Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. There is no additional cost to you whatsoever.
While the phrase “single-use plastics” could instantly conjure photos of drink straws and meals packaging, there’s one other supply of air pollution hiding in plain sight — your humble contact lenses. Regularly altering them is crucial on your well being, however your eye care routine doesn’t must hurt the planet. Learn concerning the environmental affect of contact lenses and methods to cut back their opposed results in your native ecosystem.
How Contact Lenses Impact the Environment
Soft contact lenses are available day by day, month-to-month, quarterly and annual disposal packages. Researchers discovered full-time, day by day disposable contact wearers generate 27% more waste annually than individuals who select reusable lenses.
If you’re involved concerning the surroundings, you would possibly attempt getting extra use out of your contacts by carrying them longer than really helpful. Stretching product life spans is a normal approach to cut back family waste, however on this case, it could actually trigger imaginative and prescient issues. Wearing older contacts can depart you weak to eye irritation, infections and even points like torn corneas.
Experts advocate scheduling an annual eye examination to catch signs of vision loss and early well being considerations. During your appointment, ask your optometrist to advocate other ways to have 20/20 imaginative and prescient with out including to contact disposal waste. While switching to glasses would possibly appear to be your solely possibility, loads of different methods enhance the surroundings for individuals who favor carrying contacts.
Ways to Help the Planet Without Switching to Glasses
You don’t must cease carrying contacts to align your eye care routine along with your inexperienced values. Check out just a few methods that successfully assist the planet:
1. Choose a Company With Sustainable Values
Many delicate contact lens producers perceive their merchandise’ environmental affect. They usually offset these opposed results by utilizing sustainable vitality at their services, donating to environmental charities or directing nonhazardous manufacturing waste away from landfills.
Ordering your contacts from a model making actionable inexperienced efforts might higher align your eye care along with your eco-friendly values. This approach you’ll be able to proceed carrying your contacts, glasses and infinite types of sun shades, particularly these which add ultraviolet light protection, all whereas decreasing your carbon footprint.
2. Order Replacements in Recyclable Materials
Your optometrist’s workplace could supply to ship your new contacts to your door. While this feature is handy, verify whether or not the packaging supplies are recyclable or compostable. You would possibly resolve to modify to a unique model that makes use of reusable supplies to scale back the waste generated by your contacts.
Speaking of reusable supplies, you may additionally need to go for non-plastic contact lens circumstances as a substitute for the normal plastic contact lens circumstances. This motion will additional cut back your environmental affect.
3. Partner With a Contact Recycling Program
Research exhibits round 32% of Americans recycle household items, and plenty of companies attempt to fulfill that complicated want. Contact lens recycling choices have emerged as a aggressive business. See if there are drop-off websites close to your private home or should you can organize recurring pickups with an organization that particularly recycles contact lenses. Until biodegradable and compostable contacts turn out to be a chance, recycling is a greater approach to handle your disposable contacts and circumstances.
4. Discuss Surgery Options With Your Ophthalmologist
Eye surgical procedure isn’t doable for everybody, however you would be a candidate, if an ophthalmologist approves. Schedule a session to debate probably getting LASIK eye surgical procedure. The process offers you 20/20 imaginative and prescient by reshaping your corneas.
This process has well being dangers, so it’s not very best for everybody. Talk to an ophthalmologist about your well being historical past to see if completely correcting your imaginative and prescient can get rid of contact lens waste for good.
Merge Your Eye Care Preferences With Your Green Lifestyle
Having imperfect imaginative and prescient doesn’t robotically make plastic air pollution an ongoing a part of your routine. Explore your eye care choices to enhance your environmental affect. Whether you get your contacts from an organization that invests in inexperienced initiatives, recycle your used lenses or look into LASIK surgical procedure, yow will discover a greater path ahead with out counting on glasses once more.
