The Do’s and Don’ts of Wearing Contact Lenses

If you would rather be caught dead than seen in public with your glasses on then, you are not alone. In fact, nearly 30 million Americans wear contact lenses. Even if you have been wearing contact lenses for decades, you still may be making some common everyday mistakes. These are putting you at a higher risk of getting an eye infection or even scratching your cornea. Here are a few simples do’s and don’t of wearing contact lenses.

Do Get New Ones

When was the last time you replaced your contact lenses? Depending on the type of contact lens you have, you should replace them as early as every day (for dailies) or every three months on average for regular lenses. Getting new contact lenses will help shield your eyes from harmful bacteria and infection. It will also make sure that you see as clearly as possible.

Don’t Sleep In Them

You may think that if you sleep in your contact lenses, you are saving yourself a step or two both morning and night. And although you won’t have to worry about taking them out and putting them back in, contact lenses weren’t made to be slept in. In fact, many patients who sleep in their contact lenses on a regular basis can develop things like corneal ulcers or excessive dry eye. Make sure that you are taking your contacts out every night.

Do Clean Them Every Night

Make sure that you are not only taking them out every night but that you are cleaning them as well. To clean your contacts, use one of the solutions that we recommend at Longwood Eye & LASIK Center and soak them overnight— this will help to get off any dirt or debris on them.

Taking care of your contact lenses don’t have to be a lot of work— especially if you get in the good habit of doing so now. If you need to schedule your next eye exam, contact one of our Longwood Eye & LASIK Center offices today! Call our office at (800) 676-5050 to schedule an appointment.