Wearing contact lenses entails a great deal of responsibility. To ensure you get the most out of them, it is important that you adhere to strict hygiene practices. Proper care and maintenance of contact lenses are vital to preventing eye infections and ensuring a seamless, comfortable experience. Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic discusses everything you need to know about contact lens hygiene.
Contact Lens Type
Before delving into care routines, it’s worth recognizing the type of contact lenses you’re using. Soft lenses are the most common and provide flexibility and comfort, while hard or gas-permeable (GP) lenses offer sharper vision and are ideal for those with specific conditions like astigmatism or allergies. Knowing whether your lenses are daily disposables, extended-wear or toric is crucial as each kind requires a different care approach.
Proper Insertion and Removal Techniques
The foundation of contact lens hygiene begins with how you handle your lenses. Always wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching your lenses. This simple practice significantly diminishes the risk of introducing harmful bacteria to your eyes. Inserting and removing your lenses in a clean, well-lit area is also advisable to minimize the potential for lens damage or contamination.
Cleaning and Storing Your Lenses
When cleaning your lenses, use only the recommended cleaning solutions and follow the directions provided by your eye care professional. For soft lenses, multipurpose solutions simplify the cleaning, disinfecting and storing process. Conversely, for hard lenses or individuals with sensitivities, hydrogen peroxide-based solutions offer a deeper clean but require additional steps to neutralize the solution before application.
Never use tap water, saliva or anything other than designated contact lens solutions for cleaning your lenses. These substances can harbor microorganisms capable of causing serious infections like acanthamoeba keratitis. Additionally, ensure your lens case is cleaned regularly and replaced every three months to prevent bacterial growth.
When To Replace Your Contact Lenses
Adhering to your eye care provider’s recommendations for lens replacement is essential for maintaining eye health. Overwearing lenses can lead to discomfort, reduced visual clarity and increased infection risk. Whether your lenses are designed for daily, weekly or monthly use, following a strict replacement schedule is a key component of contact lens hygiene.
Lifestyle Considerations
Avoiding wearing contact lenses during swimming or in the shower is advised to prevent exposure to waterborne pathogens. Similarly, ensuring your eyes have ample rest from lens wear, especially if you experience symptoms of irritation or dryness, is crucial for long-term ocular health.
Learn more about contact lens hygiene and everything with regards to protecting your eyes with the help of eye specialists from Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic. Call us at any of the following numbers: (425) 771-8472 (Lynnwood, WA) and (425) 485-0430 (Bothell, WA). You can also fill out our appointment form at your convenience.