10 Essential Rules for Contact Lens Wearers

Contact lenses are a convenient way to help you see clearly. That’s why millions of people wear these lenses for several hours on a daily basis. However, despite being a common device used to correct vision, it’s not unusual for some contact lens wearers to forget a thing or two about contact lens safety.

Generally, contact lenses are safe when they are worn responsibly and cared for properly. Whether you are new to wearing contacts or you have been a long-time contact lens wearer, make sure that you follow these 10 important rules listed by neurons treatment expert Lumen Optometric.

• Don’t sleep in your contact lenses. Closing your eyes while wearing your lenses reduces oxygen and makes the surface of your eye more vulnerable to infection.
• Don’t wear your contacts when you are in the shower, swimming pool, ocean, or hot tub. Tap water, seawater, and the water from lakes, rivers, and pools harbor organisms that can cause an eye infection.
• Have your contact lenses fitted by a qualified eye care professional. And make sure to follow their instruction on when to replace your contacts. Using lenses for longer than the manufacturer’s recommendation will increase your risk for eye infection as protein buildup could occur. If you are also using dry eye treatment, ask your doctor about precautions on wearing contacts, if any.
• Always use fresh contact lens solutions every time you store your contact lenses in their case. Never reuse solution or top off old solution since the disinfecting ability of the old solution is already gone.
• Never use saline water for disinfecting or cleaning your contact lenses. Saline solution is just sterile saltwater, so it has no ability to clean or disinfect contacts.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contact lenses. Make sure to completely rinse and dry your hands.
• Clean your contact lens case using a multipurpose contact lens solution. Let it dry during the day and make sure to replace it every month.
• Check your contact lenses for tears or chips. Although these lenses are soft, a tear or a chip can still scratch your eye. It’s best to discard your lenses if they have been damaged.
• Discard your lenses if they land on the floor or in the sink.
• If you are using reusable lenses, make sure to rub the lenses with a multipurpose contact lens solution. This will help remove debris or protein buildup.

Lumen Optometric Need to consult a scleral optometrist? Visit Lumen Optometric to get excellent and personalized eye care services. We ensure a comfortable environment and the use of first-rate technology for our patients. Call us at (626) 921-0199 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment.