According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an estimated 40 million Americans rely on contact lenses for safe and effective vision correction. Unfortunately, many people have bad habits when it comes to contact lens handling and care, which can increase the risk of infection.
It is important to remember that contact lenses are medical devices that must be prescribed by a physician and must be cared for properly. Contact lens misuse can lead to a number of problems such as serious eye infections, impaired vision and even blindness.
In this post, your local eye clinic, Downtown Eyes, shares some best practices when handling contact lenses. We also discuss the risks of improper use of contacts.
How to Care for Your Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are generally safe for everyone, even kids. However, the risk of eye problems increases when the lenses are misused or inadequately cared for. Below are the best practices for handling contact lenses:
Wash Your Hands
Always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Use soap and warm water and dry your hands thoroughly afterward with a lint-free towel. Hand hygiene is crucial when it comes to handling contacts. Consider the various things you touch throughout the day — doorknobs, elevator buttons, etc. All of these things contain germs.
Disinfect Lenses
Next, disinfect your contact lenses. Make sure to use only a store-bought solution recommended by your eye doctor. Never rinse your contacts with water or homemade saline — both contain germs that can stick to your lenses and cause an infection.
Rub Lenses
The best way to clean your contacts is to rub them. Gently place one lens at a time in your palm with fresh solution. Then, rub the lens to loosen the protein and bacteria that may have built up on the surface.
Rest
Give your eyes a break from wearing contact lenses. For instance, if you’re just staying at home and you don’t have any chores that would make it cumbersome to wear eyeglasses, you can give your eyes a rest. Be aware of the prescribed number of hours that you can wear your lenses. You may feel fine wearing them still, but if you exceed the recommended period for wearing contacts, this may cause some problems to you. Most importantly, never sleep in your contact lenses. This would increase your risks of getting an eye infection.
Replace Case on Time
Replace your contact lens case every three months. Make sure to clean it thoroughly before adding solution.
Replace Lenses on Time
Buy new lenses when recommended. Never try to extend the life of your lenses by wearing them beyond the prescribed wearing period. Opt for automatic refills so that you always have a fresh stock when you need it. Visit your eye specialist for regular consultations. This can make a big difference in keeping your eyes healthy and protecting your sight.
Symptoms of Eye Infection
Incorrect use of your contact lenses can cause eye infections. Here are the symptoms to look out for:
1. Redness
2. Swelling
3. Itchiness or burning sensation
4. Eye pain
5. Light sensitivity
6. Blurry vision
7. Extra tears or mucus-like discharge
If you experience any of these problems, remove your contact lenses right away and call your eye doctor. You don’t need to throw your contact lenses away. Simply put them in the case, and bring them when you visit your doctor. Wear your eyeglasses in the meantime.
Take note that some of these symptoms may also indicate an allergic reaction. This is not necessarily due to the contact lenses themselves, but to certain allergens or substances that could have accumulated on the surface of the lenses and caused irritation. There are many ways to manage and even prevent eye allergies.
To be completely sure, consult with your eye care practitioner and have them assess your condition. Be careful about taking any medications to treat the symptoms you have. Keep in mind that it’s always best to be checked by your doctor before attempting to self-diagnose and treat your symptoms.
Causes of Eye Infections
To give you a better understanding of how eye infections occur, below are some of the common causes of eye infection:
Bacteria
Bacteria can be found on your skin, mouth and nose. The combination of these bacteria on your contact lenses as well as any small scrape on your eye can cause certain risks. To prevent infection, be diligent in cleaning and disinfecting your lenses and lens case. If your eyes ever get infected by bacteria, mild cases can usually be treated with antibiotic eye drops.
Viruses
Different kinds of viruses can reach your eyes and cause an infection. For example, it’s possible for the cornea to be infected by viruses that cause upper respiratory infections and chickenpox. Pinkeye is often due to the common cold virus. Typically, you simply have to wait out a viral infection. However, you can ease the symptoms by using cold compress and artificial tears.
Parasites
Parasites like the acanthamoeba — which live in water including swimming pools, hot tubs, and tap water — can easily infect your eye if you’re wearing your contacts while you’re in the water. Always avoid wearing your contact lenses when swimming or going in a hot tub. Never use water to clean and store your contacts.
Fungi
Eye infections caused by fungi rarely happen. But when they do, these can lead to vision loss. Fungal infections in the eye can be treated by antifungal eye drops or pills.
Preventing Eye Infections
To summarize, here are some do’s and don’ts to ensure that your eyes are protected from infections:
1. Observe proper hand hygiene. Wash your hands often, especially before touching or handling your contact lenses.
2. Do not reuse or top off your cleaning solution. Use only fresh cleaning solution every day.
3. Keep your lens case clean, and replace it four times a year.
4. Do not sleep in your contacts.
5. Read the labels and instructions on your lenses and cleaning solution. Always follow the advice of your eye doctor.
Downtown Eyes is a trusted name in the eye care industry. Many patients come to the practice expecting quality services, and our team of professionals always ensures that these expectations are met. We provide an array of services including contact eye exams, dry eye treatment and more. We also offer optical products such as eyeglasses and contact lenses. Call us at (612) 333-EYES (3937) or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
