How to Care for your Contact Lenses

Just like glasses, contact lenses still require some care to keep them in good condition, particularly if you opt to wear weeklies, monthlies, or even longer-wearing varieties. Proper contact lens care is also essential to minimize the risk of developing eye infections and other potentially painful and sight-limiting conditions when harmful microorganisms enter the eye when contacts are inserted. Dirty contact lenses are a leading cause of issues like conjunctivitis (pink eye) and dry eye.

Here's what you need to know about how to care for your contact lenses to keep them and your eyes in tip-top condition.

Wash your hands 

Clean hands are essential for both your health and to maintain the condition and integrity of your contact lenses. You should always wash your hands thoroughly using soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, before drying them with a clean, lint-free cloth. Do this before removing your contact lenses or touching clean ones and placing them into your eyes.

Use the correct cleaning solution

It is crucial that you use the appropriate cleaning solution to clean your lenses at the end of the day. Speak to your contact lens provider to find out which one this is (you should be told at the time of first getting your contacts, but if you have been using random varieties, ask them which is the best type for your contacts). Don’t ever be tempted to skip this step and use water instead. Water contains many contaminants that can cause eye infections. It has also been shown to alter the shape of some contact lenses, making them useless.

Follow a routine

Developing a routine for your contact lens care can make it easier to ensure that you keep them clean and in good condition. This is because taking care of them will become second nature. Always clean one lens at a time to make sure you don’t get confused with which is which.

• Pop a drop of the cleaning solution onto the lens and use your finger to rub it across the surfaces, front and back, to clean it
   

• Rinse the lens using a cleaning solution
   

• Put your lens into its case and fill the compartment with a cleaning solution before sealing it
   

• Repeat
   

Monitor your contact lenses for signs of wear and tear

You should never use your contact lenses for longer than they are designed for, and you should always monitor them for signs of visual signs of degradation. If you notice anything unusual, stop wearing them right away and consult with your eye doctor or contact lens provider.

Visit your eye doctor regularly

Regular visits to your eye doctor will help ensure that your eyes are healthy and your contact lenses are still effective. If you notice any of the following symptoms though, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible:
 

• Your eyes are stinging, burning, itching, or otherwise painful
   

• Your contact lenses aren’t as comfortable as they were initially
   

• You experience an abnormal feeling of something in the eye
   

• Excessive tearing
   

• Unusual eye secretions

If you have any questions or would like any further information about how to care for contact lenses, visit Great Eye Doctor of Burleson in  Burleson, Texas. Call (817) 295-0186 today.