Re: [pf] Disposable contacts

by Holly R

07 December 2000 22:13 UTC

Diane,

I've been a contact lense wearer for many, many years
and have always been advised by my optometrist to stay
away from disposables because they can be less healthy
for eyes.  More specifically, he tells me that they
can decrease oxygen supply to the cornea (which has no
blood supply and thus gets oxygen directly from the
air), and that they seem to make some people more
prone to eye infection.  Admittedly, my doctor is a
bit old fashioned, and the products may be much better
than they used to be, but I'd rather be conservative
about it than risk the health of my eyes.

On the question of environmental impact, however, I'd
have to say that disposables are probably the way to
go.  The lenses you take out every night require
cleaning, disinfecting and storage solutions, all of
which come in plastic bottles which are sold in
paperboard boxes.  These packaging materials are
recyclable, but their manufacture surely has an
environmental impact (plastics, printing dyes, paper
bleaching etc.), although I can't cite any specifics
for you.   

I have decided that I prefer to use non-disposable
lenses so that I don't risk the health of my eyes. 
But at the same time, I attempt to minimize my
consumption of the necessary care products by wearing
my glasses most of the time, and only wearing my
contacts for particularly active pursuits.  

hlr