My Contact Lens Case Life

Personal Narrative

I first encountered 1day contact lens case after graduating from high school. I have had poor eyesight since I was a child, so I have been wearing glasses since elementary school. Although I had been interested in trying contact lenses since junior high school, I missed the opportunity and continued using glasses. The high cost was also a concern. When my environment changed, I thought, "Now is the time!" and decided to try contact lenses when I became a university student.

Thanks to them, my field of vision expanded, and I was able to see more clearly. I was amazed at how much easier it was to read music score put on the side, and how my vision remained clear even while wearing a mask without fogging up. Though I do not wear them every day due to eye fatigue, I wear them far often in my daily life. Without glasses or contact lenses, I can hardly see anything, so corrective lenses are essential for my life.

If I used 2week contact lenses, I could reduce waste, I think. However, the eye doctor recommended 1day contact lenses at first until I got used to them. Every time I buy a new box, I hesitate about whether to change, but I have given up on the idea because of the difficulty of care and maintenance…

Conclusion

Reflection

When it comes to the contact lenses I use almost every day, I had always considered the cost difference compared to glasses to be a significant issue. However, I had never really thought about the environmental impact in terms of waste. Since they are disposable, it seems obvious now that they contribute to waste, but I became more aware of the increase in waste after reflecting on it. 

If I were to switch to use 2week contact lenses and could not use them properly, I could lose my eyesight for life. I strongly feel that I need to be mindful not only of the cost and environmental impact but also of my health when making this decision.

Action Plan

When I was in high school, I did not use contact lenses, so I did not pay much attention to it. However, looking back, I realize that my school had a collection box for contact lens cases. It was placed there during my time at school, thanks to the efforts of the student council. The box contained many empty cases. This is part of the "Eye City Eco Project" [eyecity, non date].

The collected empty contact lens cases are recycled at a factory and turned into new products. Almost all of the cases are made of polypropylene, so they don’t require sorting, and they are easy to process, which makes it highly suitable for recycling. 

People with disabilities engage in the recycling work, which helps them with independence and employment support. They take on various tasks, such as preparing the materials for recycling and making small items to give to those who helped with the collection. 

The empty cases are crushed and processed at the recycling factory and are reborn as recycled polypropylene materials. By not burning the empty cases like trash, we can reduce CO2 emissions, and by recycling them, we help preserve the limited resources of our planet. 

The empty contact lens cases are bought by recycling companies, and the earnings are fully donated to the Japan Eye Bank Association. The Japan Eye Bank Association connects people who need corneal transplants due to corneal diseases with potential donors and works to promote corneal donation registration and arrange corneal removal surgeries when a donor passes away. 

The empty cases are recycled into polypropylene materials at the factory and transformed into various recycled products. Polypropylene is heat-resistant and durable, so it is used in parts for automobiles and home appliances. 

By promoting initiatives that are not only good for the environment but also beneficial for people, we can create a better world!!