Contact Lens Do's and Don'ts

If you are interested in wearing contact lenses, get off to the right start by seeing a doctor who provides full-service care. Your doctor will provide you with a thorough eye examination and an evaluation of your suitability for contact lens wear. You will also receive the lenses, necessary lens care kits, individual instructions for wear and care, and follow-up visits over a specified time. The initial visit and examination can take an hour or longer. 

Following these contact lens do's and don'ts can lead you to success.

Do:

• Always wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling contact lenses.

• Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses as directed by your optometrist. If recommended, rub the contact lenses with your fingers and rinse them thoroughly before soaking the lenses overnight in multipurpose solution that completely covers each lens.

• Store lenses in the proper lens storage case, and replace the case at least every three months. Clean the case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.

• Use only fresh solution to clean and store contact lenses. Never reuse old solution. Change your contact lens solution according to the manufacturer's recommendations, even if you don't use your lenses daily.

• Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule prescribed by your optometrist.

• Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.

• Avoid tap water to wash or store contact lenses or lens cases.

• See your optometrist for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination.

Don't:

• Use cream soaps. They can leave a film on your hands that can transfer to the lenses.

• Use homemade saline solutions. Improper use of homemade saline solutions has been linked with a potentially blinding condition among soft lens wearers.

• Put contact lenses in your mouth or moisten them with saliva, which is full of bacteria and a potential source of infection.

• Use tap water to wash or store contact lenses or lens cases.

• Share lenses with others.

• Use products not recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.

• Sleep in contact lenses after being exposed to pools, lakes, oceans, hot tubs or other sources of water that can contain bacteria.

       Source : AOA