How to Take Care of Contact Lenses

Eye health is of the utmost importance and never is this more applicable than when considering how to take care of contact lenses. The following details the dos and don’ts of cleaning, handling, and how to best care for your contact lenses.

Contact Lenses: The risks

•     The lenses
•     Eye drops
•     Signs of a problem

The lenses

The lenses themselves pose a risk to the eye if they’re not cared for correctly. Ensuring that they’re correctly cleaned and only used as per your ophthalmologist’s instructions is vital. Ill-fitting and old lenses can scratch and damage the eye or could cause a vision-threatening condition that causes blood vessels to grow into the cornea.

Eye drops

The use of eye drops, other than preservative-free lubricating ones recommended by your eye doctor, are not recommended as they can cause problems when wearing lenses.

Signs of a problem

Red flags that might signal an eye-related problem for contact lens wearers include:-       Excessive reddening-       Pain-       Watery eyes-       Photophobia (sensitivity to light)-       Blurred vision-       Discharge from the eyeShould you experience any of these you should contact your eye care professional as a matter of urgency.

How to Take Care of Contact Lenses: Dos and don’ts

•     The do’s
•     The don’ts

The do’s

Taking good care of your contact lenses means you should so the following:-       Do: Wash, rinse, and dry your hands thoroughly when handling lenses. This involves using a soap that’s free from perfumes, oil, or lotions, and drying your hands with a lint-free towel.-       Do: Follow the exact schedule provided by your eye doctor. This means adhering strictly to how often you wear and change your lenses.-       Do: Use a clean, fresh solution. Each time you remove your lenses to clean, rinse, and disinfect. Always fill the lens case with new solution rather than topping up what’s already in there.-       Do: Insert contact lenses before applying makeup. You should also remove them before washing makeup from your face.-       Do: Use fingertips to handle your lenses. Rather than fingernails or any sharp objects-       Do: Ensure the lens is moist, clean, and damage-free before inserting. Discard any lens that appears to be damaged.-       Do: Keep your contact lens case clean. It should be replaced at least every 3 months, or before if any damage occurs.-       Do: Have regular eye exams. This is because your cornea can change shape, as can your prescription.

The don’ts

-       Don’t: Use lenses for longer than their intended use. In addition, never wear daily disposables for more than a day, or leave them in overnight.-       Don’t: Put lenses in your mouth. Nor should you use anything but new contact lens solutions for rewetting, lubrication, or cleaning lenses.-       Don’t: Share contacts with others: Ever…-       Don’t: Let lenses come into contact with water. This can lead to infection, possibly serious ones.-       Don’t: Allow the tips of solution bottles to touch any surface. This includes your finger and the lenses themselves.-       Don’t: Reuse solution. Or try to use less than necessary.-       Don’t: Change the brand of contact lens solution: This should only be done with guidance from your eye doctor as solutions differ from brand to brand.

Ensure Your Continuing Good Eye Health at the West Boca Eye Center

Whether you wear contacts, glasses, or simply need to schedule a regular eye exam, the West Boca Eye Center is a world-leading clinic for all ages who want to benefit from the best eye health possible. Fronted by a leading ophthalmologist, Brent Bellotte MD, you’re guaranteed of second-to-none eye care in one of the country’s premier location.Visit West Boca Eye Center to find out more and schedule an appointment.