Contact Lenses Usage
Today, millions of people wear contact lenses. They are easy to wear, and you can easily put your sunglasses on without worrying will you be able to see.
They are ideal to see without distraction, and are also great for athletes. But, you need to take good care of them, since if you don’t – you may end up with severe eye infections.
People often make mistakes while wearing them. Some are from pure negligence, and some are from lack of know – how.
These are the most common mistakes people usually make.
You Wear Them Too Long
Sometimes you forgot you are wearing them, and you go to bed without taking them off.
Big mistake.
If you leave them on too long, they will dry up to the point of gluing themselves to your eyeballs. And then, going to an ophthalmologist is your only option.
If this happens, don’t try to take them out by yourself, as you may tear a layer of your eye, and then you’ll see what real pain is.
Don’t do this on your own and seek medical help instead.
Don’t Sleep With Them
If you sleep with them, your eyes will hurt. During the day, oxygen can reach to your open eyes, but it can’t get in when your eye lids are closed.
When your eyes are opened, you lubricate eyes and contacts every time you blink.
What happens when you fall asleep with them? The contacts are trapped behind your closed eyes, and could become a potential breeding ground for bacteria growth.
Do you want this to happen?
Of course not.
Take the lenses off before going to bed!
What might happen?
A central corneal ulcer can progress fairly quickly over 24 hours and can have potentially devastating consequences on a person’s vision.
The more virulent type of organisms that invade the cornea – thrive in a dark, moist, low oxygen tension environment.
These are precisely the conditions that occur on the ocular surface when we sleep.
The lens may allow micro-organisms to adhere to the lens, therefore increasing the likelihood of infection.
Yes, lenses are much more convenient than eyeglasses, but the risk is also higher. You can’t wear them all the time, and if you don’t clean and take care for them correctly, you’re more likely to get eye infection.
The most common eye infection is keratitis – an infection of the cornea, the clear outer covering of the eye. Viruses, bacteria and fungi are rare, but serious parasites that may cause keratitis.
So, be careful and take them out before sleep!
Please…
You Are Not Replacing Them Often
This is another big mistake. Everything has its shelf life, so does lenses. Just because your contact lenses seem like they are in good shape – it doesn’t mean they are.
You should always follow replacement schedules as prescribed by your doctor. Contact lenses are just like your underwear, you would never reuse an old dirty pair – would you?
As soon you feel they are irritating you – throw them away and buy a new pair.
It is simple as that!
Are You Washing Your Hands Before Putting Lenses On
If you don’t have a habit of washing your hands before putting on lenses, you are gonna put your eyes in a big trouble.
Even clean hands carry some germs, but washing will make sure you get less bacteria in your eyes than usual.
Wash your hands please!
Dry Your Hands Before Handling Lenses
If you don’t dry well your hands before putting lenses on, you’ll have a trouble putting them into your eyes. Wet hands are slippery for lenses, and you eye ball is wet to, so it will be difficult for you to put them on.
Contacts stick to your eye because they’re attracted to the moisture in your eye.
Remember, dry hands – wet lenses – wet eyes.
Using A Tap Water To Clean Lenses
This is another mistake most people make. Tap water isn’t bacteria-free, and you may easily transfer them directly into your eye.
Rinsing with tap water puts you at higher risk for developing Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is a serious eye infection, causing permanent visual impairment or blindness.
Therefore, you should think twice before using tap water to clean your lenses.
Wearing Contacts In A Pool
Water always poses a risk for your eyes, even if you don’t use lenses.
Whatever you do – take your contacts out before getting in a pool or hot tub, or you could pick up nasty microorganisms into your eyes, as lenses are like little sponges – they soak up everything within.
We know, swimming with blurry vision isn’t pleasurable at all, and if you want to swim with contacts, at least wear pool glasses for protection.
Showering With Contacts
Have you noticed when showering with contacts, you get blurry vision because lenses are dry and sticking for your eye lids?
Always remember, tap water might be clean enough to rinse your body, but you don’t want the bacteria within to be transferred to your eyes in no way.
Take them off before showering!
Are You Using The Same Lens Case
It is recommended to change lens cases more often. Do it every three months to keep bacteria from building up and creating a layer of microorganisms called bio-film.
And when it forms, it helps bacteria to hide from the disinfectant usually found in contact lens solution.
Whatever you do – change lens cases more often and avoid possible bacteria infections.
Using The Right Solution
Contact lens solutions are different and are not all created equally. Not every lens solution is good for your lenses or your eyes either.
Different types of contact lens solutions contain different preservatives, and there are times when you may be allergic to some of them.
I’m telling you this, because I wear lenses and I’ve tried new solution which gave me red eyes and inflammation.
If you notice something like this is happening to you – stop using the solution and get the one more suitable for your eyes and lenses.
Proper Cleaning
This is vital if you want to prolong the life and quality of your lenses. After all, they are not so cheap.
At the end of the day, it’s important to clean your lenses from any debris that may have built up during the day. After washing your hands, rub each contact lens between your fingers and palm with a bit of fresh contact solution.
Pour out the old solution form the lens cases, add a fresh one and put the contact lenses in.
Please make this as a habit – clean hands – clean lenses – fresh solution.
Also, make sure to read the expiry date on the lens solution, as many has expiry dates 6 months after opening.
And don’t touch the tip of the bottle with the solution if you want to avoid bacteria contamination!
Annual Exam
Are you regular here or you are skipping those?
Don’t skip annual exams as you may discover something that need to be cured, or you have another eye dioptre, needed to be corrected.
Most patients wait until they have a problem with their vision – but early detection is the main key to ensure optimal eye health.
Using Old Eye Drops
Contact lenses can dry out eyes, but it doesn’t mean you should pick up the first bottle of eye drops you will find in a pharmacy.
There are things in the regular eye drops that are just not made to be used with contact lenses and might have chemicals that could irritate your eyes and lower the quality of your lenses.
Check before you buy!
Double Pair For Holidays
Wherever you go, it is good if you keep one spare pair with you. Why? Because you may lose one lens, or you may tear it with your nails – you know – things might happen.
It is always better to stay on a safe side.
Whatever you do, and if you find yourselves making these mistakes – it is time to correct them.
Don’t you think so?
Keep you eyes and lenses in good condition – always!
The post Do You Make These Contact Lenses Mistakes And How To Avoid Them appeared first on 1body1health.