How to Take Care of Contact Lenses
How to Take Care of Your Contact Lenses
From: The American Optometric Association
Contact lenses are a great alternative to traditional glasses in providing clear and comfortable vision. However, having a contact lens prescription is a privilege/responsibility and carries the risk of serious eye infection when abused. It is important to follow your eye doctor’s recommendations and to have regular eye examinations to ensure your eyes remain healthy.
Take Proper Care of Your Contacts
Always wash your hands before handling the contact lenses and avoid touching your face/eyes
Your contact lenses are like sponges, they are attracted to water/moisture. Avoid “dirty” water- this means: No showering in your contact lenses, no swimming or hot tubbing in your contact lenses, do not rinse your contact lenses with tap water. Never use saliva to moisten your contact lenses!
Never sleep in your contact lenses.
Do not use saline solution or rewetting drops to disinfect your lenses (these do no contain preservatives that help kill bacteria).
Avoid over-wearing your contact lenses (daily lenses can be used for 1 day, bi-weekely lenses for 14 days, and monthly lenses for 30 days).
Inspect your contact lenses before putting them in your eyes (look for any scratches, rips or if the contact lenses are inverted).
Do not wear your contact lenses if you are sick (a virus or bacterial infection can spread to your eyes).
Steps when inserting the contact lenses
Wash your hands with soap and water and dry with a lint-free towel.
Remove the contact lens from the blister pack or from the case. Inspect the lens. Look for any defects (scratches, rips). Make sure the contact lens is not inverted (should look like a little bowl).
Open your eyes wide and place the contact lens in your eye. Remove immediately if you experience any eye pain (should not hurt). It may take about 5-10 minutes for the contact lens to settle. If your contact lens is still uncomfortable, remove the lens and repeat cleaning it and inspecting it. If you are still experiencing discomfort, use a new lens. If you are still having issues, please contact your optometrist’s office.
Steps when removing the contact lens and for cleaning afterward
Daily Lenses: Wash and dry your hands. Remove the contact lens and throw it away - no cleaning required :)
Monthly Lenses
If you are using a multipurpose solution
Wash your hands and dry completely
Remove one lens and place it in the palm of your hand.
Apply multipurpose contact lens solution and rub the lens for about 20 seconds on each side (actual rub time depends on the solution manufacturer’s instructions)
Rinse the contact lens with the multipurpose solution for about 10 seconds on each side (actual rinse time depends on the solution manufacturer’s instructions). Never use tap water to rinse your lenses as it has been shown to significantly increase the risk of severe ocular infections.
Place the contact lens into a clean, dry lens case and then completely fill the well of the case with a multipurpose solution.
Repeat steps three through six with the other eye’s lens.
Store in a clean contact lens case, filling it up with new solution to the indicator lines, ensure that the contact lens is completely submerged in the solution.
Use new solution each time you clean and disinfect your contact lenses. Never reuse or top off old solution.
Make sure the tip of the solution bottle does not touch any surface. Keep the bottle tightly closed when you are not using it.
Read the solution packaging thoroughly for instructions about lens cleaning and always follow the manufacturer-recommended procedure.
If you are using a hydrogen peroxide based solution
Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching your contact lenses.
Remove the contact lens and place in the contact lens well of the case.
Instill new hydrogen peroxide solution to the fill line
Wait 8 hours for the solution to neutralize (you CANNOT put the contact lenses prior to this neutralization as this will cause your eyes to burn and be painful)
It may be a good idea to have a multiple purpose contact lens solution in case you need to rinse contact lenses for any reason (for example, dropping the contact lenses during insertion).
Care for your contact case
Keep your contact lens case clean. Rinse it with sterile contact lens solution (not tap water) then leave the empty case open to air dry.
Replace the case at least every 3 months, or right away if it gets cracked or damaged.
Overuse of a case can result in significant eye infections due to bacterial contamination. A new case is typically provided with each new bottle of solution purchased.
Never “top off” your solution—doing so increases your chances of a contact lens-related complication.
Contact Lens Risks
Contact lenses that are old or that do not fit well can scratch your eye. This can increase risk of an eye infection, which could potentially lead to blindness.
Avoid over-wearing your lenses. The lack of oxygen (especially if you are wearing your lenses to sleep) can cause blood vessels to grow onto your clear cornea. This can cause scarring and loss of vision.
Remove your contact lenses and call your eye doctor right away if your eyes are very red, painful, watery or sensitive to light. Do the same if you have blurry vision or notice discharge (ooze or pus) coming from your eye. These can be symptoms of serious eye problems.
Keep the schedule your eye doctor gives you for wearing and replacing your lenses.
Keep your eye exam appointments. Contact lenses can warp over time, and your cornea can change shape. To make sure your lenses fit properly, and the prescription is right for you, see your eye doctor regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best contact lens care system?
Contact lens care systems are highly important to the success of wearing contact lenses and also the reduction of risk for infections. A contact lens care system has been carefully selected by a doctor of optometry in order to be compatible with the lens and lens materials you are using as well as the way you wear your lenses.
There are many different types of contact lens care systems, but the basic two types are multipurpose care solutions and hydrogen peroxide care solutions. These types of solutions all have different recommendations for use depending on the manufacturer. Consult the package insert or a doctor of optometry for the best practices regarding the use of your lens care system.
Do I need to rub my contact lenses when I take them out?
Yes, if you are using a multipurpose solution with soft contact lenses (there are currently no recommended “no-rub” multipurpose contact lens solution regimens). Rubbing the contact lens for between two and 20 seconds, depending on your contact lens care solution, removes deposits and micro-organisms and reduces complications. You follow the rubbing step with a thorough rinse with solution for the time specified by the manufacturer (usually between five and 10 seconds). Recent evidence conclusively demonstrated that rubbing and rinsing the lens after wear provides the safest lens wear for all contact lenses and care systems currently on the market. Some hydrogen peroxide systems contain a rinse step prior to soaking the lenses overnight. If you are unsure how to care for your lenses, please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions provided with your care system or contact a doctor of optometry.
