Contact lenses offer a convenient and comfortable alternative to glasses, but they also require proper care. Good contact lens hygiene helps protect your eyes from irritation, infection, and other complications, allowing you to enjoy clear vision safely.
Start With Clean Hands
The most important step in contact lens care happens before you even touch your lenses. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then dry them with a clean, lint-free towel. This simple practice removes dirt, oils, and germs that could otherwise be transferred to your lenses and into your eyes.
Clean and Store Lenses Correctly
If you wear reusable contact lenses, it is essential to clean, rinse, and disinfect them using the contact lens solution recommended by your optometrist. Avoid using tap water, bottled water, or saliva to clean your lenses, as these can introduce harmful microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections. Fresh solution should be used each time you store your lenses, and old solution should never be “topped up” or reused.
Don’t Forget Your Lens Case
Your contact lens case can harbour bacteria if it is not cleaned regularly. After inserting your lenses, empty the old solution from the case, rinse it with fresh contact lens solution, and leave it open to air dry upside down on a clean surface. Replacing your lens case every three months, or as recommended by your eye care professional, helps prevent the buildup of bacteria and biofilm.
Follow Your Recommended Wearing Schedule
Wearing lenses for longer than advised, sleeping in lenses that are not designed for overnight use, or failing to replace disposable lenses on schedule can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your eyes and increase the likelihood of discomfort or infection.
Be sure to:
- Replace disposable lenses according to schedule.
- Avoid sleeping in lenses unless they are specifically approved for overnight wear.
- Follow the advice provided by your optometrist and lens manufacturer.
Consistently following these guidelines helps keep your eyes comfortable and healthy.
Know When Something Isn’t Right
Pay attention to any changes in how your eyes feel. Symptoms such as redness, pain, blurred vision, excessive tearing, or sensitivity to light should never be ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms, remove your contact lenses immediately and contact your eye care professional for advice. Prompt attention can often prevent a minor issue from becoming a more serious problem.
Protecting Your Vision for the Future
Good contact lens hygiene is about more than keeping your lenses clean – it’s about protecting your long-term eye health. By washing your hands before handling lenses, cleaning and storing them correctly, replacing your lens case regularly, and following your recommended wearing schedule, you can greatly reduce the risk of infection and enjoy the benefits of contact lenses with confidence. These healthy habits only take a few extra minutes each day, but they can make a lifetime of difference for your vision.
Convenient Contact Lens Reordering
Running low on contact lenses? At optometry@cooroy, we make it easy to reorder your lenses when you need them. If you have a current and valid contact lens prescription on record with our practice, you can arrange a restock either by calling our team or by placing an order through our website. This convenient service helps ensure you always have lenses you need while maintaining the safety and accuracy of your prescribed contact lens correction.
Want to Learn More About Contact Lenses?
If you’d like to learn more about contact lenses and the benefits of them, come and see us at optometry@cooroy at 62 Maple Street, Cooroy. Our team can provide personalised advice, answer your questions, and help you enjoy the benefits of contact lenses with confidence.
