Contact lenses - Do's and Don'ts
Have regular check-ups
It is important to have regular check-ups to make sure that your contact lenses are still suitable and are not damaging your eyes. Your optometrist will tell you how often you need to have check-ups, as this will depend on factors such as the type of lenses that you wear and how long you wear them for. Wherever you buy your lenses you should check whether the price you are paying includes these check-ups. Your contact lens specification (prescription) will contain an expiry date. You will not be able to buy lenses after that date. It is important that you have a contact lens check-up before your specification runs out if you want to continue to buy lenses.
Wash your hands!
Research by the College of Optometrists suggests that two-fifths of people don’t wash their hands before handling their lenses. To reduce the chance of infection you should always wash and dry your hands before touching your eyes or your contact lenses. Use liquid soap rather than a bar of soap. If you are at home you should try to use your own towel. If you are not at home you should dry your hands with an air dryer or paper towel wherever possible.
Only use the recommended solutions
If you have reusable lenses, clean and store them using the solutions recommended by your contact lens practitioner, and throw away solutions that are past their sell by or discard by date. Never rinse or store your lenses in tap water as this can cause a very serious eye infection. And don’t forget your contact lens case. Make sure that you clean the case every day – by rinsing it with fresh contact lens solution and letting it dry – and replace it as recommended by your contact lens practitioner.
If you drop your lens- make sure you clean it with your recommended solution before putting it in your eye. Never lick your lenses before inserting them! This is unhygienic and can cause eye infections.
Don’t leave your lenses in too long
Don’t leave your lenses in longer than advised by your optometrist. Although some contact lenses have been designed to wear overnight, research has shown that sleeping in contact lenses increases the risk of infection, including corneal ulcers. Our advice is to remove your lenses before you go to bed. If your optometrist has told you that you can sleep in your contact lenses, it is important that you know what complications may develop and how to look out for them. You must also be able to take your lenses out in an emergency and we recommend you have some back-up glasses in case you cannot wear your contact lenses.
What to do if your lens comes off the front of your eye
Sometimes, if you accidentally rub your eyes, for example, your lens can move from the front of your eye and become lodged under your eyelid or another part of your eyeball. When this happens attempt to carefully slide the lens back onto your cornea or remove the lens. If you can locate the lens you can try moving it back into place (or to the corner of your eye, where you can remove it more easily) by gently massaging your closed eyelid. If you are unable to do this, contact your optometrist for advice. Contact lenses can’t get lost behind the eye.
Avoid tap water
You should avoid showering while wearing your contact lenses. Water may contain a number of nasty microbes including acanthamoeba, which can cause a very painful infection and permanently damage your eyesight. Swimming in your contact lenses is also not recommended. Instead, wear swimming goggles which you can have made to your prescription – ask your optometrist.
Wearing makeup with contact lenses
Put your lenses in before you apply your make up and remove your lenses before you take your make up off. This will help to avoid getting makeup behind your contact lenses. Use water soluble, rather than waterproof, eye makeup as this will dissolve if it gets into your eyes. If you wear eyeliner, apply it along the outer edge of your eyelid, not along the wet part that touches your eyeball.
Have your glasses handy
It is important to have back-up glasses – in case you have a problem with your contact lenses or to give your eyes a rest.
