For those who want to adjust their eyesight without wearing glasses, contact lenses are a common option. Even if they are more convenient, flexible, and visually appealing, it's important to take the right precautions to prevent long-term damage and eye infections. When contact lenses are not used properly, they can cause severe health issues with the eyes, such as infections, corneal ulcers, and in severe situations, blindness.
This thorough tutorial on contact lens safety will help you maintain the health of your eyes and the clarity of your vision.
1. Consult an Eye Care Professional
Never use contact lenses without first visiting an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Your eye doctor will assess if contact lenses are a good fit for your eyes and make sure the prescription is correct. Monitoring the health of your eyes requires routine eye exams, particularly if you wear contacts regularly.
2. Follow a Proper Cleaning Routine
Adhering to a stringent cleaning schedule is crucial for the safety of contact lenses. The fundamental stages are as follows:
- Before touching your lenses, always give your hands a good, thorough wash with soap and water.
- To clean and store your lenses, use only the cleaning solution indicated. Saliva, tap water, and homemade saline solutions should not be used since they may introduce dangerous microorganisms.
- Even if you haven't used your lenses, change the cleaning solution in your lens bag every day.
- To stop bacteria from growing, clean your contact lens case often and replace it every three months.
3. Avoid Wearing Your Lenses Too Much
Overuse of contact lenses is a typical error that can result in infection, discomfort, and dryness. Observe these rules:
- Follow the suggested wearing schedule at all times. Never leave your lenses on overnight, even if they are meant to be used every day.
- Pay attention to your doctor's recommendations regarding the amount of time you may wear extended-wear lenses without taking them out.
- Give your eyes a vacation from wearing contacts by taking pauses, especially if you spend a lot of time in dry or bright conditions or staring at screens.
4. Avoid Sleeping in Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses to bed greatly raises your chance of getting an infection in your eyes. It is safest to take out your lenses before going to bed, even if they are marked for nighttime usage. Contact lenses limit the quantity of oxygen that enters your corneas, which is necessary for healthy eyes. Sleeping in them limits the flow of oxygen and increases the risk of problems such as ulcers on the cornea.
5. Never Share Contact Lenses
Contact lens sharing poses a serious safety risk. It allows the spread of viruses, germs, and other dangerous organisms from person to person. Never share lenses, even if you have the same prescription.
6. Use the Correct Type of Lens for Your Eyes
There are several kinds of contact lenses, such as monthly, bi-weekly, and daily disposables. Verify that you are wearing the kind that your doctor has prescribed for your particular requirements. While certain varieties need to be cleaned and stored properly, daily disposables should be thrown away after one use.
7. Be Cautious with Water
Refrain from donning contact lenses in any type of water, such as while bathing, swimming, or using a hot tub. Microorganisms present in water have the potential to cause severe eye infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis, an uncommon but dangerous illness that can cause irreversible vision loss. To safeguard your eyes when swimming with contacts, think about getting waterproof swim goggles.
8. Keep Your Lenses Moisturized
One typical problem with contact lens wearers is dry eyes. Make sure your lenses are hydrated by using the doctor-recommended eye drops to avoid pain and possible damage. As not all types of eye drops are compatible with contact lenses, be sure the drops are safe to use with them.
9. Replace Lenses According to the Schedule
There is a replacement plan for each kind of contact lens: daily, biweekly, or monthly. Maintaining this routine is essential to avoiding protein, bacterial, and other debris accumulation as well as lens contamination. Lenses become less effective and carry a higher risk of infection when used beyond their specified period.
10. Watch for Signs of Infection
It's critical to identify the early indicators of an infection in the eyes, which might include:
- Swelling or redness in the eyes
- Unusual ripping or discharge
- Hazy vision
- Anguish or unease
- Light Sensitivity
If you encounter any of these signs, take out your lenses right once and get in touch with an eye doctor.
11. Use Eye Makeup Safely
It's crucial for people who wear contact lenses to apply eye makeup carefully to avoid contamination:
- To prevent putting debris on your contact lenses, always put them in before applying makeup.
- To lower the chance of irritation, use makeup that is non-waterproof and hypoallergenic.
- To avoid smearing makeup onto your glasses, remove your lenses before removing your makeup.
- Every three to six months, change your eyeliner and mascara to prevent bacterial accumulation.
12. Maintain Hydration
Your eyes may get dry and painful when using contact lenses as a result of dehydration. To keep your eyes moisturized and less dry during the day, make sure you drink lots of water.
If you take good care of them, contact lenses may be a handy and efficient approach to correct your eyesight. You may take advantage of the advantages of contact lenses without endangering the health of your eyes by adhering to these safety guidelines and practicing excellent hygiene. Keep in mind that adopting these steps will guarantee your eyes remain secure and healthy for many years to come. Your eyesight is valuable.
