Wearing contact lenses is a wonderful thing. For many people, it greatly increases their quality of life and for some, it improves their self-confidence. However, wearing contact lenses is a privilege, one that places a great deal of responsibility on the contact lens wearer.
Contact lenses are medical devices that require a proper fitting and prescription evaluation annually by your optometrist. Many types of contact lenses exist (soft, gas permeable and multifocal to name a few) and lenses are made of many different materials, in many different parameters. It is important to remember that each contact lens brand is unique. You might even require a different prescription when switching from one contact lens brand to another. Contact lenses are also fit for exclusive use with your eyes, so trying on someone else’s contacts is never recommended.
The performance of a contact lens is influenced by the solution it is stored in. There are many contact lens solutions available, and they are not created equally. Unfortunately, generic or store brand contact lens solutions usually do not provide the same disinfection or comfort of name brand solutions. This is why your optometrist will make a recommendation on which solution is most compatible with your eyes and your contact lens brand. Even though many multipurpose solutions are labeled as “no rub,” in general it is recommended that you go ahead and rub them nightly to remove stubborn bacteria and buildup. After you use your solution, be sure to close the top on the bottle. This prevents liquid from evaporating out and keeps the concentration of your solution at its desired level. Remember: your contact lens case is a potential home for nasty organisms! After you insert your contacts, dump the solution out of the case and let it air dry. Every time you use your case, use fresh solution. About every one to three months, throw out your case (you can coordinate this with the regular disposal of your toothbrush) and replace with a new one.
Contact lenses have a life span. They go through FDA approval for wear up to a certain amount of days. Extending your contact lenses over their recommended disposal schedule exposes your eyes to the risks of very serious eye infections, inflammation, mucous and microbial buildup, and decreased comfort and vision. We are all feeling a tightening of our wallets, but it is simply not worth extending your contact lenses past their time in an effort to save money. If you have a hard time remembering when to throw out your contacts, try making a note on your calendar to throw out your lenses on a certain date (for example, pay day or the first day of the month). Some contact lenses have FDA approval for overnight wear, but these lenses must be worn with caution. Our eyes need a break at night and need time without contacts. Your risk for getting a very painful, potentially blinding eye infection goes up significantly when you sleep in your contacts.
Take the time to properly care for your contacts….this will keep your eyes healthy and happy!
Dr. Carlene Rosado-Martin
May 4, 2009 at 8:44 am
Lenses should be replaced as discussed with the doctor. Lenses schedules are implemented at the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration, as they have studied the lens and approved a wearing schedule that makes wearing of the contact lens compatible with maintaining good eye health and hygiene. Wear longer than recommended schedule puts you at risk for certain eye infections, inflammations and even corneal blindness.