7 Things Every Contact Lens Wearer Needs To Know

Whether worn to improve your vision or change your eye color, contact lens have become extremely popular in the eyewear department. No matter what reason you choose to wear them, it is important to know how to care for both the lenses and your eyes to help keep your eyes healthy. In order to help ensure crisp, clear vision, better eye health, and maximum lens wearing comfort, there are a few things to consider for successful lens wear and care.

1. Always Wash Your Hands

Always wash your hands before you put your lenses in or take them out. Seems simple enough, but you’d be surprised at how many people use hand sanitizer instead of soap & water before touching their contacts.

Don’t lather up either with oily or heavily scented soaps. Lenses can cling to wet hands, so dry your hands well with a lint-free towel. If you want to use a moisturizer, wait until after you’ve put in your lenses. The residue from lotions can stick to them.

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2. Water and Lenses Don’t Mix

If you’re out of contact lens solution, you might be tempted to rinse your lenses with tap water. Don’t do it! Water sometimes has microbes that can cause serious eye infections.

Don’t even wear contacts in the shower. And never put your lenses into your mouth or use saliva to wet them.

3. Know When To Replace (Even When They Feel “Fine”)

Replace your lenses as often as the doctor suggests, even if you don’t wear them every day. For instance, if you have the disposable kind that are good for one wearing, throw them out after you’ve worn them once, even if they still feel fresh.

When you wear lenses for more days than you should, or when you sleep in lenses that aren’t made for overnight wear, you raise your risk of eye infections.

4. Contact Lenses and Sports

You can wear your lenses for most sports and activities. They rarely move or fall out. Plus, they don’t fog up like glasses, and they give you better peripheral vision.