Contact lens care is vital for enjoying the benefits of contact lenses. Proper lens wear and care ensure perfect vision while keeping your eyes healthy. Failing to care for your lenses can hinder your vision and increase the risk of infections. A proper lens care routine will help to reduce the risk of potential problems.

Caring for Your Contacts

Taking care of your contact lenses is essential for your eye health. It can prevent dry eyes, blurriness, eye redness, and severe infections. Keratitis is the most common type of contact lens-associated infection.

Cornea infection can cause scarring, vision loss, or blindness. If you have an eye infection, discontinue contact lens wear and seek medical care immediately. Proper fitting and good lens care habits can help to reduce the risk of eye health issues. Different types of contact lenses need different levels of care.

Tips for Contact Lens Wear

When you insert contact lenses correctly, the eyes should feel comfortable, and the vision should be clear. Here’s how to wear your contacts correctly:

• Ensure your hands are clean and dry before inserting your lenses. Avoid soaps with extra oils or fragrances, and use a lint-free towel to dry your hands.
   

• Use your fingertips, and not your nails, to handle the contact lenses. Inspect each lens carefully for signs of damage and ensure it is the right side out before insertion.
   

• Slide the lens onto the index finger of your dominant hand before carefully putting it in the eye. Use your non-dominant hand to keep your eyelid open.
   

• Look up or in front of you while inserting the lens.
   

• Shut and roll your eyes to allow the lenses to settle into position.
   

• Open your eyes and blink before looking in the mirror to ensure the lenses are centered.

Contact Lens Care Process

Caring for your contact lenses will depend on the type you choose. Consult your eye care professional and ensure you follow all the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Wash and dry your hands carefully before you handle your lenses. This will help keep bacteria from entering your eyes.
   

• Use the recommended contact lens solution to rub and rinse your lenses after removal. The cleaning process will depend on the solution you use.
   

• Soak the clean lenses for the specified time, usually four to eight hours. Place the lenses in the designated case before filling the well with the lens solution.
   

• Change your lenses and lens case regularly. Discard the lenses after the prescribed duration and avoid using contact lens solution for longer than recommended.

Contact Lens Use — What to Avoid

You should only use contact lens solution to clean and soak your lenses. You should never use water, eye drops, or saline solution. Keep your contact lenses dry, and always remove them before bathing or swimming.

Remove your contact lenses before you sleep to allow your eyes to get adequate oxygen. Avoid using over-the-counter eye drops while wearing contact lenses. Dispose of damaged or dropped lenses to avoid eye infections.

The best way to ensure proper contact lens wear and care is by establishing a routine. Inserting and removing the same lens first will help to prevent mix-ups. Remove the lenses at the same time each night.

For more on wearing and caring for contact lenses, visit Advanced Eyecare Central Coast at our office in Pismo Beach, California. Call (805) 773-6000 to book an appointment today.