Contact lenses
Tips for Contact Lens Wearers
What every contact lens wearer needs to know.
Tips for contact lens wearers
Good habits, every time
When you first got your prescription, you probably went through a mini-course in hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them with a clean, lint-free cloth or paper towel. Take the lens out carefully, rub it gently in your hand with some solution to get the debris off, and put it in a case filled with fresh solution.
Contact lenses are medical devices, so it is worth following every step every time. Here is a short list of what to do and what not to do.
Do and don't
The do's and don'ts of contact lens wear
Do
- Have regular check-ups, as your optometrist advises.
- Wash and dry your hands before you handle your lenses.
- Rub, rinse and store your lenses in the recommended solution before and after each use. Daily lenses are thrown away after each use.
- Clean the lens case with solution, wipe it with a clean tissue and let it air dry after each use.
- Always put the right lens in first, so you never mix them up.
- Check that the lens is not inside out before you put it in.
- Handle your lenses carefully, so you do not damage them.
- Put your lenses in before you put on make-up, and take them out before you remove it.
- Keep your eyes closed when you use hairspray or other aerosols.
- Replace your lenses as often as your optometrist advises, and throw away lenses and solutions that are past their expiry date.
- Wear only the lenses your optometrist specified, and keep strictly to your wearing schedule and replacement frequency.
- Keep an adequate supply of replacement lenses, or a spare pair.
- Keep an up-to-date pair of glasses for when you need to take your lenses out.
Don't
- Use tap water, or any other water, on your lenses or your lens case.
- Wet your lenses with saliva.
- Put a lens in your eye if it has fallen on the floor or another surface, without cleaning it again.
- Put in a lens that is dirty, dusty or damaged.
- Keep wearing your lenses if your eyes don't feel good, look good or see well.
- Re-use or top up your solution. Throw it away and use fresh solution each time you store your lenses.
- Decant solution into smaller containers.
- Wear lenses that have been left in the case for more than seven days without cleaning and storing them in fresh solution.
- Sleep in your lenses, unless your optometrist has specifically advised it.
- Wear any lens if you are feeling unwell.
- Use your lenses for swimming, hot tubs or water sports, unless you wear goggles.
- Wear your lenses in the shower, unless you keep your eyes firmly closed.
- Switch the solution you use, unless your optometrist advises it.
- Use any eye drops without your optometrist's advice.
- Share contact lenses, or wear any lens your optometrist did not specify.
When in doubt, take them out. If your eyes look red or irritated, feel uncomfortable or do not see clearly, take your lenses out. Your eyes should look clear and white, feel comfortable and see well.
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