Contact Lens Safety Tips

Every August, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), along with the Food and Drug Administration and Contact Lens Institute, increase public awareness and promote healthy contact lens wear and care during Contact Lens Health Week. This year August 21-25 was chosen as the week-long effort to educate the public about these topics.

The 2017 campaign theme “healthy habits mean healthy eyes” focuses on the importance of early education for youth about yearly comprehensive eye exams and proper cleaning and storing contact lenses when they are not in use.

Contact lenses are considered medical devices, and are therefore managed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to the CDC, more than 30 million people in the U.S. currently wear contact lens to correct a variety of visual problems and for cosmetic needs. While there are many benefits to the use of contact lenses, there are also complications that can arise from improper wear or disinfection.

Improperly cleaning or storing your contact lenses can lead to infections that may cause permanent harm to your eye health and in some cases even lead to blindness. It is important to know in what instances contact lenses should not be worn, how you should clean them properly, and how to store them until their next wear.

• Never sleep in your contact lenses unless your doctor’s prescription allows
• Keep water away from your contact lenses. Avoid showering, swimming, or going into hot tubs while wearing your contact lenses. Contacts can absorb water and any bacteria it contains, which can lead to infections.
• Always wash your hands before touching your eyes or your contact lenses.
• After removing your contacts, rub and rinse them with the appropriate disinfecting solution – never use tap water or saliva
• Store your lenses in the proper cleaning or storage solution – never in tap water.
• Make sure to clean your contact lens case with solution, dry with a clean tissue, and then store upside down with the lids off to dry. It is best to replace your storing container every three months.
• Do not “top off” your solution, empty the storage container and use fresh solution the next time you take your contacts out.
• Never wear a pair of contact lenses longer than prescribed by your optometrist.
• Make sure to return to your optometrist every year for a comprehensive exam or as often as recommended.

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