Good hygiene is crucial for maintaining the health of your eyes. Eye care professionals, such as Everett and Hurite, emphasize the importance of hand washing to protect your eyes from germs and harmful substances that can be present on your hands and fingers. However, if you wear contact lenses, it's important to take additional steps to keep your eyes safe.
Improper care and cleaning of contact lenses can lead to various eye infections, which can range from minor discomfort to severe complications, including blindness. To prevent these issues, it's essential to properly care for your contact lenses. This not only helps them last longer but also ensures the health of your eyes and vision.
At Everett and Hurite, we understand the importance of good eye hygiene. Our dedicated team of professionals prioritizes your eye care needs, providing exceptional service and personalized care. Maintaining proper hand hygiene is essential in protecting your eyes from germs and harmful substances. For contact lens wearers, it's crucial to care for and clean your lenses to prevent eye infections and ensure the longevity of your contacts and the health of your eyes. Follow the individualized directions that come with your contacts, and remember the five key care points to maintain optimal eye health. Trust us to deliver comprehensive eye care tailored to your needs.
1. Regularly Review Your Contact Care Procedure With Your Eye Doctor.
While blogs like this one and Google searches can provide plenty of solid general advice, it’s important to remember that your own doctor’s input is what matters the most. This isn’t just because your doctor knows you and your needs best. It’s also because there are numerous contact care products available today, and they may not all be compatible with the particular brand or type of contact lenses you wear.
So rather than risk using a product that isn’t meant to be used with your contact lenses, or even risk not using a cleaning solution that you should have at all, take the time to chat with your eye doctor during appointments. Then you can make sure you’re on the right track and using the disinfecting solution, eye drops, and cleaners that are recommended for you.
2. Always Wash Your Hands Before Handling Your Contacts.
No matter what kind of or brand of contact lenses you wear, you should never handle them without washing your hands first. Not only do you need to wash your hands, but you’ll need to avoid using oil-based or moisturizing soaps when you do so, as the residue these leave on your skin can damage your contact lenses. Antibacterial soaps, on the other hand, are recommended for use before you handle contacts. Don’t forget to dry your hands with a lint-free towel after washing them, too!
3. Use The “Rub And Rinse” Cleaning Technique.
While some contact cleaning solutions are advertised as “no-rub” cleaners, it never hurts to take time to remove the build-up that naturally develops on your contacts during use. Studies have shown that rubbing your contact lenses with your fingers and rinsing them with fresh cleaning solutions is the best way of cleaning contact lenses, even with “no-rub” contact lens cleaning solutions. The FDA even recommends rubbing your contacts clean!
So unless you’re directly advised otherwise by your doctor, you should try to stick to this recommended cleaning routine, and should gently rub your contacts clean in the palm of your hand with cleaning solution. Do not let your nails touch your contacts when doing this, however, as this can damage them and may expose them to any hard-to-reach germs that like to lurk under your nails.
4. Only Use Fresh Cleaning Solution On Your Contacts.
A certified contact cleaning solution is the only guaranteed cleaning aide when it comes to your contacts. Water may contain impurities and microorganisms that you don’t want to expose your eyes to, and non-approved formulas may actually damage your contacts. So when cleaning and rinsing your contacts, remember to stick to the recommended cleaning solution and only the recommended solution.
5. Take The Time To Care For Your Lenses Case, Too.
It’s the often overlooked part of the contact lenses’ care equation: the case. Your contact lens case should be replaced at least once every 3 months. To reduce the chances of eye infection, immediately discard the old contact lens solution from the wells of the case. Then rub the case with clean fingers for at least 5 seconds, rinse with contact solution disinfecting solution, then wipe dry with a clean cloth. Never rinse contact lens cases with tap water as this has been shown to increase the risk of developing severe corneal infections.
These five contact-related care steps are all easy to accidentally forget at one point or another but are also all very important parts of your eye care if you wear contacts. While they will help ensure that your eyes stay as healthy as possible, you should still watch for signs of trouble if you use contacts. For example, if you develop eye irritation of any sort, you’ll need to remove your contacts and not use them again until you’ve met with your doctor. You should also visit your eye doctor immediately if you have any sudden vision loss, persistent blurred vision, light flashes, eye pain, infection, swelling, unusual redness, or irritation. That way, we can diagnose the problem and health resolve it as soon as possible.
Still, have contact care-related questions? Get in touch with us here at Everett And Hurite – we’ll happily check that everything is as it should be and always help you continue to see clearly long into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe for other patients to try on my contact lenses?
No, it is not safe for any patient to try on your contact lenses. Sharing contact lenses can transmit bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can lead to eye infections and complications. Contact lenses should only be used by the person they are prescribed for.
Can other family members use my contact lens solution?
While it may be convenient to share contact lens solutions with other family members, it is not recommended. Each person's eye health and needs are unique, and using someone else's solution can increase the risk of contamination and eye infections. It's best to use your own solution and not share it with others.
Where can I find accurate information about contact lens care?
For accurate information about contact lens care, it's best to consult reputable sources such as eye care professionals, official websites of contact lens manufacturers, or trusted medical websites. These sources can provide up-to-date and reliable information to help you properly care for your contact lenses.
What should I do if I accidentally mix up my contact lenses and use the wrong one in the wrong eye?
If you accidentally mix up your contact lenses and use the wrong one in the wrong eye, remove them immediately and clean them thoroughly before reinserting them correctly. If you experience any discomfort, vision changes, or redness, it's important to seek guidance from your eye care professional. It is important to follow directions
