As you know, contact lenses are one of the convenient ways to help correct your vision if you don’t want to wear glasses. Because the lenses are placed directly on your eyes, however, caring for and handling them properly is very important. There are lots of good habits for contacts such as washing your hands before handling the lenses and storing the contacts correctly. Whether you are new to contact lenses or have been wearing them for years, understanding the right care routine is an important part of protecting your eye health.
How Can You Care for Contact Lenses Safely?
Practice eye hygiene to manage your contact lenses. Wash your hands before putting them on or removing them and always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel. This helps prevent dirt, oils and microorganisms from transferring to your eyes.
- Keep the following practices in mind:
- Only use the brand of contact lens solution advised by your eye care provider.
- Never lubricate or clean contacts with saliva.
- Do not store or rinse lenses with tap water.
- Replace lenses as directed by your eye care provider.
- Avoid wearing lenses for longer than the prescribed duration.
- Keep the solution bottle tip away from your fingers and other surfaces.
- Never top up old solution with fresh solution. Empty the case and use fresh solution each time.
- Remove your lenses if you experience unusual discomfort, pain or vision changes.
If your lenses are reusable, disinfect and clean them as recommended by your ophthalmologist or lens manufacturer.
What Are the Do’s and Don’ts of Contact Lens Wear?
Your daily routine, if followed carefully, can also help maintain the safety and comfort of your lenses. A seemingly innocent daily habit may put you at greater risk of inflammation or infection.
Do:
- Wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses.
- Store reusable lenses in fresh contact lens solution.
- Replace your contact lens case regularly.
- Follow your prescribed wearing and replacement schedule.
- Attend regular eye examinations.
- Keep a pair of glasses available as a backup.
Don’t:
- Sleep in your lenses unless they have been specifically prescribed for overnight wear.
- Swim or shower while wearing contact lenses.
- Clean or store lenses in water.
- Share your contact lenses with another person.
- Continue wearing lenses if your eyes become painful, very red or unusually sensitive to light.
- Use lenses beyond their recommended replacement period.
Following these precautions will help you ensure that you’re wearing contacts in a way that keep them clean and your eyes healthy.
How Do You Put in and Remove Contact Lenses?
Inserting and removing contacts can feel a little strange at first. As long as you follow routine and you get used to putting in and taking out the contacts, the process will become much simpler.
To insert contact lenses:
- Cleanse your hands and pat them completely dry.
- Take the lens out of the case and ensure that it is not damaged or dirty.
- Position the lens in the centre of the tip of your index finger.
- With the fingers of your other hand, hold open your upper eyelid and gently pull down your lower eyelid.
- Look forward and then place the lens softly onto the eye
- Release your eyelids slowly and blink.
To remove contact lenses:
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Look upwards and gently pull down your lower eyelid.
- Slide the lens towards the white part of your eye using your finger.
- Gently pinch the lens between your thumb and index finger and remove it.
- Clean and store the lens according to your recommended care routine.
Remove the lens and confirm that it is not scratched, folded, cracked or have bits attached to it if the lens feels uncomfortable once worn.
How Should You Clean a Contact Lens Case?
A contact lens case can accumulate bacteria over time, so clean it out periodically as part of your routine care. Empty and rinse out your case when you take out your contacts and clean according to the manufacturer guidelines. Let the case air dry completely with your caps off.
Make sure to rinse it with the correct cleaning fluid and to avoid using plain tap water, to avoid the risk of contaminating it with tiny microorganisms.
Additionally, regularly replace the case used to hold your contact lenses. An unsanitary case may cause infections and affect contact lens wear.
When Should You Stop Wearing Contact Lenses?
You should feel comfortable while having the lenses fit to the eye and while wearing them, should they still feel uncomfortable as mentioned earlier and you experience signs of discharge, blurred vision, a red or sore eye, or you’re more sensitive to light than you are to normal light levels you need to remove the lenses immediately and ask an eye care professional for assistance.
Don’t put a new pair in and go through the motions when the same symptoms appear. Occasionally, serious eye problems arise swiftly and can be arrested when diagnosed promptly.
It is also necessary to have your eyes examined regularly; just because your lenses are comfortable doesn’t mean everything is completely fine with your eyesight. Your optometrist can assess your eyes’ health and can also make sure your lenses are appropriate for your eyes and vision.
Conclusion
Whether you choose daily disposables, monthly wear or rigid gas permeable lenses, good contact lens hygiene involves a bit more than just rubbing and rinsing. Good hand washing habits, careful handling and storing of lenses, timely replacement of your lens case and wearing your lenses only as often and for as long as your contact lens practitioner has prescribed are all essential for healthy, safe, and comfortable wear.
If you’re interested in contact lenses, or if you have discomfort during contact lens use, please make an appointment to see Prof. Chameen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I sleep while wearing contact lenses?
As a general rule you should avoid sleeping with your lenses in, unless your lenses are designed specifically for wearing overnight, wearing your contacts for prolonged periods such as when sleeping carries a high risk of serious infections and other damage to the eye.
- Can I clean contact lenses with water?
No. Tap, bottled, or distilled water is never acceptable to rinse or store contact lenses. Water can host microorganisms, which have the potential to cause severe eye infection. Instead use contact lens solution.
- How often should a contact lens case be replaced?
You’ll want to replace a contact lens case, on average, at least every three months or sooner, if advised by your doctor or the case manufacturer. Replacing it helps reduce contaminations.
- What should I do if my eye becomes red while wearing lenses?
Remove the contact lens immediately and do not wear lenses until you are advised to do so by an eye care practitioner (optometrist, ophthalmologist or your doctor). Red eyes, painful eyes, discharge, light sensitivity, blurry vision or any of the above symptoms suggests the presence of an eye condition which should be seen urgently.
- Do I need an eye test before using contact lenses?
Yes, a contact lens exam can determine the correct power for your prescription, examine your eyes to ensure lens-wear will not cause harm, and decide the best lens and wear schedule for your eyes.