Everyday Mistakes that Contact Lens Wearers Make

Contact lens wearers can sometimes get very lax in their daily routines. They forget that their contacts are medical devices that are placed on the delicate mucus membrane, allowing them to see well. The quick, one-minute routine is significant, and if contact wearers don’t take it seriously, the result can be visually devastating. Redness, oozing and vision problems can ultimately lead to blindness. Here are the top mistakes that should be avoided if you wear contact lenses.

Don’t forget to wash your hands before handling the lenses. The most important step in keeping your lenses and eyes healthy is hand washing. Germs transfer from fingers to the contact lens and then to the eye. So, before handling your lenses, wash your hands thoroughly with clear soap.

Many skip the rub. Once you take your contacts out, it’s beneficial to give them a quick rub between your fingers. This practice will remove anything that has become stuck to the lens.

It’s important to completely replace the contact solution from the previous day. Don’t leave the old liquid in the container and top it off with a squirt of new solution. When the contact soaks in the solution, the mixture becomes depleted of the ability to kill organisms. Definitely use fresh solution every time and fill the little bowls to the brim to completely disinfect the lenses.

Don’t wear a pair of contacts longer than you should. Replacing your contacts when your doctor prescribes will help you avoid irritated and possibly infected eyes. Lens wearers think that wearing them longer saves money because you don’t have to purchase them as often, but it is not worth the possible eye damage incurred.

Your everyday routine should be to dump out the used solution, rinse the container with contact solution and dry it with a clean towel. The case should be stored with the caps removed. If you replace the caps without the solution, it becomes a petri dish where organisms begin to grow.

When your contact lens falls out, don’t pop it in your mouth. It is a terrible idea to lubricate the lens with spit, as saliva has 60,000 bacteria per drop. Try to be prepared with a backup pair of contact lenses or glasses or keep contact lens solution stored in your office or purse.

Contact lens wearers should give the lenses the respect they deserve. Maintaining healthy habits by avoiding these common mistakes will drastically reduce nasty infections and eye irritations. Please visit the website for more information on prescription lenses in La Mesa and other topics regarding the health of eyes.