• How to Keep your Eyes Healthy Eyes When you Wear Contacts

    Regardless of the contact type you decide on, proper care of your lenses is essential to eye health.

    1. Always wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling contact lenses.
    2. Follow strict hygiene guidelines if you wear contacts. That will lower your chances of corneal infections related to their use.
    3. Don’t sleep with contact lenses in, even if they’re FDA approved for it. This habit greatly raises your risk of cornea infections.
    4. Put on your contact lenses before applying makeup.
    5. Remove the contacts before removing makeup.
    6. Rinse your contact lens case regularly with fresh solution — do not use water.
    7. Always, keep your empty contact case open to air dry.
    8. Replace your contact case regularly, at least every three months.
    9. Before handling contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water, then rinse and dry them with a lint-free towel.
    10. Contact lenses should not be rinsed with or stored in water.
    11. Do not put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
    12. Do not use saline solution to disinfect lenses.
    13. Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care professional.
    14. Follow the specific contact lens cleaning and storage guidelines from your eye care professional and the solution manufacturer.
    15. During cleaning, rub your contact lenses with your fingers, then rinse the lenses with solution before soaking them. This rub and rinse method is considered a superior method of cleaning, even if the solution you are using is a no-rub variety.
    16. Do not use cracked or damaged lens cases.
    17. Do not transfer contact lens solution into smaller travel-size containers. This will affect the sterility of the solution leading to an eye infection.
    18. Do not allow the tip of the solution bottle to come in contact with any surface, and keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
    19. If you store your contacts in the case for an extended period of time, consult the instructions for the lenses or the contact lens solution to determine if re-disinfecting the lenses is appropriate before you wear them. Never wear your lenses after storage for 30 or more days without re-disinfecting.
    20. Any eye drops, even nonprescription ones, can interact with all types of contact lenses.
    21. As with any prescription, contact lens prescriptions do expire — typically within one year. You should see your eye care professional yearly to ensure they continue to have an accurate and appropriate prescription. These regular exams are also important opportunities for reinforcing proper lens care.
    22. Beware of using decorative lenses, such as those often sold at costume shops. These lenses have the potential to damage eyes permanently.
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