Contact lenses offer a secure and practical approach to correct eyesight if used and taken care of properly. Risky use of your contact lenses might harm your eyes or put you at risk for infections.
So if you are someone who owns a contact lens or is looking to get one and needs to know what you should take care of, this article is for you.
Here’s what to do and what not to do when wearing and caring for your contacts.
Do’s when it comes to contact lenses:
Let’s go through all the things that you should do when it comes to your contact lenses.
1. Wash Your Hands
Before putting or removing your contacts, properly wash your hands since they may be contaminated with bacteria. Doctors suggest washing your hands with clean, lotion-free soap and thoroughly drying them.
2. Clean Contact Lenses Case
According to research published on poor cleanliness, habits are associated with an increased risk for contamination of the contact lens container.
The number of germs in contact cases was greater in those who didn’t wash their hands with soap and water before handling them and didn’t clean and dry their cases.
You should empty your case of all contact lens solution, wipe it with a clean finger, and then rinse it with a new solution to fully clean it.
When you’re ready to take out your contacts at night, wipe it dry with a napkin and store it upside down (including the caps) on a towel. Every one to three months, you should replace the casing.
3. Empty and Re-fill solution in the lens case
When keeping your contacts overnight, it is advised that you should be using a brand-new contact lens solution. Acanthamoeba keratitis is an uncommon but severe illness that is challenging to cure.
It has been connected to incidents of adding new solutions to old solutions already in the case or washing lenses with water. So, ensure that regardless of how long you use those lenses, always top off the solution.
4. Do replace contact lenses in their due time
You should replace your contact lenses as instructed by your doctor. Some disposable lenses are designed to be discarded daily, every other week, or monthly.
The exception is gas-permeable lenses, which have a longer lifespan and are routinely changed yearly.
Wearing contact lenses longer than advised might cause pain and unhealthy eyes. You can get new contact lenses here.
5. Do checkups with your doctor regularly
Make an appointment even if your eyes feel Alright. Occasionally, contact lens-related problems are discovered during a normal inspection before the eyes start to feel uncomfortable.
See your doctor if your eyes do not get better or start feeling worse and remove your contacts as soon as they become itchy, red, or watery.
Don’ts of contact lenses
Now that you are aware of what you should do, let’s look for things you should not do and avoid no matter what happens for your eyes and vision to be safe.
1. Don’t sleep with contact lenses on
Wearing contact lenses while sleeping raises the risk of an eye infection by about ten times. Hence doing so is generally not advised.
However, some contact lenses are okay to use at night if you undergo frequent eye exams and your doctor gives the go-ahead. It would be okay to sleep in them, but make sure you have permission from your doctor beforehand.
2. Don’t buy contacts without a prescription
Patients frequently feel that a lens is okay to use without a doctor’s prescription because it is decorative, colored, or cosmetic and has no ‘power’ to aid visual performance.
Every person’s eye’s surface has different characteristics. Thus before using any contact lenses, whether they are ornamental or prescribed, and an eye specialist must evaluate them.
3. Don’t shower with contact lenses on
Avoid taking showers while wearing contact lenses, and take them out before utilizing a hot tub or swimming.
Water should not come into touch with contact lenses since water carries microscopic organisms that might cause an eye infection.
These microorganisms may multiply and become more potent, eventually causing an eye infection.
4. Don’t ignore the warning of infections
As a general guideline, if any of these symptoms last for longer than 24 hours, you should schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist or optometrist very once. You should be treated right away if your symptoms are severe.
Most contact lens-related issues don’t result in long-term vision issues if treated quickly.
However, scarring, poor eyesight, or blindness may happen in extreme circumstances. Knowing the truth allows you to wear contact lenses without discomfort or to risk eye damage.
5. Don’t share your contact lenses
Don’t ever share contact lenses, no matter what happens. Regardless of the person you want to share them with having the same sort of prescription, don’t ever share your lenses as they would be very likely to cause infections in their eyes, and when you use them after sharing them, you shall also feel discomfort in your eyes as well.
If this has happened recently, rush to your doctor and have them get your eyes checked as it can cause serious issues with your eyes, and if untreated, it could cause a loss in vision.
Why is it important to take care of your lenses and your eyes
A number of issues, including eye discomfort and infection, can result from poor cleaning practices and other undesirable behaviors.
Ninety-nine percent of those who wear contact lenses reported having at least one bad lens-hygiene behavior, such as washing the lenses in tap water that might cause an infection. A red or sore eye caused by their contact lenses has caused one-third of people to consult a doctor.
The majority of contact lens issues only cause moderate discomfort, but more severe eye issues can be quite uncomfortable and can result in irreversible vision loss.
Knowing how bad the repercussions would be, it’s best that you follow the dos and don’ts that have been mentioned
Conclusion
Now that you have gone through this article, you are well aware of what you should do and what you shouldn’t do. I hope this helps you take care of yourself and helps you use the contact lenses that you own in a proper and safe way that would not cause issues to your health.
There is a great way to change things up, and one shouldn’t be scared of them as long as they know the etiquette of handling them.
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