Contact Lenses — Questions & Answers

No age limit applies to contact lens wear. Children and elderly adults alike use them without issue. As with any new skill, there is a learning curve for inserting, removing and maintaining them, but it is a short one. For younger wearers, the deciding factor is usually maturity — specifically, the willingness to follow hygiene and care routines consistently. Your eye doctor can offer tailored guidance before you begin.

Not at all. A properly fitted lens should be completely unnoticeable once your eyes have adjusted. New wearers sometimes experience mild sensitivity during the first couple of days, or if a lens is put in the wrong way round. Both situations resolve quickly. Should any discomfort linger, get in touch with your optometrist or ophthalmologist right away.

Most people find that a few practice sessions are all it takes. Inserting and removing contact lenses soon becomes second nature.

Many lenses feature tiny laser engravings — numbers or letters — that reveal their orientation instantly. If yours does not, rest the lens on your fingertip: it should look like a small bowl with the edges pointing upward. If the edges curve outward like a saucer, the lens is inverted and needs to be turned over.

With well-fitted lenses and correct insertion technique, displacement is very unlikely. In rare instances a lens may move slightly, but it will stay within the eye and can be guided back into place without difficulty.

There is no need to worry — anatomy makes it impossible for a lens to travel behind the eye. If a dry lens appears to be caught under the upper lid, close your eyes and massage the eyelid gently, then blink a few times. A couple of rewetting drops or artificial tears will help the lens slide back where it belongs.

Only lenses that have been specifically engineered and approved for extended or continuous wear may be kept in during sleep. For all other lenses, removing them before bed is non-negotiable. Follow the replacement schedule given by the manufacturer and never wear lenses overnight without your eye doctor's explicit approval.

They will not. Coloured contact lenses have a clear centre so that your vision passes through the pupil unobstructed. They change only the visible colour of the iris. Your colour perception and visual clarity remain exactly the same. In very low light, when the pupil dilates, there may be a negligible effect. Manufacturers size the clear central zone to accommodate the vast majority of users.

The lens count on a box does not equal pairs. With the same prescription in both eyes, here is what to expect:

• 30 daily disposables → 15 days of wear
• 6 monthly lenses → 3 months of wear
• 3 quarterly lenses → 1 pair plus one spare
• 6 two-weekly lenses → 3 pairs, totalling 6 weeks

Greek law permits the purchase of contact lenses without the buyer being required to present a prescription to the seller. However, you must hold a valid prescription from a qualified eye doctor before ordering.

Generally no, particularly for stronger prescriptions. Contact lenses sit directly on the eye, unlike glasses which are worn at a set distance, and this affects the correction values. In addition, the base curve of the lens must match your corneal curvature. Have a dedicated contact lens examination with your optometrist or ophthalmologist before you order for the first time.

Only if your prescription varies between eyes. If both eyes share the same prescription, lenses from a single box can be used for either eye. If the prescriptions differ, you will need two separate boxes — labelling them "R" and "L" avoids any mix-up.

The D (Dominant) and N (Non-dominant) labels appear on prescriptions for multifocal or bifocal lenses. The dominant eye is optimised mainly for distance, while the non-dominant handles near vision. Since not all manufacturers apply this labelling, it may not appear on your prescription at all. If your prescription includes D/N designations, ask your ophthalmologist to explain their significance.

Contact lens prescriptions include abbreviations and numerical values that can seem cryptic at first. If any parameter is unclear, your eye doctor will be happy to explain what each figure means, ensuring you order the lens that is right for you.

Pricing varies by lens type and how often you wear them. For occasional wearers, the cost per day of use can be very low. Celestia Enterprises Ltd is committed to offering a wide selection of contact lenses at competitive prices, with every product sourced exclusively from authorised European distributors to guarantee full authenticity.

Look for retailers that source products exclusively from authorised distributors of established manufacturers and who provide accessible customer support. As a Cypriot company with a strong track record in the industry, Celestia Enterprises Ltd supplies only authentic contact lenses from approved European distributors and our experienced team is always available to advise or assist.

