing contact lenses during COVID-19? Do you need to reorder your lenses? Our Calgary eye clinic is now offering curbside pickup for contact lenses, as well as telemedicine services, including video consultations, for all your optical needs.
Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, many inaccurate suggestions and information regarding contact lens wear have arisen. Some sources have stated that only eyeglasses should be worn to limit touching your eyes/face, and to offer further protection against the virus.
However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that wearing spectacles will offer additional protection, or that wearing contact lenses will increase your risk of contracting the virus. During this time, contact lens wear is completely appropriate and shouldn’t impact the spread of COVID-19, as long as you practice proper hygiene and lens care. This includes:
To ensure the safety of our patients, staff, and community, our Calgary eye clinics have temporarily closed. However, we are keeping our Creekside location open for emergency eye care by appointment only. In addition to this, we are offering telemedicine services, including video consultations, to assist with all your eye care needs.
Curbside Pickup of Contact Lenses
You can still reorder your contact lenses with us. We are offering curbside pickup for contact lenses, and deliveries can be arranged for those who are feeling unwell or in quarantine.
To find out more, please email us at creek@blinkeyewear.ca
Currently, we have a lot to learn about COVID-19. It is understood that the transmission of the virus can be made by touching an infected surface, and then touching your eyes or face. With this in mind, it is a good time to review the best practices for contact lens care.
Remember, these are not only relevant to lens wear during the pandemic and should always be practiced.
1. Wash your hands the right way. It’s important to thoroughly wash your hands before you handle your contact lenses. Just remember to use a soap that doesn’t contain a moisturizer, as this could damage the surface of your contact lens. Also dry your hands with a lint-free towel prior to handling your lenses.
2. Stick to the prescribed cleaning routine. Continue to use the contact lens solution and cleaning routine your optometrist has prescribed. Remember, you must completely discard the solution from your lens case on a daily basis. NEVER ‘top off’ the solution in your contact lens case.
3. Clean your accessories daily. During this time, it is more important than ever to clean your contact lens case, as well as any removal devices you may have, on a daily basis.
Did you know that the average person touches their face more than 20 times a day? Safe to say, it’s a difficult challenge for everyone, but contact lens wearers have the extra struggle of having to cope with physically wearing something in their eyes and having to fit them on a daily basis.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about contact lens wear and COVID-19, and some tips on how to stay healthy while wearing them during this pandemic.
1. Should I Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses so I Won’t Have to Touch my Face?
No! Despite the misinformation you may have heard or read about recently, wearing contact lenses is safe during this time. What is critical is that you wash your hands more carefully and thoroughly with soap and water, and then dry them with unused paper towels. You should do this when inserting and removing contact lenses.
2. Can I Use Hand Sanitizer Before Handling my Contact Lenses?
The World Health Organization is advising people to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place or coughing/sneezing. However, if soap and water isn’t readily available, it’s advised that you use a sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.
However, the problem with using this when handling contact lenses is the alcohol content. If you pass alcohol from your hands to your eyes via the contact lenses, you could end up with discomfort, which is why it is always best to stick to water and soap.
3. Should I Switch to Dailies so I Won’t Have to Handle the Lenses Too Much?
Irrespective of whether you wear monthly or daily disposable lenses, you will still need to insert and remove them from your eyes at least once a day. The key here is, again, proper handwashing. You should also dispose of your dailies each evening, and regularly disinfect your two-week/monthly lenses according to the instructions given to you by your optometrist.
4. Should I Clean My Contact Lens Case More Often?
It is always advisable to replace your case every month, and you must continue to do this. Remember, every night you must empty the case of the old solution, rinse the case with fresh solution, and then air-dry it upside down on a clean tissue.
While our Calgary eye clinics are temporarily closed, our Calgary eye doctors are still providing emergency eye care at our Creekside location, by appointment only. We are also offering telemedicine services, including phone and virtual consultations.
If you need to reorder your contact lenses, or require any other eye care products, we are offering curbside pickups and deliveries can be arranged for those feeling unwell or in quarantine.
To find out more, please email creek@blinkeyewear.ca, or call us at 403-516-2292.
Blink Eyewear boasts the largest collection of eyewear in Calgary, but our 4 locations are also home to the region’s finest optometrists. Just as you will not find a better store to shop for your eyewear, you will not find a better vision clinic to do your eye exam or treat your eye condition.
Go ahead and Blink; what you see is really what you get. Call one of our store numbers or fill out the form below to book an appointment.