21/03/17Love your contact lenses week!
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses and are loved by millions of people. However,
research shows that not all contact lens wearers know how to look after their lenses properly.
How to Love Your Contact Lenses
Most wearers won’t ever experience problems, however, if contact lenses are not treated with the love and respect they need, there is a small risk of developing potentially serious problems.
If you love your eyes, you should love your lenses. Stick to the tips below to keep your eyes healthy:
Do :
- Have regular check-ups as advised by your practitioner
- Always wash and dry your hands prior to handling your lenses
- Always rub, rinse and store your lenses in the recommended solution before and after each use (except single-use lenses, which should be discarded after each wear)
- Always clean the lens case with solution, wipe with a clean tissue then air-dry after each use by placing the case and lids face down on a tissue
- Check the lens is not inside out before applying
- Check the lens is not damaged before applying and handle carefully to avoid damage
- Apply your lenses before putting on make-up and take them out before removing it
- Keep your eyes closed when using hairspray or other aerosols
- Discard lenses and solutions that are past their expiry date
- Wear only the lenses specified by your contact lens practitioner
- Stick strictly to the recommended wearing schedule and replacement frequency
- Make sure you have an adequate supply of replacement lenses or a spare pair
- Have an up-to-date pair of spectacles for when you need to remove your lenses
Don’t:
- Use tap water, or any other water, on your lenses or lens case
- Swim, shower or sleep in your lenses
- Share contact lenses or wear any lenses not specified by your practitioner
- Wet your lenses with saliva
- Put a lens on the eye if it falls on the floor or other surface, without cleaning and disinfecting again
- Re-use or top up solution – always store your lenses in fresh solution
- Decant solution into smaller containers
- Wear lenses that have been left in the case for more than seven days without cleaning and storing them in fresh solution
- Wear lenses if you are unwell
- Switch the solution you use, except on the advice of your practitioner
- Use any eye drops without advice from your contact lens practitioner
- Apply a lens if it is dirty, dusty or damaged
- Continue to wear your lenses if your eyes don’t feel good, look good, or see well
The first ever Love Your Lenses Week is taking place between 25 and 31 March 2017. Alistair Bridge, of the General Optical Council, who are orchestrating Love Your Lenses Week, said regarding contact lenses:
“…If they are looked after properly they are safe and effective, however, not all contact lens wearers know how to look after them properly. All contact lens wearers, including people who wear ‘cosmetic’ lenses, should go for a contact lens check-up at least every year. Their optician can tell them how to keep their eyes healthy…”
Ask yourself these three questions, each time you wear your lenses:
Do my eyes feel good all day long with my lenses in? — no discomfort
Do my eyes look good? — no redness
Do I see well? — no unusual blurring with either eye
If the answer to any of these questions is no, leave your lenses out and consult your optician without delay for advice on what to do next.
If you’ve not seen your optician in a while, it’s a perfect time to book a contact lens check. At this appointment, your optician will assess whether your contact lenses are fitting correctly and check that your vision is good. They will also talk to you about the best ways to care for your lenses to make sure your eyes stay healthy.
Find out more about how to love your lenses at: www.loveyourlenses.com.