Contact Lens Care 101: Best Practices for Healthy and Comfortable Eyes

Contact lens care is a critical aspect of maintaining optimal eye health. As a contact lens wearer, it's essential to understand the importance of proper care, and the best practices that promote healthy and comfortable eyes.

Understanding Contact Lens Care

The simple act of inserting a foreign object into your eye, such as a contact lens, can potentially expose your eyes to a host of problems if not done correctly.

Firstly, improper contact lens care can lead to eye infections. Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms can adhere to your lenses if they're not cleaned properly, causing infections that could impair your vision.  Secondly, poor contact lens care can also lead to corneal damage such as scratches and ulcers. Lastly, wearing your contacts for too long or sleeping in them can deprive your corneas of oxygen, leading to discomfort and other serious eye issues.

By taking the necessary steps to maintain your lenses, you can help safeguard your eyes from potential problems and ensure that your lenses provide the vision correction you need without causing discomfort or harm.

The Best Practices for Healthy and Comfortable Eyes

The fundamental steps of contact lens care include cleaning, rinsing, and disinfecting your lenses, replacing them regularly, and proper handling procedures.

Cleaning your contact lenses involves removing any debris or deposits that may accumulate on them throughout the day. You should clean your lenses immediately after removing them by gently rubbing them with a few drops of lens solution in the palm of your hand. Rinsing your lenses helps to remove the loosened debris and any remaining solution.

Disinfection is equally crucial in contact lens care. After cleaning and rinsing your lenses, you should place them in a clean lens case filled with fresh disinfecting solution and leave them to soak for the recommended amount of time.

The lifespan of your contact lenses depends on the type you use. Daily disposables should be discarded after one use, while extended wear lenses need to be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Additionally, do not sleep in your contact lenses unless they're designed for overnight wear. Avoid wearing your lenses while swimming or showering, and not using tap water to clean your lenses or lens case.

Lastly, keep your eyes hydrated. Contact lenses can cause your eyes to dry out. Consider using lubricating eye drops designed for contact lens wearers if needed. 

The Importance of Regular Eye Exams

Regular eye exams play a critical role in contact lens care. They allow your eye doctor to assess the health of your eyes, check your vision, and ensure that your contact lenses are fitting correctly and comfortably.

Eye exams also offer an opportunity to discuss any issues or discomfort you may be experiencing with your lenses. Your optometrist will provide advice, suggest solutions, or recommend a different type or brand of contact lenses if necessary.

Changes in vision can occur without you realizing it, and wearing the wrong prescription can cause discomfort. Regular eye exams help to ensure that your contact lenses are providing the correct vision correction.

When to Consult an Optometrist

While proper contact lens care can help prevent many issues, it's important to know when to consult your optometrist. Any pain, discomfort, redness, or vision changes that aren't resolved by removing and cleaning your lenses should be evaluated by an eye care professional.

Additionally, if you experience symptoms such as light sensitivity, discharge from the eye, or a feeling of something stuck in your eye, you should seek immediate medical attention from your optometrist. These could be signs of a serious eye infection or other condition that requires prompt treatment.

Ensure Healthier Vision with Proper Contact Lens Care Today

Proper contact lens care is essential for maintaining healthy and comfortable eyes. Understanding the importance of lens care, adhering to the best practices, having regular eye exams, and knowing when to consult your optometrist are all critical aspects of this care.

By taking responsibility for your contact lens care, you can envision a future with healthier eyes, more comfortable lens wear, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you're doing everything possible to protect your vision.

To learn more about contact lens care and the best practices for healthy and comfortable eyes, visit Williamsburg Eye Care in our Williamsburg, Virginia office. We are committed to providing the highest quality of eye care in both services and products. Please call (757) 564-1907 to schedule an  appointment today.