Wear contact lenses are comfortable and efficient in correcting your sight problems. However, if not properly used and handled, contact lenses pose a risk to eye infections, irritation, and permanent eye damage. In this article, I will share with you five rules that are important to follow regardless if you decide to wear contacts for the first time or if you have been using them for years.
Here are the top guidelines for how to protect your eyes and feel comfortable when using contact lenses on a daily basis in this blog.
Precautions
1. Always Wash Your Hands
In case you have to touch your contact lenses or your eyes then ensure that you have washed your hands with soap and water. Your fingers always have bacteria, dirt, and oils on them which contributes to the development of infections on the lenses and in the eyes. Pat your hands on a lint free towel so that no particles are sticking to your fingers and then get on your lenses.
2. Clean Your Lenses Properly
Daily wear contacts should be rinsed and stored in a solution prescribed by the eye care practitioner. It is unadvisable to reuse old solution or dilute different types of solution since the effectiveness is reduced and there is contamination. DO NOT use water, saliva or homemade concoctions to clean your lenses as they can cause severe eye infections.
Steps to clean your lenses:
- It is advisable to take one lens at a time and then wash it with your fingers in the fresh cleaning solution.
- It is also important that you wash the lens with this solution by rinsing the lens well.
- Rinse the lenses under clean tap water and then place them in a fresh lens case with fresh solution, not water.
3. Replace Your Lenses on Time
Every type of contact lenses is prescribed to be replaced in a certain way, for example daily, weekly or monthly. It is important to stick to this schedule because overwearing lenses causes deposits, protein and bacteria to accumulate. This can lead to irritation, conjunctivitis and other complications of eye health such as corneal ulcers.
4. Avoid Sleeping with Your Lenses On
Wearing your lenses while sleeping, especially those that are not approved for extended wear, can deprive your cornea of oxygen and cause eye infections or irritation. It is always recommended that you take off your lenses at night to allow the eyes to rest from the strenuous work they do when the lenses are on.
5. Keep Your Lens Case Clean
It is, therefore, almost as crucial to have a clean lens case as it is to have clean lenses. The case can become a breeding ground for bacteria which will in return transfer itself to your lenses if the case is not cleaned often. To maintain hygiene:
- When the solution is not required any more, rinse the case and pour out the solution.
- Wash the case with fresh solution and do not use water to rinse it then leave it open to dry.
- Discard the lens case after three months since it may harbor bacteria that cause infections.
6. Avoid Using Contact Lenses in Water
Tap water, swimming pool water, or even sea water contain bacteria that can attach themselves to lenses and cause infections of the eyes. Never wear your lenses while swimming or taking bath. If you are a swimmer then the best advice you can be given is to wear prescription goggles rather than contacts.
7. Watch for Signs of Eye Issues
It is important to keep a check for any feelings of discomfort, itching, or redness of the eyes when in contact lenses. If you have constant dryness, inability to see clearly, or any pain, you should take out your lenses and see an eye doctor. These could be early signs of an infection or other issues that need attention
8. Take Breaks From Wearing Lenses
As you may know your eyes require fresh air to be healthy and when you put on your contact lenses for an extended period, your eyes cannot get enough oxygen. For your eyes’ sake, switch between contact lenses and glasses, especially during those days when you won’t need the lenses for a long time.
9. Get Regular Eye Check-ups
Whether you have a problem or not, you should go for eye check up with an ophthalmologist from time to time to ensure that your contact lenses are suitable for your eyes and that your prescription has not changed. They also give your eye care professional an opportunity to detect other signs of eye health that may not be easily recognizable.
As a result, wearing contact lenses on a daily basis is not only comfortable but also safe under the following conditions. If you have to wear contacts, it is important that you wash your hands, change your contact lenses as you are supposed to, and take care of your eyes, you will not have any problem with your vision.
However, if at any one time you develop any discomfort or changes in your vision, it is important that you seek the services of an eye specialist. You should always guard your eyes and visit an eye care specialist who will refer you appropriately and prevent further problems.
At The Eye Foundation, our key mission is to ensure that you and everyone around you enjoys good eyesight. Contact us for an eye check now and have your eyes checked for proper wear of contact lenses whether you are a first time user or a regular one. Our services are tailored to your vision and we will be there for you from the beginning to the end. Schedule Your Appointment today!
