6 Tips If You’re New to Using Contact Lenses
Have you recently decided to start wearing contact lenses? It’s estimated that 45 million people in the United States wear contacts.
With the ability to provide greater visual freedom, it’s no surprise why. If it’s your first time wearing contact lenses instead of glasses, you may be concerned about whether you are using them correctly.
It’s true that improper contact use can result in discomfort, damage to your contacts, and even potential harm to your eyes. However, with a few simple tips, you can enjoy the many benefits of vision made clear by contacts.
Keep reading to learn six tips if you’re new to using contact lenses!
1. Let Your Eye Doctor Show You How to Insert and Remove Them
Your eye doctor is there to help you in any way they can and make the transition to contact lenses as easy as possible. It is normal to be a little nervous or uncertain about putting your contacts in or taking them out for the first time.
Allow our eye care professionals to make you comfortable and ease the transition from glasses to contact lenses. During your contact lens fitting appointment, your eye doctor will demonstrate how to properly insert and remove your contacts.
Follow along closely and ask any questions that you may have. Then, be sure to follow their recommendations each and every time you choose to wear your contacts.
2. Practice Proper Hygiene
If you wear glasses, you’re used to having to keep them clean, but keeping your contact lenses clean is even more critical. This is because they come in direct contact with your eyes.
Without proper hygiene, your eyes will be more susceptible to irritation and even infection. Your eye doctor will explain how to keep your contacts clean and your eyes healthy.
Always wash your hands with a non-moisturizing soap and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching your contacts or eyes. Never clean your contact lenses with water. Instead, use a contact solution recommended by your doctor.
If you use extended-wear contacts, your lens case is integral to keeping them clean. Your contacts are only as clean as your case.
After inserting your contact lenses, pour out any solution left over in the case, wash it out with fresh contact lens solution, and leave it out to dry. As a rule of thumb, your should replace your case every three months.
3. Remove Your Contact Lenses before Sleeping
Falling asleep with your contacts in can be tempting when you’re tired and comfortable. However, this is never a good idea.
Sleeping with your contact lenses in can put you at risk of developing an infection in your corneas. This is because they block oxygen from reaching your eyes. They can even scratch your eyes as you sleep.
Before you make yourself comfortable, make it a routine to remove your contacts each night or whenever you’d like to take a nap.
4. Don’t Wear Your Contacts for Too Long
Anyone who has left their contacts in for a long day knows how they can make your eyes start to feel dry and uncomfortable. Experts recommend wearing your contacts for no longer than about eight to twelve hours maximum a day. Remember that your eyes need regular breaks from contacts!
It is also important to only wear contacts for as long as they are intended. While they may look like they are still in good shape at the end of the day, daily contacts are not meant to be worn for longer than a day.
Monthly contacts should be disposed of after thirty days. Wear them any longer, and you are putting the health of your eyes at risk.
5. Avoid Touching Your Eyes Unnecessarily
It may take you a few hours or days, to get used to the sensation of wearing contacts. While it may feel reflexive, it is essential that you avoid touching or rubbing your eyes while wearing contacts.
Touching your eyes can create a never-ending cycle. You irritate your eyes by rubbing them, which makes you want to rub them even more.
Only touch your eyes when inserting or removing your contacts, and only after thoroughly washing your hands.
6. Don’t Swim While Wearing Contacts
Contact lenses and swimming don’t mix. Whether you are going for a dip in a pool, lake, ocean, or any other body of water, they can come in contact with all sorts of irritants, from chemicals to bacteria. Yes, even chlorine-treated water can still contain bacteria!
Even if you don’t plan on going underwater, it’s recommended that you remove your contacts before going near the water. Something as little as a few droplets of water from a splash can pose a risk to your eyes.
The same is true of hot tubs, baths, and showers. Removing your contacts before swimming helps to keep your eyes safe from infection.
Follow these tips, and soon you won’t be able to imagine life without contact lenses.
Do you have any questions about contacts, or would you like to schedule a contact-fitting? Schedule an appointment at Complete EyeCare West in Columbus, OH, today!
