Proper Cleaning and Handling for Your Contact Lenses

In our common day-to-day activities, we tend to use water as a cleaning agent — cleaning veggies for cooking, showering after a workout, washing our hands after playing outside, etc. However, this common cleaning practice is not created equal when it comes to cleaning and handling your contact lenses. 

While water is typically clean and safe to drink, it can be damaging to your contact lenses and to your eyes. Millions of tiny microbes can reside in water, invisible to the naked eye. These microbes can live and survive within the water for a long time and can transfer to your eye and contact lenses if not handled properly, leading to infection. Additionally, water can morph the shape of your contact lenses, making them uncomfortable to wear. This can also cause damage to your cornea. 

Proper Contact Lens Hygiene 

• Remove makeup or wash your face of any possible irritants (sweat, sunscreen, etc.) before putting your contacts in.  
• Before putting your contact lenses in or removing them, always wash your hands with mild soap, paying close attention to the fingertips. Dry your hands with a clean towel and avoid touching anything else before handling your contact lenses or touching your eyes.
• Place contact lenses on your fingertip. Ensure that the lens is facing the correct direction according to your personalized lens. Insert onto the eye. 
• After inserting, empty all of the solution from your contacts case and rinse with fresh solution. Avoid washing your case with water. 
• Replace your case every 3 months. 
• As much as possible, avoid swimming, showering, bathing, or sleeping with contact lenses in. 
• Apply makeup after inserting your lens, remove makeup prior to removing your contacts. 
• When removing your lenses, with clean hands, place the lens in the palm of your hand. Apply proper contact solution to your hand and lens. Rub the lens with contact solution. Place overnight in a clean contact lens case filled with fresh contact solution. 
• Do not store contacts in anything other than a clean contact lens case. 
• Saline, rewetting drops, or other eye drops are not disinfecting solutions for storing your contact lenses. 
• To maintain sterility, never re-use or transfer old solution. 
• See your eye doctor for regular exams and consult your doctor with any problems. 

Our trained staff will work with you to provide you with proper corrective lenses and education on how to handle your lens, diagnose any vision problems, and suggest the best treatment options and corrective measures for your eyes. Schedule an appointment or visit us today!