Your contact lenses need regular care to avoid discomfort, minimize infection risk, and keep your eyes healthy! It's essential to clean your contact lenses with the cleaning solution prescribed by your optometrist. Here are four habits to adopt every day for optimal contact lens care.
Priority No. 1: Good Hygiene
It's a well-known fact that regular handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of bacteria and infections. This is especially true when it comes to wearing contact lenses. As you bring your finger directly to your eye, the chances of irritating it are high. So, it's vital to use plenty of soap (ideally, a mild one that doesn't contain moisturizers).
After soaping your hands, rinse them thoroughly under running water. Avoid handling your contacts with your fingernails, as bacteria can be lodged under them, even after washing your hands. You also run the risk of tearing the lens. This first and most often neglected step is the most important.
The importance of establishing a routine
Get into the habit of always handling the same lens first (right or left eye) to avoid confusing the two. This applies both when removing contact lenses and when inserting them. Remove the lens from its container with the tip of your finger (rounded side on your finger), or pour the lens and solution into the palm of your hand. Examining your contacts for any particles, deposits, or tears is important during this step. If the lens feels dry or your vision is blurred once you've put it in, you can use artificial tears to lubricate your eyes. Sometimes, discomfort can be caused by a contact lens placed inside-out on your eye. In this case, remove the contact and make sure you put it back the right way.
Always clean your contact lenses after removal
During the day, you're exposed to many irritants: if it's true for your skin, it's also true for your contact lenses. If you don't wear disposable lenses, we recommend that you clean them immediately after removal.
But when exactly should you take them out?
To save time, you may have already told yourself that you could wear them for "a few more days." The longer you keep them in, the greater the risk of suffering from corneal ulcers, keratitis, burning eyes or other dry eye symptoms, making it very difficult, if not impossible, to wear contact lenses in the long term.
The lifespan of contact lenses depends on the material used. It is, therefore, important to respect the prescribed wear time to ensure the health of your eyes. In the case of daily disposables, even if you've only worn your lenses for 3 hours a day, you must remove and dispose of them, as they are a one-time wear. The same principle applies to monthly wear: we advise you to write the opening date of your lenses on your case and to respect the 30-day time limit, even if you've only worn them a few days during the month. Never wash the case or lens with tap water when removing your lenses. Tap water can contain impurities and bacteria. Always use your rinsing solution.
The right way to use rinse solution
Even if you use your contacts only occasionally, you must change the solution in your container. A stagnant solution is the perfect place for bacteria to multiply. You must change it daily, even if you don't use your lenses.
As for your storage case, rinse it with your prescribed solution to avoid a film forming at the bottom, which could lead to infection. It's also advisable to change the case, preferably every 3 months.
Of course, a contact lens fitting is necessary to determine, among other things, which product is right for you. This will be carried out during your regular visit to your optometrist.
The optometrist will assess a number of factors, such as eye hydration, curvature, diameter and distance-adjusted prescription, to optimize the choice of contact lenses.
To ensure good ocular health, it's essential to alternate wearing contact lenses with your glasses.
Consult your IRIS eye care professionals for advice on all the products you need to experience better vision.
