 The
Basics of Soft Contact Lens Care:
Clean, Rinse and Disinfect - Wash
your hands so that you don't transfer dirt and germs
to your eye. Try to avoid moisturizing soaps, as they
are not good for contact lenses. Dry your hands with
a lint-free towel.
- Remove one lens and clean it with
the recommended solution. Cleaning removes eye-produced
buildup, cosmetics and other debris that impairs lens
comfort. Some products require you to rub the lens
in the palm of your hand with a few drops of solution,
while others just require rinsing.
- Rinse the lens again to remove the
loosened debris, making sure to take as long as the package
directs: rinsing is an important step.
- Place the lens in your clean lens
case or lens holder and fill with the appropriate solution
for your soaking and disinfecting system. Disinfecting
kills microorganisms on the lens. Disinfection time
varies from product to product; check the package for
details.
- Repeat steps two through four for
your other lens.
Beyond
Clean, Rinse and Disinfect
- Protein.
Depending on what kind
of contact lenses you wear and how much protein your
eyes deposit on your contacts, your doctor may
recommend you use a product for protein removal.
While cleaning them does remove some protein, it
can still build up on your lenses and make them
uncomfortable. That's why the longer you wear lenses
before replacing them, the more likely you are
to need a protein remover. For example, if you
wear disposables, you probably won't need one,
but if you replace your lenses about once a year,
you definitely will. Products for removing protein
include enzymatic cleaner and daily protein removal
liquids.
- Eye Dryness and Irritation.
Use
contact lens eyedrops to lubricate your eyes
and rewet your lenses.
- Eye Sensitivity and Allergies.
A
small percentage of patients develop an allergy
to the chemicals present in contact lens solutions.
If this is the case with you, you don't need
an additional product:
you just need to switch products to those marked "preservative-free."
Contact
Lens Care Must-Knows
Once you've decided which product you'd like to try,
discuss your plans with your eye doctor. Don't switch
brands until you determine that the new brand is compatible
with your other products and with your contact lenses. Regardless of which care regimen or brands you use,
remember:
- Never touch solution bottle tips to any surface,
including your body: the solution can become contaminated.
- Avoid getting tap water on your contact lenses
and accessories, as it can carry a microorganism
called Acanthamoeba that causes serious eye infections.
While regular contact lens disinfection procedures
do kill Acanthamoeba, they typically don't kill its
cysts.
- Remember to clean your contact lens accessories
(lens case, cleaning/disinfecting devices, enzymatic
cleaner vials and so on) as directed.
- Lens cases can be rinsed with hot tap water and
dried when not in use.
- Throw out your contact lens case once a month,
or as directed, to reduce your risk of infection.
Most importantly, clean and disinfect your contact
lenses once a day (those with extended wear contacts
should clean and disinfect them when they take them
out, unless the lenses are scheduled to be discarded).
Not only will your eyes be safer and healthier, but
your contact lenses be more comfortable to wear, too. |
