3 Bad Lens Care Habits And How To Change Your Ways
Your contact lenses allow you to see without having to wear eyeglasses and without changing your physical appearance. However, it's important to remember that if you aren't taking good care of your contact lenses, it could be harming your vision. You could actually be worsening your vision and causing other eye issues if you aren't careful with how you treat your contact lenses. Read on for a few bad lens care habits and what you should do instead.
1. Cleaning Your Lenses With Tap Water
Contact lens solution is the only thing you should ever clean your lenses with. If you are attempting to use tap water to clean your lenses, you may be picking up bacteria from the faucet, and you could also be picking up any bacteria or other particles in the water as well. These bacteria and particles in the water are then going into your eyes, which can harm your lenses, vision or your overall eye health. Only use contact lens solution to clean your lenses. Make sure you always have some on hand from your local stores.
2. Wearing Your Lenses Too Long
If you are over-wearing your contact lenses, or wearing your contact lenses for much longer than suggested they should be worn, you could harm your vision. You should only wear your contact lenses throughout the day, and you should take the time to give your eyes a break. You should also only wear them as suggested. This means if they are dailies, they should be tossed each day and a new pair should be put in every single day. If they are to be changed every other month, you should follow these suggestions as well.
3. Never Cleaning Your Lens Case
Your contact lens case should be cleaned at least once per week, and it should be swapped out for a new one every couple of months. Your lens case can build up with all types of bacteria, especially if you keep it out on your counter. Clean the case each week with warm water and soap, then be sure to rinse it thoroughly to remove all of the soap. Allow it to air dry.
If you don't take care of your contact lenses and your case, you could be worsening your vision and harming your eye health. If you are experiencing problems with your vision, be sure to get to your optometrist office for an eye exam.