Are you giving your contact lenses the proper care? Many people do not and this can lead to serious eye problems. Your eyes are pretty important and they are rather delicate, but many people do not take the time to properly care for their contact lenses which can cause health problems for your eyes.
When your contacts are in your eyes, they are being surrounded by proteins and bacteria which must be cleaned off periodically. In order to properly clean your contacts each night ( or whenever your doctor recommends) you need a contact lens travel case along with the appropriate solutions as recommended by your eye doctor. In fact, it’s a good idea to have a couple of travel cases around in case you lose one, just as it is a good idea to have a spare pair of contacts.
Now, I know many lens wearers do not take this cleaning seriously – they wear their contacts for extended periods over what the doctor recommends and haphazardly clean the lenses. But not cleaning your lenses properly can make them very scratchy and uncomfortable. The build up protein can lessen the clarity and affect your vision. In more serious cases, improperly cleaned lenses can cause eye infections and in the worst case blindness.
It’s a wonder why so many people skimp on this step when cleaning your contacts can be so easy! In many cases you can use a one bottle cleaning solution which means only one solution to rub and disinfect the lenses. Even if you have disposable lenses, you might want to remove them in the middle of the wearing period and clean them out for better comfort and vision.
To properly clean your lenses, make sure you wash your hands before taking the lenses out. Don’t use a moisturizing soap because you don’t want the oils on your lenses. Use lint free paper towels and dry your hands. The dryer your finger tips are, the easier it will be to get the lens out. Remove your lenses, one at a time and either rub with solution or place in the case according to the instructions on your cleaning kit. Do the same for the second lens. Remember to let your lenses sit for at least 4 hours, overnight if possible.
Lee Dobbins, a long time eyeglass and contact lens wearer, writes for Eye Care Online where you can learn more about contact lenses.