4 Essential Tips For Contact Lens Wearerse

Contact Lens Wearers : Keeping your eyes healthy and getting the maximum life out of your contact lenses is not as difficult as you may think.

Even older children and young teens can learn to care for their eyes and contacts by following these ten simple tips.

Tip 1 Clean Your Hands

Starting with clean hands whenever you handle your contacts or touch your eyes will help reduce the possibility of introducing bacteria or other contaminants to the eyes. Wash your hands under warm water and liberally apply soap.

Scrub the hands well and rinse thoroughly before putting your contacts in or taking them out. Never use antibacterial lotions, hand lotions or other skin products after washing your hands and before working with your contacts.

Tip 2 Only Use The Right Products

Many people that have had contacts in the past have a variety of different solutions and cleaning products for contacts around the house.

It is important not to assume that you can use products interchangeably, especially if you are changing brands or types of contacts.

Using the wrong product is not likely to rapidly damage your contacts but it will result in poor cleaning, possibility of bacteria or protein build up on the contact itself.

Tip 3 Never Clean Contacts With Water

Tap water contains many different types of chemicals including chlorine and fluoride.

In addition many other chemicals may be present in tap water that can weaken contacts, create a film on the lens or result in different types of eye irritations, especially in those that have any sensitivity to these products.

Even bottled water or spring water may have natural salts and minerals that can cause damage to contacts. One of the worst things to clean your contacts with is saliva. You may see contact lens wearers using saliva to moisten their contacts but this should only be done if there is absolutely nothing else to use.

A small travel size bottle of saline solution can easily be carried in a purse, briefcase, backpack or a coat pocket, ideal for these types of emergency situations.

Tip 4 Wash Your Contact Lens Case And Replace As Required

Typically when you open your supply of contact lenses you will find that a new disposable contact storage case is provided based on the replacement schedule and the number of weeks, months or quarters of prescriptions that you have ordered.

It is important not to get too attached to the case and to toss it out when you open your new prescription of contacts.

The cases can become havens for bacteria and other types of problematic organisms that can trigger serious eye infections and complications for some contact lens wearers. Between prescriptions routinely wash your contact lens case with lens solution and fill with disinfectant. Change the disinfectant solution daily if you are using this product, and change out any multipurpose solutions you may be using on a daily basis as well.

The cases only hold a very small amount of solution and it is far more sanitary and safe to throw it away, clean the case and start fresh each day.

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