CONTACT LENS HYGIENE
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses – but only if used properly! In one study reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 80% of contact lens wearers engage in preventable behaviors that increase the risk of eye infections. Are you in the 20% that practice ideal contact lens handling? Here are some questions to re-evaluate our contact lens hygiene:
1. Do you ever sleep in your contacts? When you sleep in contact lenses, bacteria get trapped in a warm, moist environment. Your cornea also gets stressed trying to get oxygen through both the contact lens and your eyelid – not an easy task! This combination of factors increases the risk of infection and is one of the most common causes of corneal ulcers.
2. Are your contacts ever exposed to water? Most sources of water we encounter are not sterile. This includes the ocean, a pool, and even the tap water we shower in! Water in these sources can be contaminated with bacteria that can get trapped under the contact lens, leading to infection.
3. How often do you replace your contact lenses? Contact lenses are FDA-approved medical devices with strict guidelines on approved use. Following the replacement schedule (i.e. daily, biweekly, monthly, etc.) is critical for on-label safety.
4. How is your contact lens case hygiene? Often overlooked, replacement of your contact lens case for reusable contact lenses is just as important as the rest of your regimen. The easiest way to remember is to replace all contact lens materials each time you finish your bottle of multi-purpose solution – that way, you don’t need to keep track of the replacement schedule! In between uses, make sure to empty the case of all excess solution, then let it air dry uncapped. Avoid just “topping off” the solution each day, as germs can accumulate in the case!
How did you do? We hope to see the percentage of proper contact lens hygiene users increase. That said, if you ever have any contact lens-related redness, vision changes, or irritation, discontinue contact lens wear immediately and call Atlantic Eye to be seen promptly.
Alan Tsai, OD, FAAO
Optometry
Atlantic Eye
If you are interested in scheduling an eye exam with one of our award-winning physicians, please call us at 732-222-7373 or use our convenient online appointment form.