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Contact Lens Hygiene

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When you hear the words “good hygiene,” you typically don’t think of contact lenses… but you should! If you wear contact lenses, proper hygiene is just as important as brushing your teeth or washing your hands. Take a few extra minutes in the morning and at night to keep your contacts clean.

Infection prevention
Contact solution plays a key role in your contact lens hygiene; it is infection prevention. One of the most common eye infections is keratitis and can be caused by wearing contacts for too long without taking them out. Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea and can cause:

  • Blurred vision
  • Eye discharge
  • Red eyes
  • And more

Keratitis can also lead to more serious eye complications like ulcers on the cornea or scarring of the cornea which can require a corneal transplant.

Remember to take out your contacts before bed and clean your contacts properly to prevent keratitis.

Cleaning your contacts
Wash and dry your hands before handling your contacts! Bacteria can easily be transferred to your contacts from your hands.

With clean hands, gently rub the contact lens in the palm of your hands with solution, both sides for about 20 seconds (unless solution bottle directions suggest longer). Rubbing gets rid of any build-up that may have accumulated during the day.

Rinse them off with more contact solution and then place them in a clean, dry case.

Contact lens case
Correct care of your case is just as important as care of your lenses. Rinse your case with sterile contact lens solution and let it air dry. Replace your case at least every 3 months, or immediately if it becomes damaged.

For more information, click https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care