VOLUME 21: HOW CAN YOU PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR CONTACT LENSES

Contacts are great for seeing clearly without glasses, but they need some TLC to keep them working. If you don't care for them, your eyes can get grumpy and infected, and your eyes might become blurry. This guide will show you how to keep your contacts clean and your vision sharp!

Why is proper contact lens care necessary?

Your eyes are among the most delicate and sensitive organs in your body. Wearers place contact lenses right on the eye's surface, hence prone to attacks from bacterial infections and dust. Your lenses must always receive special attention so your eyes will be happy and healthy.

Here's why proper contact lens care matters:

• Preventing eye infections: If contact lenses are not adequately cleaned or stored, pathogens may cause severe conjunctivitis, inflammation of the conjunctiva, keratitis, and cornea irritation.
• See all day: Your contact lenses can get cloudy over time. Cleaning them often helps you see super clear.
• Make your lenses last: Look after your contact lenses; they’ll last longer. This will save you money and keep your eyes happy.
• Feel great in your lenses: Clean lenses feel comfy in your eyes. No more itchy or red eyes!

What are the potential consequences of improper contact lens care?

If you don't take good care of your contact lenses, your eyes might get sick. Dirty lenses can be like a home for tiny germs.

Here's what will happen if you don't keep them clean:

• Eye infections: Eye infections are the worst! They happen all the time. Those tiny little bugs, like bacteria and viruses, can love to live on dirty contact lenses. And then they jump to your eye and make a mess of things! Your eye might get red, sore, itchy, puffy, and even hate bright lights.
• Blurry vision: You've got to clean your contacts every day; otherwise, they will get all gunky and blurry.
• Sore eyes: Dirty lenses can make your eyes feel scratchy and uncomfortable.
• Terrible problems: In some cases, if you don’t clean your lenses, your eyes can get hurt. You might need to see a doctor fast.

What are the essential contact lens care routines?

Establishing a consistent contact lens care routine is vital for maintaining eye health. Here are the fundamental steps:

• Clean hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contact lenses, and dry them with a clean towel.
• Wear them right: Follow what your eye doctor says about how long to wear your lenses.
• Fresh stuff: Use a new solution every time you clean your lenses. Don’t use old stuff.
• Scrub and rinse: Clean your lenses as your eye doctor says to. Usually, you rub them gently and rinse them well.
• Lens home: Keep your lens case clean and dry. Get a new one when your eye doctor says to.
• No water: Don’t use water to clean your lenses.
• Check-up time: See your eye doctor regularly to ensure your eyes and lenses are okay.

How do you choose the right contact lens solution?

Selecting the right contact lens solution is essential for maintaining lens hygiene and comfort. Consider the following factors:

• Contact lens type: Different contact lens materials require specific solutions.
• Lens wear schedule: Daily, extended wear, or disposable lenses have different solution needs.
• Individual eye needs: Some people may have dry eyes or sensitivities requiring specific solution formulations.

Hey, your eyes deserve the best, right? So, swing by your eye doctor and chat about contacts. They can tell you what kind would work best for you and even decipher that eye prescription code – those things can be confusing! They'll have some good tips, too, so that you can be a contact pro in no time.

What steps can you take to prevent contact lens complications?

• Skip sleeping with your lenses: Unless your eye doctor gives you the thumbs up for those fancy extended-wear ones, take your contacts out before catching some sleep. Your eyes need air to breathe at night, and lenses block that, making them more prone to infections.
• Water + contacts = not a good mix: Ditch the lenses before hitting the pool, shower, or hot tub. Water can be full of icky things like bacteria and chlorine that can mess with your eyes.
• Have dry eyes got you down? Use special drops for contact lens wearers if your eyes feel dry. Regular ones might not work well with your lenses and blur your vision.
• Should you apply makeup first or contact first? Put your lenses in before applying makeup, and take your makeup off before taking it out. This keeps makeup gunk from getting under the lens and irritating your eyes.
• Don't rebel with your replacement schedule: Replace your contacts as often as your eye doctor says. Wearing them longer than recommended is a recipe for infections. Daily disposable lenses are an excellent option to avoid the whole cleaning thing and keep your eyes happy.

By following these tips and taking good care of your lenses, you can keep your eyes healthy and avoid any contact lens drama. Remember, your eye doctor is always the best person to chat with for personalised contact lens advice.

Keep your eyes healthy and happy!

Taking good care of your contact lenses is super important. If you follow these tips, your eyes will thank you! You’ll be less likely to get sick eyes, and your lenses will last longer. And the best part? You’ll see it all day long!

But remember, everyone's eyes are different. Talking to your eye doctor for tips on caring for contact lenses is always a good idea. And remember to visit them for checkups!

Invest in your vision!

We at Dresden Vision appreciate the need for the right contact lenses and how to care for them. Our team of optometrists can perform a complete eye checkup, assist you in choosing the correct contact lenses, and provide professional contact lens care.

Talk to Contact lens experts at Dresden Vision to schedule an appointment and ensure the health and well-being of your eyes.

Remember, your eye health is precious—Prioritise contact lens care to enjoy clear vision and a comfortable wearing experience.