Five Things Your Doctor Would Say About Using Contact Lenses

Doctors have cautioned time and again on patients regarding the correct use of contact lenses. There are a host of eye problems that occur if proper care is not taken off the contact lenses. We find that there are many who slacken on this job. In addition to this, there are other pointers which should be kept in mind as well.

Contact Lenses

Things to consider while opting for contact lenses.

• Avoid using water as a solution   –

Sometimes, one may run out of a solution before one reaches the drugstore. Using water for rinsing the lenses is not a good idea at all. Besides, direct exposure of the lenses to the water in the lake, ocean, hot tub, pool or any other body of water leads to infection. Even distilled water contains microbes which are called Acanthamoeba. This sticks to the surface of the contact lenses and causes infection to the eyes. This infection is called Acanthamoeba keratitis. This leads to all kinds of problems like redness of the eye, eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light as well as watery eyes.

• Wash your hand before putting on the lenses –

One must always wash their hands with soap and water before putting on the contact lenses. In fact, the hands should be well dried, before inserting and removing the lenses. Touching the lenses with unwashed fingers will allow all kinds of grubby germs access. All kinds of germs are not pathogens causing harm to the eyes. Owing to the presence of microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, and fungi, an inflammation of the cornea occurs.

• Maintain the replacement schedule –

One should always follow the replacement schedule which is prescribed by the doctor. As the lenses do not come cheap, there are many who want to wear them as many days as possible. However, wearing the lenses for too many days allows the microorganisms, allergens and protein deposits to build up. This causes inflammation, irritation, and infection. It will not be possible to take off all the dust and the grime in the course of cleaning the lenses. So, swapping the lenses would be the best option. The same rule applies to daily disposable ones. Even if we do not wear them for the full day, once these are worn, they should be replaced.

• Sleeping with the contact lenses on –

Sleeping with the lenses on, one is at a very high risk of infections. Sleeping with the contact lenses reduces the supply of the oxygen to get into the eyes. This can lead to high infections or bring about dry eye symptoms. If one forgets to remove the contact lenses before falling asleep, one should remove them as soon as one wakes up. It is advisable to give the eyes a good rinse with sterile contact solution and then close them. Once the lenses are taken out, it would be a good idea to wear the glasses for some hours and allow the eyes to breathe.

Contact Lenses

At any point in time if any discomfort is felt with the contact lenses, then one must contact the eye doctor immediately. Remember that when soaking the contact lenses, one can remove the irritants from the lenses. But the dirt and the grime remain in the solution. This is why it is recommended that fresh solution must be used every time on is cleaning or storing the lenses.