More than 45 million U.S. adults rely on contact lenses to help them see clearly. So long as they are cared for properly, contact lenses are a safe and very effective solution for correcting vision. However, if you fail to follow the guidance of your contact lens provider, there is a very real risk that the handling of your contact lenses could make you unwell.

Contact lens health starts with you. Here’s what you need to know about developing good habits for taking care of your lenses and your eyes so that you can minimize your risk of developing infections and other problems that could put your site at risk.
 

Wash your hands before touching your eyes or your contact lenses

Hand health is crucial for overall health and wellbeing. We touch countless substances and surfaces during the course of a normal day, and it is easy for any harmful microorganisms present on them to contaminate our hands. If we touch our face with unclean hands, these dangerous microorganisms can transfer onto the mucous membranes that line our mouth, nose, and eyes, where they can migrate to inside our bodies and cause us to become sick.

Washing your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water is one of the best ways to protect yourself from any diseases and viruses. However, it is especially important to wash your hands and dry them well with a clean cloth before touching your contact lenses.
 

Keep your contact lenses away from water

You might think that coming into contact with water is harmless for your lenses. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and in fact, water is one of the key ways in which germs are introduced to contact lenses. Make sure you take your lenses out before showering and swimming, and never rinse or clean them in plain water. 
 

Clean your contacts carefully as per your provider’s instructions

Unless you have daily disposables, you will need to clean your contact lenses at the end of every day. You will have been told about this when you first got your contact lenses, but it always helps to refresh your memory. Firstly, never use water or saliva to clean them. You should always use the disinfecting solution recommended by your contact lens provider. Use fresh solution every time and don’t be tempted to skim off the top and mix the new solutions with old.
 

Don’t forget to clean the case too

It isn’t only your contact lenses that need cleaning. You also need to take special care of your contact lens case by cleaning it each day. Use the contact lens solution, never water, and then empty and dry it with a clean tissue. Always store your case upside down with the caps off after each use.
 

Don’t sleep in your contact lenses

While there are some contact lenses that are specifically designed to be worn overnight, such as those used in orthokeratology treatment, most contact lenses shouldn’t be kept in while you sleep. In fact, doing so has been shown to increase your risk of developing an eye infection by up to 8 times.
 

Replace your contact lenses at the recommended intervals

Even extended wear contact lenses aren’t designed to last forever. It is important to always replace your lenses at the intervals recommended by your provider.
 

Take your glasses out with you too

While it is rare, contact lenses can fall out or develop a problem which means that you need to remove them during the day. To ensure that your vision isn’t compromised, be sure to take a pair of glasses with your current prescription with you wherever you go.
 

If you would like more advice on the best way to keep your eyes healthy when wearing contact lenses, don’t hesitate to speak to our knowledgeable team by contacting our Las Vegas eye care office today.