Can I use any lubricants or red-eye drops with contact lenses?
Yes, as long as it is labeled “Contact Lens Rewetting Drops” or if it is a non-preserved artificial tear. Any eye drops not approved for contact lens wear can cause damage to both the contact lens and the eye. Stay away from drops that claim to “get the red out,” as they typically contain chemicals that may be detrimental to your long-term eye health. Preservative-free eye drops, in general, are very safe to use with contact lenses. Eye drops that contain preservatives can have a toxic effect on the eye and should be avoided. Consult a doctor of optometry about which drops are best for your eyes and contact lens materials.
I only wear my lenses occasionally. How should I store them in the meantime?
Care systems for contact lenses are all very different, and it is important to note how long contact lenses can be safely stored in solution long term before the solution needs to be replaced. Some solutions are only good for 24 hours of storage while others can store lenses for up to one month.
Some soft contact lens multipurpose solutions allow for long-term storage of up to one month in a tightly closed contact lens case. Some hydrogen peroxide-based systems allow for seven days of long-term storage before the lenses need to be re-disinfected but others are as short as 24 hours of storage time. The night before you are ready to wear your lenses again, it is a good idea to inspect the lens and then re-clean and disinfect it according to the solution manufacturer’s instructions. Check the manufacturer’s recommended storage times on the package insert or contact your doctor for further guidance if needed.
If you only wear lenses on occasion, a daily disposable contact lens may be an option for you. Daily disposable lenses are great for part-time wearers to keep costs down and ensure a safe contact lens wear experience. You don’t need to worry about how long your lenses have been sitting in solution or whether your solution is past its discard date. Daily disposable lenses are also highly portable and convenient. In addition, daily disposable lens wearers experience fewer contact lens complications like infections when compared to other lens replacement schedules.
I dropped the contact lens on the floor, but I don’t have time to run an entire disinfection cycle with my solution. What do I do?
It is not enough simply to rinse off the contaminants and dust particles from the floor. Bathroom floors and other such surfaces may harbor significantly high numbers of microorganisms. While the tear film and corneal surface provide a remarkable barrier to infection, one never knows when the barrier may break down.
The only sure way to guarantee safety is to apply a new contact lens. This can be easily accomplished if you are wearing disposable soft contact lenses. The next best thing is to wear your back-up glasses while you clean the lens through the entire disinfection cycle as recommended by your care system's manufacturer. Every contact lens wearer should have a pair of glasses to wear as needed in cases like these when their lenses cannot be worn.
Is it okay to use tap water to insert or store my lenses?
No. Tap water contains microorganisms which can lead to serious eye infections and loss of vision. One of the more well-known water-borne infections is caused by Acanthamoeba, a microscopic, free-living amoeba (single-celled organism). Acanthamoeba can cause an infection of the cornea, the transparent outer covering of the eye where a contact lens sits. These organisms are very common in nature and can be found in bodies of water (for example, lakes and oceans), hence the recommendation to avoid the use of water with lenses.
You should never use tap water in any area of your lens care, including rinsing the lenses and the lens case. Do not attempt to make your own homemade saline or contact lens solutions. Also, make sure your hands are completely dry before handling your lenses.
Should I be concerned about wearing my contact lenses on an airplane?
Commercial airline cabins expose passengers to reduced atmospheric pressure, reduced oxygen availability, reduced humidity, and dry air. These conditions can lead to discomfort with contact lens wear, especially on flights lasting longer than three hours. Instillation of lubricating eye drops approved for use with contact lenses may help relieve some eye dryness during your flight. Keep in mind that the United States Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits the size of any liquid container carried onboard an airplane to a 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less unless the liquids are medically necessary. Contact lens solution is considered a medically necessary liquid, so full-size bottles must be declared separately at the entry to the security checkpoint. The solution is then subject to further screening. Solution manufacturers do tend to sell 2 oz. travel size containers of solution for those still wary of TSA restrictions. In the absence of a smaller manufacturer-supplied container of solution, do not attempt to transfer contact lens solution to a smaller container. This allows for contamination of the solution during transfer, which can lead to a serious eye infection.
Is it safe to wear my contact lenses in a bathtub or hot tub?
It is recommended not to wear contact lenses while in a bathtub or hot tub. The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has recommended that contact lenses not be exposed to any form of water. Although rare, a sight-threatening eye complication known as Acanthamoeba keratitis is caused by an organism present in all forms of impure water (e.g. swimming pools, tap water, saunas, wells, and showers). Acanthamoeba and certain forms of bacteria present in water can become attached to contact lenses, resulting in potential infection.
If lenses are worn while in the bathtub or hot tub, care should be taken to avoid water being splashed into the eyes. Recent studies have recommended the use of tight-fitting swim goggles to limit eye exposure to water while swimming. If lenses are accidentally exposed to water, instill a lubricating drop to help loosen the lens on the eye then remove the lens with clean, dry hands. Next, clean and disinfect the lens before re-inserting, or discard the lens. Never sleep in a lens that has been exposed to water without first cleaning and disinfecting it.11 If lenses were removed prior to getting in a bathtub or hot tub, they must be properly cleaned and disinfected before being re-inserted.
Signs of potential problems
Blurred or fuzzy vision, especially of sudden onset.
Red, irritated eyes.
Uncomfortable lenses.
Pain in and around the eyes.
Light sensitivity.
If you experience any of these, contact a doctor of optometry as soon as possible.
