It’s the Apocalypse! Could You Survive in Contacts?
Published by on July 26, 2016
Natural Disasters happen all around the world, causing great damage and impacting lives. No matter where you live, chances are you or someone you know will be impacted in some way by one of these natural disasters:
- Tornado
- Hurricane
- Tsunami
- Earthquake
- Volcano Eruption
- Flood
- Typhoon
- Cyclone
- Wildfire
- Blizzard
- Nuclear War
- The Apocalypse
OK, so while it is true that nuclear war may be a bit of a stretch, you get the point! In an ever-changing world, it is important to be alert and ready. This can be hard to do if you are relying on prosthetic eye wear like glasses or contacts to navigate the world! Imagine it: Whatever the disaster, once it finally stops, you realize that your glasses are at home and you are wearing disposable contact lenses. Kugler Vision in Omaha wants you to start thinking about and preparing for the unpredictable.
How Long Will Contact Lenses Last in an Apocalypse Situation?
Just for fun, let’s pretend it’s the end of the world. The apocalypse happened. Congratulations! You are one of the lucky survivors. Unfortunately, your home no longer exists. If your glasses were left at home, you are relying on the one pair of contact lenses that you are currently wearing. Let’s hope it’s a fresh one! You realize that with your need and reliance on your contact lenses, you are at an extreme competitive disadvantage when it comes to surviving. Soon your contact lenses will need to come out. Meaning, you won’t be able to see clearly! Without clear sight, how will you find shelter, food, water, and avoid other dangers? Without the ability to see, we are afraid your long-term survival chances are looking pretty bleak in an apocalypse situation. Even a young child with 20/20 vision will most likely last longer than you in that kind of circumstance!
Is Proper Hygiene a Possibility?
When contact lenses are properly cleaned and stored overnight, they should last for about a month. With an apocalypse situation, you can’t assume that you have a full month’s time for your contacts. Things like dust and unclean water lead to major issues, resulting in an inability to clean them regularly. Also, wearing contacts longer than recommended greatly enhances your risk for serious eye infections. Furthermore, you will not have access to contact lens solution and disinfectants. An eye infection would most likely be your greatest threat when facing the apocalypse in contacts. Infections occur when you are handling contact lenses with unclean hands or the lenses suffer direct exposure to contaminated water. A few of the nasty contact lens related eye infections known to reduce vision include:
- Acanthamoeba keratitis
- Bacterial keratitis
- Fungal keratitis
How to Access New, Packaged Lenses?
Your one pair of contact lenses obviously won’t last forever, even with hand sanitizer and fresh contact solution. You’ll need a new pair in the near future, and you’ll feel it! Leave your contacts in too long and you may soon experience:
- burning sensations in the eyes
- dry eyes
- blurry vision
- redness
- pain
- discharge
- light sensitivity
Facing the apocalypse and motivated by your eye discomfort, you may decide to go to Kugler Vision or another vision care office, or to a contact lens manufacturing plant in the desperate hopes of finding more contacts. However, we bet you wouldn’t be the only one scavenging these facilities. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to find your perfect prescription, and whatever contacts you obtain will still not last forever!
How to Ensure Your Survival
If you are still wearing glasses and contact lenses, it is important that you consider glasses an “emergency medical device.” It would be wise to keep a pair of backup glasses with you at all times, so you’ll never have to worry when faced with an unpredictable situation, whether it’s a natural disaster, or a case of seasonal allergies. Needless to say, having a backup pair of glasses on you 100% of the time can be a burden, and is not all that realistic for everyone.
But why deal with the hassles of glasses and contacts when you can rid yourself from them forever? With LASIK, the possibilities are endless. No more glasses. No more contact lenses. You are ready for anything that may be thrown your way unexpectedly. Whether it’s a tornado, a blizzard, or the apocalypse, having LASIK will ensure your vision and up your chances of survival. Interested in LASIK? Contact us today by calling or texting 402.558.2211 to schedule your consultation or for any unanswered questions.
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
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