The Do’s And Don’ts Of Wearing Contact Lenses

If you want freedom from eyeglasses—whether you’re an athlete, live an active lifestyle or simply don’t prefer the look of glasses—and LASIK isn’t an option for you, contact lenses are a simple solution that can give you the freedom you’re looking for.

Before you get fitted for your first pair of contacts, here are some dos and don’ts of wearing contact lenses. Even if you’ve been wearing contact lenses for years, it never hurts to brush up on proper contact lens care.

Dos:

• Get fitted for your first pair of contacts by an eye doctor who can show you how to properly put in and remove your contacts.
• Keep your contact lenses stored in a clean case with the lids screwed securely to prevent them from drying out. Rinse your case between uses and leave it with the lids off to dry out when you are wearing your contacts. Replace your case every few months.
• Wash your hands before handling your contacts. Anything that may be on your fingers will get on your lenses and can cause discomfort and even lead to infection.
• Use only contact lens solution to clean and store your contacts.
• Follow your eye doctor’s prescription for a contact lens replacement schedule.
• Use a contact lens solution recommended by your eye doctor.

Don’t:

• Use tap water to clean contacts or contact lens case.
• Use saliva to moisten your contact lenses. Doing so poses a serious risk for eye infection.
• Swim with your contacts in or wear them in a hot tub.
• Share your contact lenses with another person.
• Sleep in your contact lenses.

In a survey of individuals who wear contact lenses, 85 percent believed they were compliant with all recommended contact-lens wearing practices, but less than one percent were found to be fully compliant. While many of these recommended practices may seem trivial, failure to follow these recommendations can cause eye discomfort, redness or infection, which could ultimately affect your vision.

Eye health is an integral part of your overall health, so make the extra effort to follow these guidelines for proper contact lens care.