Contact Lens Wear: Healthy Habits = Healthy Eyes

 

With over 30 million people who wear contact lenses in the United States, it is a safe and effective alternative to wearing glasses. However, there are risks associated with wearing contacts, due to failure to wear, clean and store them as directed. Germs and infections can be introduced. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends following these steps:

 Your Habits

Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry them well with a clean cloth before touching your contact lenses every time.

Don’t sleep in your contact lenses unless prescribed by your eye doctor.

Keep water away from your contact lenses. Avoid showering in contact lenses, and remove them before using a hot tub or swimming.

Your Contact Lenses

Rub and rinse your contact lenses with contact lens disinfecting solution—never water or saliva—to clean them each time you remove them.

Never store your contact lenses in water.

Replace your contact lenses as often as recommended by your eye doctor.

 Your Contact Lens Case

Rub and rinse your contact lens case with contact lens solution—never water—and then empty and dry with a clean tissue. Store upside down with the caps off after each use.

Replace your contact lens case at least once every three months.

 Your Contact Lens Solution

Don’t “top off” solution. Use only fresh contact lens disinfecting solution in your case—never mix fresh solution with old or used solution.

Use only the contact lens solution recommended by your eye doctor.

Your Eye Doctor

Visit your eye doctor yearly or as often as he or she recommends.

Wearing contact lenses has many potential benefits. To get the most out of your contact lens-wearing experience, be sure to always practice healthy habits and remember that all types of contact lenses—even cosmetic lenses that don’t correct vision but change the color or look of the eye—are medical devices that need to be prescribed by an eye doctor.