If you wear contact lenses, then you know about the many benefits of this form of vision correction. Contact lenses can give you crisp, sharp vision as well as allow you to be free of eyeglasses. While convenient and aesthetically pleasing, contact lenses may cause irritability or issues without proper care.
How to Wear Contact Lens Safely
To avoid any potential problems with your eyes, you want to make sure that you are wearing contact lenses safely. At Vision Salon, we are sharing some contact lens safety guidelines to both protect your eyes and allow you to continue to wear your contacts comfortably.
- Unless your doctor has prescribed lenses that are meant to be worn overnight, remove your contact lenses before you go to bed. Your eyes need oxygen and keeping your contact lenses on your eyes all night does not allow them to get the oxygen they need. You also increase your risk of developing serious eye infections.
- Don’t expose your contact lenses to water. Storing your contact lenses in water, even distilled water, can expose them to bacteria which may lead to an eye infection. You also shouldn’t swim while wearing your contact lenses and should remove them before you get into a hot tub as well.
- Replace your contact lens case at least every three months. The contact lens case must be a sterile environment for your contact lenses. Use storage solution, not water, in your contact lens case, and don’t reuse old solution in the case. Also always discard the solution and replace with new solution every day.
- Follow your prescription and replace your contact lenses as recommended by your doctor. If you are wearing daily disposable contact lenses, these contact lenses are meant to only be worn for one day. Do not extend the use of your contact lenses past what your doctor recommends.
- Remove your contacts if your eyes feel irritated. Another tip for contact lens safety is to take them out if your eyes start to bother you. There are several reasons your eyes may get irritated while wearing contact lenses including illness, dry eye, or getting something in your eye. If your eyes feel irritated, remove your contact lenses. For this reason, it is also important for people who primarily wear contact lenses during the day to have a pair of eyeglasses in case they need them for vision correction.
- Keep your prescription up to date, and see the doctor as recommended for comprehensive exams. During an eye exam, the optometrist will evaluate the health of your eyes and vision so that you may comfortably continue seeing your best with contact lenses. Wearing contact lenses that don’t properly fit your eye can lead to discomfort and less than optimal vision.
These contact lens safety tips will help you not only protect your eyes but also help you make the most of your contact lenses. If you are in need of contacts or want to check your prescription, our contact lens exams in Blue Island can help. Contact us today to make your appointment.