Trial lenses may only be dispensed by a qualified optician or ophthalmologist after a proper examination. If you are considering a new lens type, speak to your eye care professional first.

It is not recommended. Changing to a new lens type or brand — and the same goes for solutions — without professional advice carries the risk of an improper fit, leading to discomfort or potentially more serious eye health issues. Always check with your eye doctor before making any change.

Modern soft reusable lenses require just a single multi-purpose solution that handles cleaning, disinfecting and storage all in one. If you opt for daily disposables, lens care is even more straightforward — simply discard them at the end of each day with nothing else needed.

Rubbing is the single most effective step in lens cleaning, even if your solution claims to work without it. Place the lens in your palm, add solution and rub it gently with circular motions for a few seconds before storage or insertion. This mechanical action removes protein and lipid deposits far more effectively than soaking alone, reducing the risk of infection and keeping your lenses comfortable for longer.

Tap water — along with bottled, distilled or any other water, and saliva — contains microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections, including sight-threatening conditions such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Only use solutions specifically formulated for contact lens care, and always keep a travel bottle and spare case with you when you are away from home.

Yes. Artificial tear eye drops are fully compatible with contact lenses and can be applied before or after insertion. Thicker lubricating drops used shortly before you put your lenses in are particularly effective — they coat the eye evenly and make the whole process smoother and more comfortable.

Make-up and lenses are perfectly compatible with a little care. Keep these points in mind:

• Put lenses in before applying make-up; take them out before removing it
• Go for water-based, hypoallergenic formulas
• Steer clear of oily or heavy creams around the eye area
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling lenses or applying make-up
• Keep eyes closed when applying powders; clear away any excess before opening
• Keep mascara away from the lash line and avoid fibre-based products
• Replace products on schedule and clean applicators regularly to prevent bacterial contamination

From the moment a lens leaves its sealed blister, deposits start to build up — both organic (from the tear film) and inorganic (dust, pollen, airborne bacteria). Extended use beyond the prescribed schedule allows these deposits to become toxic over time, reducing the lens's oxygen permeability and substantially increasing the risk of keratitis and corneal ulcers. Stick to the schedule your prescription specifies.

Do not use them. The expiry date printed on the packaging guarantees sterility and product integrity up to that date. Once it has passed, neither the safety nor the effectiveness of the lenses can be guaranteed. Treat expired lenses the same way you would treat expired food — discard them and replace with a fresh supply.

Absolutely. Contact lenses are widely regarded as the best vision correction option for sport. They offer a full, unobstructed field of view, stay in place during intense activity, are unaffected by rain or humidity and allow you to wear helmets, protective goggles or headbands without any inconvenience.

Swimming with contact lenses — in any body of water including pools, the sea or freshwater — poses a real risk to your eyes. Lenses should not come into contact with any type of water. If your eyes are opened underwater while wearing lenses, remove and discard them within 10–15 minutes. If avoiding lenses in water is not possible, always wear well-sealed swim goggles.

No. Shower water, sweat and soap products all carry bacteria that can harm your eyes. The heat and humidity of saunas and steam rooms cause lenses to dry out and distort, leading to irritation and difficulty with removal. Remove your lenses before any of these activities.

The heat from the sun causes lenses to dry out, which makes them uncomfortable and harder to remove. It is advisable to take them out beforehand and wear quality sunglasses to shield both your eyes and your vision. One reassuring note — there is zero risk of your lenses melting in the heat!

Yes, in many cases. People with dry eye syndrome are often able to wear contact lenses successfully, provided they have a thorough eye examination and receive a recommendation tailored specifically to their condition from an ophthalmologist.

Yes. Seasonal allergies need not prevent you from wearing lenses as long as you manage them sensibly:

• Cut down on wearing time during high pollen periods
• Switch to daily disposables during allergy season for improved hygiene
• Ask your eye doctor to recommend the most appropriate cleaning solution for your needs