Contact lenses can be a convenient and effective alternative to eyeglasses, but if you don’t use good habits when handling your lenses, you could wind up damaging your eyes over time.
In this post, Rodrigo Belalcazar, MD, PLLC, and our team at Advanced Eye Center in Hialeah, Florida, review some of the bad habits you should avoid to protect your eyes and enjoy the clearest vision possible.
The cleaning instructions provided with your lenses aren’t just suggestions — they need to be followed precisely to reduce your risk of corneal damage and infection.
Never use plain water to clean your lenses since water can contain harmful microorganisms leading to dangerous infections. And, of course, never use saliva to moisten or clean your lenses.
Always keep your lenses in their designated case when you’re not wearing them. Don’t use substitute containers since these can damage lenses or contain germs or other substances that can harm your lenses or your eyes.
Clean and replace your case regularly. Even when cleaned daily, your case can develop tiny microcracks that can harbor germs.
When you’re tired, removing your lenses before you go to sleep can seem like too much trouble. However, sleeping in your lenses is really bad for your eyes, increasing your risk of infection and irritation and preventing your eye surface from getting the oxygen it needs to stay healthy.
Always remove your lenses before bed and even before naps.
Unless you wear daily disposable lenses, you need to pay close attention to your lens expiration date. Lenses have a specific lifespan, and beyond that time, they can cause discomfort and increase your risk of eye problems. Older lenses can accumulate debris that can damage your corneas.
Likewise, you should never use contact lens cleaning solution beyond its expiration date. Cleaning solution loses its effectiveness over time, increasing your risk of improper cleaning, irritation, and infection.
Never top off the old solution in your case with new solution. Doing so dilutes the new solution, making it less effective.
Wearing lenses in the shower or when you’re swimming exposes them to water that may contain pathogens. Those germs can get trapped between your lens and eye, increasing your risk of dangerous infections. Always remove your lenses before bathing, swimming, or hot tub use and store them safely in their case.
Touching your lenses without washing your hands first can transfer oils, dirt, and germs directly into your eyes, elevating your risk of infection and eye damage.
No matter how clean you think your hands are, you still need to wash and rinse them thoroughly before handling your lenses to reduce the risk of contamination.
If your eyes are sore or red, it’s a good idea to remove your contacts and wear your glasses instead. Redness and soreness can be a sign of minor irritation, infection, or other eye problems that should never be ignored.
If your symptoms persist even after removing your contacts, call our office to schedule an exam right away.
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses, and with proper care, you can enjoy all their benefits while avoiding potential problems.
To learn more about contact lenses or to schedule a fitting or contact lens exam, call 305-707-6011 or book an appointment online with Dr. Belalcazar and our team at Advanced Eye Center today.
