Care for Your Contact Lenses and Your Eyes

A contact lens is a thin curved glass or plastic lens designed to fit over the cornea in order to correct vision or deliver medication. Interestingly, contact lenses have been around for over a century. They provide a safe and effective way to correct vision problems when used with care and proper supervision. They also offer a good alternative to eyeglasses depending on your eyes and lifestyle.

Keep Lenses Clean

The type of lens you have determines how you care for it. Disposable extended-wear soft lenses need the least care, and conventional soft lenses need extensive care. To avoid vision-threatening complications, you must carefully follow directions for lens care. If you have a hard time following the cleaning steps, tell your eye care professional. You may be able to simplify the steps, or you may want to switch to disposable lenses.

1. Before handling contact lenses, wash and rinse hands. Use a mild non-cosmetic soap.
2. Dry hands with a clean, lint-free towel.
3. If you use hair spray, use it before you put in your contacts.
4. After your contacts are in your eyes, put on makeup so you don’t get any on your lenses.
5. Different types of contact lenses require special care and certain types of products. Always use the disinfecting solution, eye drops, and enzymatic cleaners your eye care professional recommended.
6. Never use tap water directly on lenses, and never put contact lenses in your mouth to "rinse" them. Microorganisms can live in even distilled water, causing infection or sight damage.
7. Clean each contact by rubbing it gently with your index finger in the palm of your other hand. Most multipurpose solutions don’t have “No Rub” on their labels anymore.
8. Clean your contact lens case every time you use it with either sterile solution or hot tap water. Let it air dry. Replace the contact lens storage case every three months.
9. If you develop any eye irritation, remove your contact lenses and don’t use them again until you talk with your eye care professional. Wearing a contaminated pair of lenses invites the infection to stay. When you get back to wearing contacts, closely follow your doctor's instructions to prevent eye infections.
10. 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.

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Contact Lenses are used to correct the same vision problems that eyeglasses correct. 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, Florida shares tips on how to properly care for your contact lenses. You should also heck out the coupons section if you’re looking for new eyeglasses, sunglasses and/or contact lenses.