How to Treat Contact Lens Infection

Contact lens infections can occur for various reasons, including sleeping with lenses in, wearing them for longer than recommended, using solutions not made for contact lenses, or having sinus infections and other conditions that affect the eyes. If any of these situations applies to you, following a few basic steps will help you treat the resulting contact lens infection.

Instructions

• 1

  Remove the contacts and check your eyes to make sure a foreign object is not trapped under a lens. Something as simple as an eyelash or dust particle can lead to a contact lens infection, producing a sty. This simple step can treat minor contact lens infections.

• 2

  Avoid wearing contact lenses until the infection goes away. All contact lens wearers should have a pair of glasses on hand for these situations. Wearing glasses instead of contacts give the eyes time to receive oxygen to enhance the healing process.

• 3

  Use a warm compress containing chamomile, rose oil or lavender to reduce swelling caused by contact lens infections. Place these compresses over they eyes for approximately 20 minutes to see results.

• 4

  Make homemade eyewash to treat contact lens infection. Elderberry blossom tea and eyebright herb steeped in boiling water are good herbal options for eyewashes. Before placing it on the eyes, though, let the mixture cool. Honey, too, naturally treats eye infections. Place straight honey in the eyes or make eyewash consisting of 3 tbsp. of honey mixed with 2 cups of boiling water.

• 5

  Visit an eye doctor if the contact lens infection does not disappear. Eye doctors prescribe antibiotic drops or oral medications that help fight the infection so it doesn't worsen and surgical methods do not have to be employed.