Caring for your contact lens is not only important, but it’s also a big responsibility. You can’t afford to neglect your contacts and hope they will miraculously fix themselves because if you do, there are consequences such as eye infections or even blindness!
Many people even face difficulties with eye problems as they neglect their lens maintenance. Besides, some of them are unaware of how to use and handle their lenses properly. So we have come up with this detailed guide that will help people take care of their lenses. Follow these sixteen top tips on how to take care of your contact lenses so that you have healthy eyes and avoid any problems in the future.
- Always wear fresh contacts:
If you’re wearing an old pair of contacts, chances are they were sitting in their container for too long without being replaced with a new one. So make sure when you take out your old ones, immediately put a fresh pair in.
- Contact solutions: Contact solution is the most important part of caring for your lenses because it helps keep them clean and moist. You can use saline or store-bought solutions to do this by filling up the case to its fill line then adding about three drops of liquid per lens before popping it into each eye. However, if you have any sort of sensitivity to these liquids, don’t be afraid – there are other options as well.
- Keep your case clean: When you take out a lens, always make sure to give the top of the contact container and lid (or any other part that might come into contact with it) a quick rinse before putting another one in. That way, you’ll be making sure all germs are removed from your contacts, so you’re not introducing anything else onto them by simply wiping them down.
- Don’t share cases or solutions:
Sharing is caring, but that’s not true when it comes to lenses! You should never use someone else’s solution or contact case because they could have something like conjunctivitis, which can lead to eye infections-not fun for anyone involved. Just don’t do it!
- Remove contact lenses before bed to allow your eyes to rest and rejuvenate: When you sleep, your eyes will have a chance to rest and is also essential for the health of your contact lenses. This means that it’s best to remove them before getting into bed because they can dry out, leading to infections or other problems such as blurry vision.
- Don’t use tap water on contacts: Your hands are full of germs but so too is tap water! That’s why using clean distilled or boiled water when cleaning contact lenses with solutions (like hydrogen peroxide) is what you should be doing instead-it’ll keep things nice and safe while still being able to get all those nasty bacteria off the lens surface for good.
- Never wear contacts longer than the prescribed time limit: Contact lenses were never meant to be used for more than an extended period of time, so don’t let yourself forget about this! The contact lenses are designed to be used for a specific amount of hours per day, and if you wear them too long, then it can cause some major issues such as corneal ulcers.
- Replace your contact lens case once it has been open for three months or so:
This one is a no-brainer. That’s because contact lens cases can start to grow bacteria and mould in them if they’re not being used for the recommended amount of time, which could lead to all sorts of nasty eye infections! You can try to switch your contact lens styles, such as getting something trendy to enhance your looks. You can check the red contacts as they are popular in recent times.
- Don’t wear contacts when you have an infection: And this seems like common sense, but some people try it anyway, so just be careful with your eyes and remember that wearing contact lenses while having an active or chronic ocular surface disease increases risks for complications such as corneal ulcers.
- Switch from monthly disposable contacts to yearly ones as soon as possible: If you’re one of those people who uses monthly disposable contacts, then it’s time to switch over and start using yearly contact lenses! That way, your contact lens case will last longer.
- Remove any makeup before removing or inserting your lenses: You want to take off the eye make-up first so that there is no residue on the surface of your eyes when they touch the contact lens during insertion/removal. Remember also not to use wet wipes as these tend to have bacteria in them, which can lead us back into a circle where you end up having an infection again.
- Avoid wearing contacts while swimming or showering: Contact lenses can be easily damaged by chlorine or soap. Avoid the risk and don’t wear your contact lenses while swimming or showering because if water enters your eyes, it will cause irritation and damage.
- Don’t use old solutions for cleaning contacts: Never reuse an old solution for storing or disinfection purposes because it can irritate the eyes, ultimately leading back to infection again. And don’t try using hand sanitiser either–these are not meant for medical uses!
- While travelling, store them in separate bags: If you go on any trips abroad, be careful not to bring anything other than necessary. This increases the chance of contamination significantly. Keep them either together inside one bag or separately in their own individual plastic cases. Also, remember to take your cleaning solutions and contact lens case in your carry-on bag.
- Keep them clean:
Cleaning and storing your contact lenses is an important step to take if you want healthy eyes and long life for the contacts themselves. Don’t forget to clean your hands before touching or using any of these items, rinse off with fresh water afterwards too, then soak up all the extra moisture by placing them back into their cases again after wiping down with solution first!
- Store solutions correctly: Some people store their solutions inside plastic bottles, but this can be dangerous because it could cause contamination from bacteria, ultimately leading back to eye infections. So make sure not only to keep things clean when handling these items but also how they’re stored so as not to have anything affecting your eyes.
Conclusion:
These top tips on how to care for your contact lenses can help you have healthy eyes and avoid any problems in the future. There are some quick things that people forget about, but if they’re taken care of right away, then it will make a world of difference when caring for them!
