Contact Lenses and Healthy Eyes - 12 Rules Every Contact Lens Wearer Should Follow

Do you want to switch to contact lenses from glasses, but youre not sure if contact lenses are safe or if caring for them is too much of a hassle? Or do you wear contacts already and want to make sure that you do the best for your eye health?Taking proper care of your eyes and contact lenses isnt rocket science. Here are 12 simple rules you can follow, to keep your contact lenses and your eyes happy and healthy.

1. Modern contact lenses vary in quality; make sure that your doctor prescribes the contact lenses that are healthiest for your eyes. See suggestions on advanced contact lenses
2. Clean your lenses every time you handle them (before putting contacts in your eyes and after removing them). Give each lens a gentle 10-15 second rub in solution. The only exception to this rule is color lenses - rinse, but dont rub them; it might damage the color.
3. Handle only one lens at a time, so you dont confuse them. Train yourself to start with ether the right or the left lens
4. When cleaning your lenses dont forget to take care of the lens case as well. Wash it with unperfumed soap and let it dry. Doctors also recommend that you replace your contact lens case every 2 or 3 months.
5. Never put your lenses in the same solution twice; replace the solution every time you handle your lenses. Usually you shouldnt use any solution 6 months after the bottle has been opened, and definitely not after the expiry date. Store your contact lenses and solution in a dry, cool place. The refrigerator door is ideal.
6. Soft contact lenses shouldnt be allowed to dry up. The lens should be either in the eye, or in a special solution. If you accidentally let the lens dry up, throw it out, it is no longer good.
7. Dont wear contacts if you have got a cold, cold sores or another infection. You dont want any germs to get into your eyes. It is handy to have a pair of glasses for such occasions.
8. If you wear make-up, apply your eye make-up after putting your lenses in, and try to use water-based mascara. Lenses are very sensitive to deodorants and hair sprays, so either spray before you put the lenses in, or close your eyes very tightly while spraying.
9. Dont forget to replace your contact lenses on schedule. Daily disposables - every morning, 2-week replacements - every fortnight and so on. A couple of days delay wouldnt make any difference, but wearing 2-week replacements for a month is definitely not healthy for your eyes. See more information about disposable contacts.
10. Avoid smoky or dusty rooms; soft contact lenses collect every tiny particle and your eyes will feel uncomfortable.
11. If your eyes feel uncomfortable or irritated, take the lens out. It is possible that something is stuck under it or the lens is torn. If your lens isnt damaged, wash your eye and the lens, and put it back. If the unpleasant sensation doesnt go away, take the lenses out and dont wear them until you can see your optometrist. Damaged lenses should be thrown away, no matter how expensive they are. A torn lens can do serious harm to your eye.
12. Dont sleep in your contacts. Lenses designed as day wear block oxygen flow to your eyes and the eyelid puts extra pressure on the lens, so your eyes would feel terrible after you wake up. The only exception is extended wear lenses, like Focus Night and Day or Acuvue; they are designed for continuous wear and sleep.

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