10/01/2014
7 Things Every Contact Lens Wearer Should Know.....
I bet you can’t imagine life without your contact lenses. And since we’ve come to rely on them so much, it’s even more important to take good care of them in order to protect your eyes from any potential complications.
Whether you are new to wearing contact lenses or have been wearing them for a while, these 7 tips will ensure that you continue to have crisp, clear vision, better eye health and maximum comfort. Always follow the advice of your optometrist and contact them if you have any concerns.
1. Wash Your Hands
Always wash your hands thoroughly before you put your lenses in or take them out. Lenses can cling to wet hands, so dry your hands well with a lint-free towel. If you want to use a moisturiser, wait until after you’ve put in your lenses. The residue from lotions can stick to them.
2. Water and Lenses Don’t Mix
If you’re out of contact lens solution, you might be tempted to rinse your lenses with tap water but please don’t do it! Water has microbes that can cause serious eye infections. And never put your lenses into your mouth or use saliva to wet them.
3. How Long Can I Wear My Lenses?
Replace your lenses as often as your optometrist suggests. When you wear lenses for more days than you should, or when you sleep in lenses that aren’t made for overnight wear, you raise your risk of eye infections.
4. When Your Lenses Hurt
A lens might feel uncomfortable if there’s something on or under it, or if it’s inside out. Take the lens out and rinse it with rewetting drops or your multipurpose solution. Check to see if it’s inside out – think ‘bowl’ for the correct way and ‘saucer’ for the incorrect way. If problems persist, leave your contact lenses out and see your optometrist as soon as you can.
5. Contact Lenses and Sports
Contact lenses are great for most sports and activities. They don’t fog up like glasses and they give you better peripheral vision. If you swim, make sure you wear watertight goggles. You can get an eye infection from water, and your lenses can be hard to take out if they get wet. Use rewetting drops to loosen them and then clean and disinfect them thoroughly afterward.
6. Allergy Sufferers
If you suffer from allergies, wearing contacts can make your symptoms worse. Wear glasses if your symptoms are really bad, and if you can’t part from your contacts be sure to clean them thoroughly, replace lenses more often and use plenty of rewetting drops like Blink® Contacts.
7. Computer Strain And Dry Eyes
Keep your rewetting drops or eye lubricants handy, especially if you work on a computer in an air conditioned environment. Not only are dry lenses uncomfortable and difficult to see out of, but they could potentially scratch your eye. Use those drops as often as you need – just ensure that they’re labelled, ‘Suitable for contact lenses
