10 Things to Avoid When Wearing Contact Lenses

30 May 10 Things to Avoid When Wearing Contact Lenses

Following these guidelines will ensure safe and comfortable results while wearing your lenses – I bet there is at least one thing on the list that is new to you!

• Do not over-wear your lenses. You may save money in the short term, but wearing them for longer than the prescribed time can lead to infections or other eye conditions.
• Do not wear lenses if your eyes are red, irritated, teary, painful, light sensitive, or if you have sudden blurred vision or discharge. If these symptoms don’t clear up in a few days, see your optometrist.
• Do not handle lenses with dirty hands.
• Do not use saliva to wet or clean your lenses. The mouth is full of bacteria that can be harmful to the eyes.
• Never use tap water to rinse or soak soft lenses. Minerals and impurities can damage the lenses and can cause infections if absorbed through the eyes.
• Do not store your soft lenses without solution. They will dry out quickly – multi-purpose solutions are safe to use on lenses for both rinsing and soaking.
• Do not wear lenses without rinsing them first. The protein deposits loosened while soaking need to be cleaned from the lenses before you insert them.
• Do not use anyone else’s contact lenses other than your own. Even if you have the same prescription, every lens fits differently. They can damage your eyes if not fitted properly – including colored contacts.
• Do not swim with contact lenses. Chlorine and chemicals can ruin them, and there is a risk of severe infections due to bacteria and parasites that reside in pools and hot tubs.
• Do not get makeup, hairspray, or other cosmetics on the lens. Use hairspray before inserting lenses, or close your eyes when using it. Wait to apply eye makeup until after inserting lenses.

Doctors Shah and Wiedeman fit and prescribe contact lenses that are perfect for your lifestyle.