Contact Lens Safety
October is Contact Lens Safety Awareness month so we would like to talk to you and give you some tips to make sure you’re taking care of your contact lenses the way you should be.
No matter how well or poorly you maintain your glasses; it won’t impact your eye health the way improper care for your contact lenses can. More than 45 million Americans wear contact lenses; out of that 45 million up to 90% of contact lens wearers do not follow the proper contact lens hygiene, which can cause serious health risks to your eye.
The best thing for you to do is to develop healthy contact lens hygiene habits from the start. When you introduce this from the beginning you will greatly reduce your chance of having a contact lens eye problem later on.
One quarter of contact lens related infections are due to improper use. It is recommended to follow these tips for contact lens care:
- Wash your hands with soap and water, rinse then dry them with a lint-free towel
- Minimize contact with water, including removing your lenses before going swimming or in a hot tub
- Never sleep in your lenses unless you’ve discussed this with your eye doctor
- Contact lenses should NEVER be rinsed or stored in water of any kind
- Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule your eye care professional has given you
- Wash your case with your lens solution, not water, allow to air dry between uses, and replace at least every 3 months
- DO NOT re-use old solution or “top off” the solution in your lens case
If you experience anything from unexplained eye discomfort, to redness or discharge of the eye, or vision change you should contact your eye doctor. Even if you’re not experiencing any problems with your contacts it is important for you to go to your regular checkups so your doctor can keep your prescription up-to-date and make sure your eyes stay healthy.