GeneralThe Basics of Contact Lens Wear and Care

Contact lenses are vision correction devices that require a prescription. Your eye care professional will examine your eye’s condition to determine the correct clear contact lenses prescription.

Wearing your contacts for the first time can be exciting, but like with anything new, it can be a bit intimidating too. Besides, contact lenses are medical devices that you put in your eyes. As such, you must make good choices to ensure the comfort and health of your eyes.

To help you get started, here’s an essential guide to wearing your contact lenses.

Dos and Don’ts

Eye doctors will tell you how you must use your contact lenses. But most contact lens users might not recall everything their opticians said.

So to ensure that you remember the proper contact lens wear and care, here are the dos and don’ts for applying, cleansing, and disposing of your contact lenses.

1. Do clean your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses.

Your hands contain lots of bacteria, so washing them will prevent the contamination of the contact lenses and the irritation of your eyes. You should also dry your hands thoroughly because wet hands can easily transmit germs.

2. Do clean and disinfect your contact lenses after every use.

Always clean your contact lenses before storing them, unless you are using daily disposables.

To clean your lenses:

• Fill the chambers of the contact lens case with a fresh disinfecting solution.
• Place one lens in your palm with drops of cleaning solution.
• Rub the lens back and forth.
• Rinse the lens with more solution before storing it in the lens case.
• Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the other lens.

3. Do keep your contact lens case clean and replace it every three months.

Always clean your contact lens case with a fresh solution recommended by the manufacturer every after use. Also, keep it open to air dry to inhibit bacterial growth.

After three months of usage, make sure to replace your lens case to prevent bacteria build-up. A new lens case will also provide safe and hygienic storage for your lenses when you are not wearing them.

4. Do remove your contacts before swimming, bathing, or showering.

The water may contain bacteria and chemicals that can get trapped between your eyes and the lens, causing eye irritation and infection.

5. Do dispose of contacts contaminated with water.

When your multifocal contact lenses for presbyopia are contaminated by water, perhaps you forgot to remove them before diving into the water, you must discard them immediately.

6. Do be conscious when touching or rubbing your eyes.

Rubbing your eyes vigorously can damage your cornea as it may cause your lens to fold and get trapped under your eyelid. On the other hand, touching your eyes may lead to eye irritation and infection. So always be mindful when touching or rubbing your eyes, or better yet, don’t do it.

7. Don’t use tap water (or saliva) when cleaning your lenses.

Avoid getting even a drop of tap water on your contact lenses and case because water contains microorganisms that can cause eye irritations and infections. Your saliva is even worse since it contains more pathogens.

8. Don’t “top off” your cleaning solution.

The old solution contains contaminants, which can affect the new solution. Always play it safe by discarding the old solution and using only fresh cleaning solution.

9. Don’t keep your lens case in the bathroom.

Pathogens thrive in humid areas like the bathroom, so while it may be convenient to store your lens case by the sink, there is a higher risk for contamination. Imagine the microorganisms that can come out of the toilet’s splash zone!

10. Don’t wear your contacts when you are sick.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies or a cold, don’t wear your contact lenses because they can irritate your eyes. They will also be more likely to cause eye infections when you are not feeling well.

11. Don’t sleep with your contacts on.

Always remove and clean your contact lenses before going to your bed. Sleeping with your contacts still in place will increase your risk of irritation and infection because of the dirt, bacteria, and pollutants they may have collected while you were wearing them during the day.

12. Don’t store or expose your lens to extreme heat.

Contact lenses cannot melt in your eyes, but exposing them to extreme or prolonged heat will make them too dry, causing eye irritation.

13. Don’t flush your contacts, rinse them down the sink, or mix them with other trashe.

Flushing your contact lenses or washing them down the sink contributes to the tons of plastic trash that ends up in the wastewater every year. On the other hand, they’ll get dumped at a landfill if you mix them with other trash.

Avoid putting them in the recycling bin, too, because most recycling facilities don’t have the correct machine to handle lenses. As a result, used contact lenses are often diverted to landfills.

The best way to dispose of your lenses is to pack them in a recyclable bag and drop them off at a vision center that accepts and recycles contact lenses. So the moment you decide to wear contacts, make sure to find a designated recycling location near you.

When to see your eye doctor

Generally, you must see your eyecare provider if you are:

• In need of a copy of your lens prescription
• Due for an eye examination or lens replacement
• Experiencing vision deterioration with your lenses

Furthermore, contact your eye doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of eye irritation or infection:

• Eye redness
• Feelings of discomfort
• Visual disturbance
• Excessive watering in the eyes

If your eye doctor isn’t available and the vision problem is causing severe disturbances, visit the best eye center in Dubai for a consultation. Don’t delay getting your eyes checked because this can lead to more serious problems.

Learning the proper way of wearing and caring for your contact lenses takes time. It might even take weeks before you can fully adapt to a life with contacts and feel confident.

Just remind yourself that mastering the basics of lens wear and care is crucial to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy.

More importantly, follow your eye exam schedule, along with the recommendations or directions of your eye doctor.

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