Contact lenses go directly on your eye, on your cornea, to be more precise. The eyes are irreplaceable organs that are both very sensitive and fragile; thus, they must be protected with great care. Of course, this level of care must also apply to the handling and maintenance of contact lenses. Wearing damaged or dirty contact lenses could harm the health of your eyes. The expiration date shown on the packaging of your contact lenses is a fundamental fact to consider.
Why do contact lenses have an expiration date?
Like all consumer goods, contact lenses are perishable and are designed to last a certain amount of time. They have a limited shelf life, and after the expiration date, the manufacturer can't guarantee their effectiveness or your safety. Expired contact lenses can present an immediate danger to your eye health.
Contact lenses are very delicate and fragile products. Even if they are immersed in their original saline solution or in the multi-functional maintenance product to prevent them from drying out after a certain period, they degrade, and their elasticity, flexibility and transparency are no longer guaranteed. They then become rough and can potentially irritate your eyes.
Your contact lenses can collect dust and other harmful fine particles because their properties will be modified, particularly their water content, which varies significantly from one model to another, ranging anywhere between 40% to 75% of their weight for soft models.
It bears repeating that respecting expiration dates is one of the most important rules to follow if you want to keep your eyes healthy and continue wearing contact lenses for a long time. Also, don't assume that an unopened package or bottle is safe from deterioration.
By following these simple but essential rules, you can be sure to enjoy the advantages of wearing contact lenses for as long as you wish.
