Is it safe to wear used contacts?

Contact lenses vary, and while some are designed to be discarded daily, others can be reused for months at a time. Individuals should never use contact lenses that have been used by another person.

Types

• Your eye doctor will determine what's right for you.

  The main types of contact lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses and soft lenses. While an ophthalmologist can help determine the best type of lens for your eye, soft lenses are used by most contact lens wearers. Both kinds of lenses can be safely reused by the person for whom they were prescribed--after being cleaned and disinfected--for as long as your eye care professional recommends.

Soft Lenses

• Soft lenses come in a variety of wear options, including daily wear (lenses that are removed, disinfected each night and replaced on an individual schedule), extended wear (lenses that are removed and disinfected weekly) and disposable lenses (lenses that are removed nightly and disposed of monthly, daily or weekly). According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, "Any lens that is removed from the eye needs to be cleaned and disinfected before it is reinserted." So, after you use a contact, you may reuse it after cleansing and disinfecting it in the manner described by your eye care professional. This may include rinsing and storing in a sterile solution or using a dissolved tablet to remove deposits from the lens.

Lens Fitting

• Contact lenses need to be properly fitted to an individual's eye. Lenses that are not properly fitted can cause damage to the eye. Wearing lenses fitted for another person can damage the cornea, and may cause infection and even blindness.

Prescriptions

• Contact lenses, even decorative or nonprescription lenses, are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and require a prescription. Visit a licensed eye care professional for an exam every one to two years.

Sharing Lenses

• Lenses that have been worn by another person are not safe to wear. One reason is that they are not properly fitted for your eye. Another reason is that anything that comes into contact with the eye, including eyeliner, mascara, and contact lenses, can carry bacteria and disease that could damage your eye. The eye is a fragile organ and is at risk for infections such as sties, conjunctivitis and ocular herpes.

Signs of Lens Problems

• If your vision is blurred, you have red or irritated eyes, your lenses feel uncomfortable, or you are experiencing eye pain of any sort, make an appointment with an eye care professional. If possible, remove your contact lenses and wear glasses until your appointment to avoid further damage to your eyes.