Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Healthwatch, we've been talking about healthy vision. Contact lenses offer a convenient way to correct vision, and newer lenses are more comfortable than ever. But doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say you can't take them for granted.
No matter how advanced they are, contact lenses are still a foreign body in the eye.
Dr. Wayne Bowman, a UT Southwestern ophthalmologist, says you must be meticulous about caring for contact lenses in order to prevent infections. Although infections caused by contact lens wear are rare unless the lenses aren't cared for, they can have serious consequences, including vision loss. Younger people who don't realize how serious lens care is and people who have worn lenses long enough for care to become second nature are most likely to slip on lens care. Follow your doctor's directions to care for your lenses and get an eye exam every year if you wear contact lenses.
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May 2005
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