Contact lens wearers need to step up to the plate when it comes to contact lens hygiene! A Study done by the The CDC found 99% of contact lens wearers reported at least one bad habit and a third of them had eye pain or symptoms! These numbers are through the roof!
When it comes to contact lens hygiene we were all taught the basics like changing out our contact case every 3 months, not sleeping in them, and taking them out before we hit the pool, but do we actually take care of our lenses like we should?
It is shown that contact lens wearers are 10 more times likely to get an eye infection than people who do not wear contacts. With that being said, contact lens wearers should consider the following when it comes to contact lens hygiene.
1 Change out your lenses on time
Many people get in the habit of wearing their contact lenses past the replacement due date and unfortunately the risks are far more dangerous than one would think. Take Shane as a good example, a 48 year old women who wears contact lenses, had the consequences of this nightmare come to a reality when she wore her contact lens past the replacement date. This caused her to have a scratched cornea and ultimately end up with an ulcer on her eye and severe scarring. In addition, it caused an eye infection called Pseudomonas keratitis, which can cause inflammation, swollen/red eyes, and poor vision among many other things. Mark your calendar and even set a reminder to toss those lenses when its time, contact lens hygiene is a must!
2 Avoid using tap water
Using tap water on your contact lenses can cause bacteria to grow and even harbor parasites that feed on your eye! A terrifying story of a college student who suffered from Acanthamoeba castellanii, a parasite feeding on her eyeball caused her to have severe inflammation redness and impaired vision. This parasite can attach to the contact lens and cause vision loss and sometimes even blindness. Treatment can include eye drops anywhere from six months to a year. Being very cautious about not using tap water or contaminated contact solution is advised.
3 Take your lenses out before sleeping
Eye Doctors recommend not sleeping in contact lenses and encourage using a daily disposable contact lens if possible. Sleeping in contact lenses lead to infection, ulcers and other health problems that can lead to vision loss. Here is a story of a young woman who had a bad habit of sleeping in her contact lenses and woke up on her wedding day with blindness in one eye, read more about her story here.
4 Take out your lenses before swimming
Avoid wearing contact lenses in instances where you would be exposed to water for it exposes your eyes to microorganisms that can cause bacterial infections. Before you hit the pool for a swim take out those lenses!
Serve this as a lesson that it is crucial to be aware of the dangers that may arise with wearing contacts lenses and how important it is to take care of your eyes! Make it a habit of getting your eye’s checked regularly and make sure your contacts are the correct prescription and they fit correctly! Don’t wait! Call our office at 480-994-1872 to make an appointment!