FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2001
For more information, please contact: Ed Schilling (800) 884-4CLC or email

CONTACT LENS SUMMER TIPS

Washington, DC...Now that summer's here, contact lens wearers--like everyone else--are looking for good ways to beat the heat. The Contact Lens Council (CLC) offers some tips to help users get the most out of their summer fun without giving up the convenience of contacts over glasses or more expensive laser surgery.

"Contact lenses and summer seem to be made for each other," says Edward Schilling, Executive Director of the CLC. "Many people in need of eye care correction have given up dealing with fogging glasses caused by moving from the heat into air-conditioning, or the uncomfortable slipping that comes from perspiration build-up. By following these tips, contact lens wearers can get the most out of their summer days and nights."

For people who wear the more expensive specialty contact lenses, Schilling suggests temporarily switching to inexpensive, one-day disposable lenses. "It is easy to lose or forget your lenses while on vacation, or standing in the surf at your favorite beach," he says. "Check with your eye care professional about the suitability of these less expensive lenses as a vacation alternative. While your vision may not be perfect, it will often be good enough for the leisure activities we all enjoy."

Daily disposables offer other advantages to the vacationer and traveler as well. Risk of eye infection increases when wearing contacts in the pool or in other environments where dust and air pollution are present. While these risks can be minimized with regular cleaning and disinfecting, temporary disposable contacts can also be discarded after use.

UV protection is also important for people who care about good vision. Newer contact lenses now offer UV absorption and provide excellent vision correction, both in and out of the water. Schilling recommends users also wear sunglasses. "With contacts, you can take advantage of the extra protection sunglasses offer, and easily change your look or style without having to buy extra pairs of expensive prescription sunglasses."