Let’s face it, we have all been there. You just got to your friend’s cabin for a fun weekend getaway when you realize you forgot to pack your contact lens solution! If you didn’t bring your glasses along, you are likely to misuse your contact lenses and put your eyes in danger. When wearing contact lenses, there are five top safety precautions to remember in order to keep your eyes safe and seeing their best.
1. Never sleep in your contact lenses.
According to a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 50% of contact lens users reported having slept overnight at least once in their contact lenses. You can view the study. Sleeping in your contact lenses, even only once, is risky business.
When you sleep in your contact lenses, your eyes can’t get the oxygen they need, which can lead to an overgrowth of blood vessels in your eye. Even worse, your eye could develop an infection from sleeping in your contact lenses. Eye infections can cause corneal ulcers and even permanent vision loss. Not worth the risk!
2. Keep your contacts out of the water.
Did you know that all water is bad for your contact lenses? Even filtered and distilled water can cause more harm than good. Water contains bacteria that can cause serious eye infections. Even getting water in your eye while you wear your contact lenses puts your eyes at risk for contracting an infection. Make sure to remove your contact lenses before swimming and take them out before hopping in the shower to avoid infection.
3. Replace your contact lenses as recommended.
This safety tip is an important one and is often overlooked by patients. The timer on your contact lenses begins as soon as the package is open. That means if you have monthly lenses, those lenses will last from August 1st through August 31st, even if you only wear them for ten days in the whole month. After their recommended use period, the contact lens begins to break down and the lens becomes more prone to infection causing bacteria.
4. Take care with your solution and storing.
The container that stores your contact lenses is dangerous and a big risk factor patients tend to forget about. Your contact lens case needs to be replaced completely every 3 months to make sure it is a sterile place to house your lenses. Make sure you completely replace your solution, with approved contact lens solution, before putting your contacts in the case. This means no topping off your solution and never use water to store your contact lenses.
5. Keep your prescription current.
This tip is important in keeping your eyes seeing their best. Visit your eye doctor as they recommend updating your prescription and have the fit of your contact lenses evaluated. Wearing ill-fitting contact lenses can lead to discomfort and less-than-optimal vision.
Bonus Tip: Have LASIK!
Contact lenses can be dangerous if not treated with the proper care. If you find yourself misusing your contact lenses and putting your eyes in danger, or if you are tired of dealing with your contact lenses, having LASIK can alleviate some of your burden and make your life easier. Forgetting to pack your contact lenses or solution will no longer be an issue for you. To see if you are a candidate for LASIK, schedule your free evaluation.
Find your true north with New Vision.
