Your Guide to Proper Contact Lens Care and Wear
If you’ve been wearing glasses for most of your life, contact lenses can be a liberating alternative that can help boost your confidence. They can give you a wider field of vision as well as enhance your natural appearance. They’re also a great choice if you don’t want to continually fuss around with glasses throughout a busy day. However, the great convenience they provide is paired with the need for diligence when it comes to maintaining them in good condition. You need to know how to properly handle, clean, and wear them to make sure you can keep your eyes comfortable and free from health complications.
Get professional guidance before purchasing any contact lenses
Before you can even buy a pair of lenses, make sure you schedule a visit to a Richmond optometrist. A professional needs to give you a comprehensive eye exam to determine if you’re suitable to wear contact lenses. Getting a prescription is necessary for any corrective eyewear, but especially if you want to make sure that you will be fitted for the right lenses. Wearing poorly fitting contacts can possibly cause you to suffer from infections, corneal abrasions, and other eye problems.
Always clean your hands before handling contact lenses
You don’t want to get any nasty eye infections, so always make sure that you wash your hands with mild soap and water then dry them with a lint-free towel before you handle your new contacts. It’s a simple step, but it’s absolutely essential so you can minimise the risk of transferring any debris or, worse, bacteria, to your eyes.
Use a gentle touch when inserting contact lenses
Carefully take the lens and place it right side out on the tip of your index finger. It should look like a tiny, clear bowl once it’s on your finger. Then, with your middle finger, pull down your lower eyelid while using your other hand to pull up your upper eyelid. Very gently, position the lens at the centre of your eye before slowly releasing your eyelids and blinking. If it feels a bit misaligned, close your eyes and lightly massage your closed lids for a few seconds, then open your eyes again and check if the lens is now properly in place. If it still feels uncomfortable, then remove it, rinse it with some solution, and try inserting it again until it feels like it’s barely there. That would let you know that you inserted the lens properly.
Be patient when removing your contact lenses
Wash your hands, then dry them thoroughly before looking up and pulling down your lower eyelid. Next, gently slide the contact lens down to the white part of your eye, then pinch the lens between your index finger and thumb and lift to remove it. Sometimes, the lens may have dried out, and it would be difficult to grab hold of it, so apply some eye drops first before making the attempt to remove the lens. This process can take you multiple tries, especially when you’re still getting used to wearing contacts, but just relax, and you will soon be able to remove your lens on the first try once you’ve done it enough times.
Make sure to clean and disinfect your contact lenses after every use
After you’ve removed your contacts, place them on your palm and apply a few drops of eye-care solution, then gently rub the lenses with your index finger for a few seconds to get rid of any debris and build-up. Rinse the lenses with some more of the solution before placing them in a clean lens case filled with fresh solution. Never top off any existing solution in a lens case or reuse an old one. Make a note to replace your case every three months so you can prevent the build-up of bacteria.
Stick to the prescribed wearing schedule of your lenses
Do not over-wear your lenses or go beyond the wearing schedule recommended by your eye care professional. Doing so may lead to oxygen deprivation or corneal hypoxia, dryness, and an increased risk of eye infection. Avoid wearing your contacts in smoky or dusty environments, and always remove them before going swimming or showering so you can prevent them from getting exposed to potentially contaminated water. Don’t go to sleep wearing your lenses if they’re not specifically made to be worn overnight, as well.
Once you’re ready to make the shift from glasses to contact lenses, schedule a consultation with Insightful Eyecare and let our experts assist you with your eyewear needs.