Do you know how to care for your contact lenses? Chances are, you have some questions. Most people do. But it’s important to ‘clear up’ any misconceptions, because keeping clean contacts is of top importance for maintaining good vision and healthy eyes.
So, how do you care for your contacts – and your eyes? Here’s a list of things you must know and do if you wear contacts:
- It’s of utmost importance to keep your contact lenses clean. That means any time you touch the lens, or it comes out of your eye, you MUST clean it before putting it back in.
- NEVER rinse you contact lenses with spit, tap water, or even ‘sterile’ bottled water. Only a clean, fresh, sterile saline solution will do. Don’t top off the solution in your case when cleaning – always start fresh.
- Don’t sleep in your contacts. Also, you should ALWAYS take out your lenses before showering, swimming, or anything else that could get water in your eyes.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching contacts, and try to use a lint free towel. (The lint can get onto the lenses and be abrasive in your eyes.)
- Use the ‘rub and rinse’ method to clean your contacts, even if the brand says it’s not necessary.
- Keep your contact case clean, and replace it every 3 months.
- Always follow the directions that come from your eye doctor about how to use and maintain your lenses.
It’s important to keep the lenses clean to prevent eye infections. You also want to avoid warped or damaged lenses, as they can damage your eyes.
Have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Please reach out to us at Utah Eye Centers! We can ‘clarify’ your options. We look forward to meeting with you!