Caring for Your Contact Lenses and Eyes
Wearing contact lenses can be very convenient if you have a problem with your vision. However, there are some safety tips that contactlenses4us.com recommend to safeguard the health of your eyes and extend the life of your contact lenses.
Cleaning tips for contact lenses
Caring for contact lenses depends on what kind of contact lenses you are wearing. If you have opted for those disposable extended-wear soft lenses, you need not worry much about their maintenance. However, if you are wearing a pair of conventional soft lenses you might have to put in a bit of effort to keep them clean. Here are a few steps you will have to follow:
Wash and rinse your hands using a mild soap before handling your contacts. Do not use any oil, lotion or perfume on your hands. These can leave a film and irritate your eyes if they get on your lenses.
Use a clean, lint-free towel to dry your hands before handling your contacts.
It would be better if your fingernails are short and smooth when using contacts. This will prevent damage to your lenses.
In case you are using a hair spray, make sure you use it before wearing your contacts.
Eye makeup should be put after wearing your lenses. Remove your contact lenses before removing your makeup.
Not all eye drops or eye products are safe for contact wearers. Make sure you use the disinfecting solution, enzymatic cleaner, or eye drops that your doctor has recommended for you.
Never wash your lenses directly under tap water. This can be home to germs that can hurt your vision or cause an unwanted eye infection.
Putting your contact in your mouth is not a good cleaning practice.
Keep your contact in the palm of your hand and rub it gently using the index finger of the other hand. This will remove surface buildup if any.
Make sure you clean your contact lenses every time you use it. You can use hot tap water or any sterile solution to clean it. Air dry your contact lens before you put it on.
Make it a point to replace the case of your contact lens, once every three months.
Wearing Contact Lens Safely
If you are worried about the safety of your eyes, go for daily disposable lenses. If this is not a feasible option, here are a few safety tips you need to follow for healthy eyes:
Follow the recommendation of your doctor regarding the length of time you can wear your contacts for, in a day.
Keep a schedule or maintain a chart to change your lenses regularly.
Never wear contact lenses that belong to someone else, especially if they have already worn them. This might be a way to spread infections.
Never sleep with your contacts even if you are feeling very sleepy. However, if you are using extended-wear lenses, this should not be a problem.
Make sure the tip of your solution bottle remains untouched. This can contaminate its contents.
Always make it a point to wear sunglasses when you are in the sun. Make sure these have total UV protection. You can also wear a wide-brim hat if your eyes are too light-sensitive.
Make it a point to keep your eyes moist at all times. Your doctor might have recommended a rewetting solution for this. If not, you can even use a plain saline solution.
Wearing your contacts inside out might not actually hurt your eye; but it definitely won’t make you feel good. Always place the contact lens on the tip of your finger before inserting it. It should form a cup like the letter “U.”
Remove your contacts if you experience any kind of irritation in your eyes. Wearing them persistently can lead to infections. Wait till the irritation subsides or visit your eye doctor.
In case you experience any blurred vision or sudden vision loss due to irritation, redness, swelling, infection, or eye pain, see your eye doctor immediately. Don’t wear your contacts until the problem is sorted.
Never swim with your contacts in, even if you are wearing goggles. Wearing contacts in a pool or a lake can cause serious infections.
Contact lens can improve your vision; but they can cause problems to your eyes if you don’t follow these safety tips. Your eyes are precious. So do everything you can to keep them safe.