Our eye doctor at Lighthouse Vision in Milford has expertise in fitting patients in the right contact lenses so that patients experience visual clarity and comfort while wearing their contacts.
If you wear contact lenses, it is vital to follow your doctor’s instructions on how long you should wear them, when you should dispose of them and replace them, and, if applicable, how you should store them. People who do not follow their eye doctor’s instructions run the risk of developing serious eye infections and not being able to successfully wear contact lenses.
We’ll share some basic rules on contact lens care.
Basic Rules of Contact Lens Care
Unlike eyeglasses, contact lenses sit directly on your eyes. If contaminants get on your contact lenses and then you put them on your eyes, you can develop serious eye problems. You can avoid this scenario by practicing proper contact lens hygiene. Here are a few basic rules on how to properly care for your contact lenses.
- Wash your hands every single time before putting your contacts in.
- If you aren’t wearing a daily or one-time use contact lens, always clean and store your contact lenses in fresh contact lens solution. Do not reuse old solution.
- Wash your contact lens case with the contact lens solution and not water. Allow the case to dry between uses and be sure to replace it every three months.
- Never store or clean your contacts in water. There are harmful microorganisms in water, and they can get onto your contact lenses.
- Pay close attention to the instructions for how long to use a pair of contacts before replacing them.
How to Avoid Irritation and Infection
Good hygiene and proper care and storage of your contact lenses are part of the care required for contact lenses, but there are other important steps to take to avoid developing irritation and infection.
Don’t Sleep in Your Contacts
Unless the doctor specifies you should sleep in your contact lenses, always remove your contact lenses before going to sleep at night or even before taking a nap. Your eyes need oxygen to be healthy, and when you sleep in your contact lenses, you wake up with dry eyes and feeling like the contact lenses are “stuck” to your eyes at best. The worst-case scenario is developing very painful and serious infections.
Don’t Rub Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes can damage or dislodge your contact lenses and can damage the cornea, the front surface of the eye.
Don’t Shower While Wearing Contact Lenses
There are tiny microorganisms in water that can get on your contact lenses if you take a shower with them in your eyes, so remove them before taking a shower.
Don’t Overwear Your Contact Lenses
Follow your prescription on when to replace your contact lenses to avoid developing serious infections.
Remove Your Contact Lenses if Your Eyes are Irritated
Don’t wear your contact lenses if you have red, itchy, or irritated eyes. Everyone who primarily wears contact lenses should also have a “backup” pair of eyeglasses in case of irritation, redness, itchiness, or feeling unwell.
Need Contact Lenses? Schedule an Appointment for a Contact Lens Exam
If you’ve been struggling with your contact lenses or need new contact lenses, please give us a call to schedule an appointment for a contact lens exam. Our eye doctor is an expert in fitting the right contact lenses to provide the best vision and comfort possible.
