Helpful guidance and tips for wearing and maintaining your soft contact lenses.

What are soft contact lenses?

Soft contact lenses are made of a sponge-like material. They absorb water; most soft lenses have a water content of over 50%. This is not pure water but must match the salt concentration of your tears. Sponges are excellent for growing bacteria, which can cause infection, so you must clean the lenses carefully and disinfect them to reduce the risk of harming your eyes. If you wear daily disposable contact lenses, you should never reuse them.

Hygiene

There is a small increased risk of developing eye infections if you wear contact lenses of any type – after all, you are putting something into your eye. Thoroughly wash and dry your hands before touching your eyes or contact lenses. By paying careful attention to hygiene and having regular check-ups, you can ensure you keep the risk of infection as low as possible.

Inserting lenses

Check the lens is the right way around and has no splits or damage. Use a finger from one hand to hold your lower lid and a finger from the other hand on the upper lid. Grip the lids under the eyelashes and hold the lids apart. With the lens on the tip of your finger, gently place the lens in the centre of your eye. If a lens feels uncomfortable, press a finger on the edge of the lens, slide it onto the white of your eye and slide it back. If this does not help, remove the lens, check for damage, clean it and put it in again.

Removing lenses

Pull your lower lid down with your middle finger. Press on the edge of the lens and slide it down with your forefinger, then pinch firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Or use one finger from each hand on the upper and lower lids, as you do when putting them in. Pull your eyelids wide apart, press onto the white of the eye and use your fingers to squeeze together.

Cleaning lenses

If you are reusing the lenses, you will need to clean them each day. After you have taken the lens out, place it in the palm of your hand and add a few drops of your multi-purpose solution. Rub both sides of the lens for about 10 seconds, then rinse off with a vigorous squirt of solution.

Disinfecting the lenses

After rubbing and rinsing, place the lenses in the storage case and cover them completely with a fresh storage solution. When you next use the lenses, throw the solution away and leave the case to air dry. Clean the case with a storage solution every week, but don’t use tap water. Throw the case away and use a new one each time you open a new solution bottle. Never reuse daily disposable contact lenses.

If you wear make-up

Apply make-up after you have put your contact lenses in and remove it after removing the contact lenses. Use non-greasy make-up, and do not get any on the lenses. If you use hand cream, apply it after you have finished handling your lenses. Keep your eyes shut if you are using hair spray or a make-up fixing spray.

Replacement

Replace the lenses as often as your optometrist or optician tells you to. This could be every day, every week, every fortnight, or every month.

Daily check

Check your eyes every day. Can you see clearly? Are your eyes red? Are the lenses comfortable? If your eyes feel tired, remove the lenses early. Do not continue to wear uncomfortable contact lenses, and get advice from your optometrist or optician.

Top tips if you wear Contact Lenses:

• Good lens wear and care are essential to prevent avoidable eye problems. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before using any type of contact lens, and follow all the recommended procedures.

• Never use tap water to clean lenses — this could lead to serious problems, including corneal ulcers and eye infections. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning, disinfecting and wearing the lenses.

• Don’t change how you clean your contact lenses without first asking your optometrist or optician.

• Replace your contact lens case regularly to reduce the risk of infection, and always store your lenses in a fresh solution.

• You shouldn’t wear your lenses longer than your optometrist has told you, and certainly not for more than 16 hours a day. It would be best to never sleep in them unless they are designed for overnight wear.

• Don’t bathe or go swimming in your contact lenses.

• Never share or swap contact lenses with anyone else.

• If you wear eye makeup, apply it after putting your contact lenses in.

• Go to regular after-care appointments with your optometrist — at least once a year or more often if your optometrist recommends it, or if you have problems.

• If in doubt, take them out. If you experience any signs of redness, pain or loss of vision — consult your optometrist immediately for advice.

Advice was taken from literature provided by The Association of Optometrists

I look forward to welcoming you in practice again soon.

Lucinda

*The information presented here reflects general information about contact lens care but of course is not exhaustive