Everyday Contact Lens Care
Here are some safety tips you should follow if you wear contact lenses.
Make sure to:
- Get regular eye exams to assure the continued health of your eyes.
- Always have a back-up pair of glasses with a current prescription in the event that you have problems with your contact lenses.
- Always ask your eye care professional before using any medicine or using topical eye products, even those you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may affect your vision or irritate your eyes.
- Ask your eye care professional about wearing glasses or contact lenses during sports activities to minimize your chance of injury.
- Apply cosmetics after inserting lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup.
- Apply any aerosol products (hairspray, cologne, and deodorant) before inserting lenses.
- Always inform your employer if you wear contact lenses. Some jobs may require the use of eye protection equipment or may require that you not wear lenses.
- Follow and save the directions that come with your lenses. If you didn't get a patient information booklet, request one from your eye care professional or look for one on the manufacturer's website.
- Replace contacts as recommended by your eye care professional. Throw away disposable lenses after recommended wearing period.
Do Not:
- Sleep in daily wear lenses because it may increase your chance of infection or irritation.
- Purchase contact lenses from gas stations, video stores, record shops, or any other vendor not authorized by law to dispense contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription.
- Swap contact lens with another person. Swapping provides a way to transfer germs between people. Contact lenses are individually fitted. Incorrectly fitted lenses may cause permanent eye injury, infection and may potentially lead to blindness.
- Smoke. Studies show that smokers who wear contact lenses have a higher rate of problems (adverse reactions) than nonsmokers.
- Swim while wearing contact lenses. There is a risk of eye infection from bacteria in swimming pool water, hot tubs, lakes and the ocean
Important Contact Lens Care Tips
- Follow recommended wearing schedule.
- Do not substitute sterile saline solutions for multi-purpose solutions.
- Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
- Do not "top-off" the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the leftover contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
- Clean, rinse and air-dry your lens case each time lenses are removed.
- Do not expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water.
Contact your eye care professional if you experience any symptoms of eye irritation or infection.
