When cared for properly, contact lenses can provide an effective way to correct your vision. Taking proper care of your contact lenses is essential. Conversely, failure to wear, clean and store your lenses as directed by your eye care professional increases the chance of getting germs in your eyes and causing complications.

The bottom line is this: Contact lens health starts with you. Your habits, supplies, and eye care professional visits are all essential to continued good eye health. The following healthy habits are recommended to safely wear contact lenses and help protect your eyes:

Seven Healthy Habits for contact lens wear & care

• Don’t sleep in your contact lenses unless specifically prescribed by your eye care professional. Sleeping while wearing contact lenses has been shown to cause an eight times greater risk of an eye infection.

• Wash and dry your hands. Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling your lenses. Then, before touching your contact lenses, dry your hands well with a clean cloth.

• Keep contact lenses away from all water. Water can introduce germs to the eyes through contact lenses. Remove contact lenses before swimming and avoid showering in them. Water can harbour microorganisms that can lead to severe infection. Do not store the lenses or rinse the lens case with water or any non-sterile solution.

• Properly clean your lenses. Follow the instructions on your eye care professional’s recommended contact lens care solution. If you wear daily disposable contact lenses, cleaning with a solution is not required as they are not to be reused.

• Take care of your contact lens case. Clean your contact lens case by rubbing and rinsing it with a contact lens solution. Just as you should never use water on your lenses, never use water to clean the case. Next, empty and dry the case with a clean tissue. After each use, store the case upside down with the caps off. Importantly, it would help if you replaced your contact lens case at least once every three months.

• Talk with your eye care professional. Depending on your ocular, vision, and systemic health, your eye care professional will establish how frequently you need to be seen for eye exams. Always keep up to date with these eye appointments and, during your next visit, talk with your eye care professional to discuss your contact lens wear and care habits. If you have any concerns between scheduled visits, promptly contact your eye care professional. Importantly, you should remove your contact lenses immediately if you have eye pain, discomfort, redness, or blurred vision.

• Be prepared. You never know when you may need to remove your contact lenses. Carry a backup pair of spectacles with a current prescription just in case something unexpected occurs.

For a full list of General Lens Care, please refer to our Patient Information Booklets, which can be found here

You only have one pair of eyes, so take care of them! Your contact lens wear and care habits, supplies, and optometrist visits all work together to keep your eyes healthy. Healthy habits equal healthy eyes. By following best practices, you can enjoy the comfort and benefits of contact lenses today and throughout the entire year.

I look forward to welcoming you in practice again soon.

Lucinda

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