Things every contact lens wearer should know
Many long-time contact lens wearers have their routine down pat. Years of practise means it often takes a quick minute without much thought at all. But we need to remember we are placing a doctor-prescribed, medical plastic device into our fragile eyes. These nifty devices miraculously allow us to see clearer so we should always be handing them safely and carefully. So for all the contact wearers out there, here are the six commandments you should live by.
1. Do not over-wear your contact lenses
While it’s tempting to wear your contacts for longer than the recommended time especially if you are out and about, it’s very bad for your eyes. The cornea needs oxygen to keep eyes healthy and although contacts are gas permissible they don’t let in as much oxygen as naked eyes. It’s the reason why there are recommended lengths of time to wear contacts to ensure you give your eyes a break and to help increase the oxygen flow to your eyes.
2. Never reuse contact solution
It might be tempting if you have some old solution in your case leftover from yesterday to simply top it up with some fresh solution. However, this practice could be harming your eyes. Solution disinfects and cleans your contacts but the effectiveness depletes once used. Use fresh solution every time so you can guarantee your contacts will be thoroughly disinfected.
3. Always wash and dry your hands before handling
Just think about all the germ-infested things you touch throughout the day such as keys, door handles and keyboards. If you don’t wash your hand these microbes will be transferred from your hands to your contacts to your eyes and that could lead to infections. Wash your hands with soap and dry thoroughly. Water contains microbes that are bad for your eyes so only handle contacts with dry hands.
4. Clean your lens case with solution not water
It’s no good just cleaning your lenses you must also clean your case regularly. If your case is dirty it won’t matter how much you clean your lenses it will still come into contact with dust, dirt and microbes residing in your case. Rinse your case with solution not water and dry with a clean towel or air-dry before putting contacts back in the case. Replace your case every 3 months.
5. Carry a spare pair of lenses (or glasses)
All contact lens wearers know those situations where somehow your contacts manage to fall out of your eye! There’s panic and occasionally an attempt to reassure yourself that sticking a contact lens that’s been on the floor back into your eyes is okay (but remember, it isn’t) so it’s always a good idea have a spare pair or your glasses with you.
6. Using the cheapest contact solution
While seeing a discount always gives us great pleasure, when it comes to contact solutions they are not all created equal. Your optometrist would have recommended you a specific solution based on your specific contact lens, your eyes and proven effectiveness. Remember contact lenses are prescribed medical devices and need to be looked after with the appropriate solution.