Contact lenses are a popular choice for so many people and it brings a lot of convenience. But you need to understand how to take care of them in order to ensure your eye health. If you are new to wearing contact lenses, this article can be helpful in knowing what to do.
You should never touch
Your contact lenses without washing your hands. You need to wash your hands with water and soap and make sure that you dry them with a lint free towel so that no particles are transferred to the lenses. There will be specific guidelines provided by your contact lens optometrist when it comes to wear so you have to adhere to these instructions as they will be tailored to the needs of your eye health and the type of lenses you are using. You will need to clean and disinfect the lenses regularly so that you can prevent protein deposits, bacteria and other debris from building up on the lenses. There are recommended solutions that your optometrist will recommend and you can use these to clean the lenses and to ensure they are properly stored. Some people tend to sleep while wearing their lenses but this is a harmful habit. This will increase your risk for developing eye infections and other complications. When it comes to bedtime, you have to remove the lenses even if you are wearing lenses that are recommended for extended wear.
There is a recommended replacement schedule based on the lens type you use
There are reusable or daily disposables etc. that you can choose from but when you go over the recommended period of time to wear the contact lenses or extend the intended lifespan, you will experience discomfort. There can also be reduced flow if oxygen to the cornea and the risk of infection will be high. You need to learn to handle the contact lenses with care. There should not be any contact between the contact lenses and water. There can be harmful microorganisms in tap water and saliva. And if your contact lens solution is expired, this should not be used. Some people tend to experience discomfort or dryness when they are wearing contact lenses and in this case, they can use lubricating eye drops that have been recommended by the optometrist. But you should always consult an eye care professional before using any over-the-counter eye drops.
The lens case has to be kept clean and to ensure this
You can clean it routinely and replace them once every three months. Your eye care provider will recommend a period of time to use the case. You can rinse the case with sterile solution and have it air dry upside down. This will prevent the growth of bacteria. If you are planning to swim in hot tubs or in a pool, it is best to remove contact lenses so that they are not exposed to waterborne bacteria and chemicals. Make sure you go to regular eye exams so that you can ensure that the contact lenses are providing optimal vision correction.
