The Dos and Don’ts of Contact Lens Care
Contact lenses are a great option for correcting your vision so you can go about your day without having to wear cumbersome glasses. Contact lenses can offer wearers the freedom to participate in sports without worrying about damaging their glasses, or they can help people feel more confident in their appearance.
While contact lenses are a popular alternative to glasses, there are several precautions you should take to maintain good vision and protect the health of your eyes that even long-time wearers may not know about.
Follow Proper Contact Lens Hygiene Procedures
When inserting and removing soft contact lenses, it’s essential to follow proper hygiene procedures to prevent infection or damage to the eye. Follow these steps each time:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before placing your fingers in your eyes.
- Thoroughly dry your hands with a lint-free towel before inserting and removing contact lenses.
- Always store your contact lenses in the appropriate storage case.
- Always clean your lenses with the recommended contact lens solution.
- Never reuse contact lens solution
- Don’t rub and rinse your lenses with tap water.
If you have questions about how to clean or store your lenses, contact your optometrist or contact lens fitter.
Use the Lenses For the Recommended Length of Time
The length of time that you can use the lens depends on the type of lens you choose.
- With daily contact lenses, you can use them one time and then dispose of them.
- Bi-weekly lenses last for two weeks.
- Monthly lenses can be worn for one month.
Even if you don’t use your bi-weekly or monthly lenses every day, you should be changing them out within the specified time frame to ensure the safety of your eyes and lenses.
The Dangers of Not Using Contact Lenses Correctly
When it comes to contact lens care and eye health, there are several things to watch for.
Scratching of the Eye
Contact lenses are available in different sizes, called base curves, so it is essential to purchase a lens that fits the curve of your eye properly. Poorly fitting lenses can scratch the outer layer of your eye and also cause painful sores.
Incidence of Eye Infections
Dirty hands and contaminated lenses can introduce bacteria into the eye; microbial keratitis is a serious condition that can occur when contact lenses are worn for too long or are not cared for correctly. Such infections can lead to blindness or the need for a corneal transplant.
Other conditions
In addition to the more serious conditions such as microbial keratitis, contact lens wearers may also experience the following:
- Allergies
- Contact lens-induced red-eye
- Dry eyes
These conditions may be improved by not wearing your contact lenses for a period of time, but it’s best to see an optometrist who can check your health and prescribe eye drops or other recommendations to resolve the problem.
Contact Lens Options in Edmonton
To learn more about how to take care of your contacts and how to find the right fit to buy contact lenses in Edmonton, book an appointment with our optometrists today.