If you wear contact lenses, then you must know how to maintain and take best care of them. If you are not keeping your contact lenses clean, you can get an eye infection that can cause serious complications. You have to properly store the contact lenses, which can help you keep them in the perfect shape and you can see clearly without any discomfort.
Once you remove the contact lenses, you must disinfect them with the right cleaner. You can consider different cleansing methods to clean your lens. If you have an allergy, you may ask the doctor to recommend you the right cleaning solution.
Follow the Right Process for Cleaning Lenses
There are certain steps that you need to follow to keep your lenses clean. Firstly, you have to follow the instructions provided by your eye doctor regarding when to change and wear your lenses. To clean and store your contact lenses, follow the instructions provided by your physician, the contact lens manufacturer, and the manufacturer of the cleaning solution.
Read instructions to determine if you need to re-disinfect your lenses before wearing them if you store them in the case for an extended period of time. If your contact lenses have been kept in storage for more than 30 days, you should always re-infect them before wearing them.
Another thing you must remember is to keep your appointments for eye exams. Your cornea might change the shape over time. See your eye doctor on a frequent basis to ensure that the prescription is appropriate for you and that your lenses fit well.
When wearing contacts, avoid taking a shower, swimming, using a hot tub, and any other activity where water could get in your eyes. Contacts and water must not get mixed. Most importantly, never go to sleep wearing contacts.
Maintain a clean contact lens case. After giving it a quick rinse with sterile contact lens solution (as opposed to tap water), let the empty case air dry. If the case gets cracked or broken, replace it immediately or at least every three months.
How to Clean Contact Lenses
There are certain factors that you must consider while cleaning contact lenses. Before handling your contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water and pat dry with a lint-free towel. Regardless of the kind of lens cleaning solution you choose, always use the “rub and rinse” cleaning technique.
Clean your fingers, give your contact lenses a quick rub, and then rinse them with a solution before soaking them. Even if the solution you are using is a “no-rub” type, use this procedure.
Never wet contacts by placing them in your mouth. Spit, or saliva, is not a sterile substance. Contacts should not be cleaned or kept in sterile or tap water, and a homemade solution of saline should never be used. It is also recommended that you use the new solution every time you clean and disinfect contact lenses. Never reuse the old solution, as it can damage the lenses.
Risks of Using Contact Lenses
Old or poorly fitting contact lenses can cause scratches on your eyes. Additionally, they may result in the formation of harmful blood vessels that risk your vision by growing into your cornea.
Your contact lenses may experience issues if you use eye drops. When using contacts, it is preferable to stay away from applying any form of eye drop. As advised by your eye doctor, you can use lubricating drops without preservatives or wetting drops.