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Tips
on Contact Lens Hygiene
 Contact
lenses are among the safest forms of vision correction when
patients follow the proper care and wearing instructions provided
by their eye doctor. However, when patients don’t use
lenses as directed, the consequences may be dangerous. In
fact, Americans could be damaging their eyes by not using
proper hygiene in caring for their lenses.
Contact
lenses and the solutions used with them are medical devices
and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, therefore,
it’s extremely important that patients maintain regular
appointments to ensure they are receiving clinical guidance
from their eye doctor based on individual eye health needs.
According
to the American Optometric Association, clean and safe handling
of contact lenses is one of the most important measures Americans
can take to protect their sight. Exercising optimal care and
hygiene with contact lenses can keep the eyes healthy.
Recommendations
for Contact Lens Wearers from the American Optometric Association
- Always
wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
- Carefully
and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by your
optometrist. Rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse
thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient
multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.
- Store
lenses in the proper lens storage case and replace the case
at a minimum of every three months. Clean the case after
each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
- Use
only products recommended by your optometrist to clean and
disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops
are not designed to disinfect lenses.
- Only
fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact
lenses. Never re-use old solution. Contact lens solution
must be changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations,
even if the lenses are not used daily.
- yAlways
follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule
prescribed by your optometrist.
- Remove
contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.
- See
your optometrist for your regularly scheduled contact lens
and eye examination.
These photographs of corneal infections, suffered by contact
lenses wearers, might have been prevented with proper contact
lens hygiene and compliance:
Fusarium |
Pseudomonas |
Acanthamoeba |
Related
Links
Types
of Contact Lenses
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-types.htm
Halloween
Eye Wear Cautions
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-halloween.htm
Costs
of Contact Lenses
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-costs.htm
Wearing
Contacts and Cosmetics Together
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-cosmetics.htm
Signs
of Potential Problems
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-problems.htm
Online
Purchase of Contacts
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-onlinestudy.htm
Contact
Lens Facts and Stats
http://www.marylandeyes.com/contacts-facts.htm
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