What Not to Do With Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are one of the safest and most effective forms of vision correction available today. However, contact-lens wearers must use proper care and handling techniques to ensure good eye health. An individual with contact lenses should avoid several things to prevent damage to his or her lenses or eyes.

Do Not Use Poor Contact-Lens Hygiene

• Eyes are vulnerable to infections and scratches. When handling contacts, it is imperative that proper hygiene is used to prevent harmful germs and bacteria from entering the eye. Hands should always be washed and dried before handling contacts.

  Contacts must also be cleaned as directed. Most manufacturers recommend gently rubbing the lens, rinsing thoroughly and soaking overnight in enough multi-purpose contact solution to cover the lens completely. Only use products recommended by an eye-care professional to clean and soak the lens, and never reuse old solution. Do not use saline solution or rewetting drops because they do not disinfect the lens. Never use saliva to moisten contacts due to the amount of bacteria present in the mouth. Care should be taken to avoid touching the tip of the solution bottle with any surface because this can cause contamination. Avoid tap water from coming into contact with the lenses or lens accessories because it can carry a harmful microorganism that can cause severe eye infections. The lens case should be cleaned after each use and allowed to dry between cleanings. The case should be replaced every three months or sooner.

Do Not Follow Poor Contact-Wearing Practices

• Poor contact-wearing practices can strain the eyes and put one at risk for infections. Do not wear contacts for longer than they are designed to be worn. Daily-wear contacts should be removed every day and not be slept in. Also, do not try to prolong the life of contacts by using them for longer than the recommended time. If a scratch or tear develops on the lens, do not attempt to wear it. A damaged lens should be discarded and replaced with a new one.

  Do not wear contacts while swimming or sitting in a hot tub. The water could accidentally remove a lens from the eye, and the water can contain harmful microorganisms that can lead to infection. Also, the chlorine can build up on soft contacts leading to infection.

  If a wearer does develop an eye infection, he or she should not wear contacts until the infection is completely gone. The contacts worn when the infection developed should be discarded. Contact lenses should never be shared with anyone else.

Do Not Avoid an Annual Eye Exam

• Do not try to avoid an annual eye exam with an eye-care professional. Contact lenses are a medical device and should only be worn under the supervision of a professional. A thorough eye exam will detect problems or changes within the eye that need to be addressed.