Contact Lens Wear and Care | Marion Eye Center & Optical

Solutions

There are a variety of solutions available from many different manufacturers. The important thing to remember is that not every solution is right for every type of contact lens. Most soft contact lenses require the use of multipurpose solutions. Use only the lens solutions that are recommended by your eye doctor. If you wish to change brands, check with your doctor first.

Contact Lens Care Made Easy

Few things affect the quality of your life more than your eyes; never put them at risk. Contact lenses are prescription medical devices. To make sure your eyes and vision stay healthy while wearing contact lenses, please follow these few guidelines or the instructions recommended by your doctor.

Warning: Ocular complications and/or long-term corneal damage are the consequences of contact lenses that are worn longer than recommended. Oftentimes, your lenses will still feel good even when you are over-wearing them. Do not wear your lenses overnight unless they are approved for extended wear and your doctor has discussed this with you. Overnight wear increases the risk of infection and other complications.

Wearing Schedule

It will take at least a few days for your eyes to get used to wearing contact lenses. The best way to insure maximum visual comfort and keep your eyes healthy is to patiently and faithfully adhere to the wearing schedule set by your doctor.

The following are some basic Do’s and Don’ts of Contact Lens Care:

DON’T wear your lenses overnight unless they are approved for extended wear and your doctor has discussed this with you. Overnight wear increases the risk of infection and other complications.
DON’T continue use of contact lenses if your eyes become red, irritated, painful, or if your vision gets worse while wearing lenses. Immediately take out the lenses and clean them. Let your eyes get back to normal and if the problem persists, contact our office.
DON’T exceed the wearing times suggested, even if your lenses still feel comfortable. Studies have proven that the eye needs time to adapt to contact lenses, and your wearing schedule is based on those studies.
DO always remove your contact lenses at least one hour before going to bed to allow for proper oxygen nourishment to the cornea.
DO schedule and keep follow-up appointments with your eye doctor.

Caring For Your Contacts

Deposits and infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses,etc., can build up on the surface of all contact lenses. For this reason, it is very important to keep them clean and disinfected.

There are three steps in contact lens care; follow the care prescribed for your lenses:

Cleaning removes dirt, mucous, and other debris that gets on the lenses during wear.
Disinfecting kills bacteria (germs) on the lenses. Disinfecting is essential to prevent serious eye infections.
Rinsing removes the other solutions from the lenses and prepares the lenses for wear.

The best way to properly care for your lenses is to develop a care routine, then stick to that routine!

Remember to:

Follow the directions outlined by your eye doctor.
Multi-purpose solutions can be used for more than one step in contact lens care. Read the label to see which functions the solutions can be used for. Only use solutions recommended by your eye doctor, and check with your eye doctor if you want to switch brands.
When you remove your lenses, they must be cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected before they are worn again.
Make sure solution containers are kept closed tightly, stored upright, and kept in a clean, dry, cool place when you are not using them. Keep your case clean and replace it every 2-3 months to prevent bacterial growth.
Don’t touch container bottle tips to any surface to prevent them from becoming contaminated.
Throw away expired solutions. (Look on the bottle for the expiration date!)
Use new solution in your contact lenses case every day.
Discuss with your eye doctor the care for your lenses if you wear them while swimming in a pool or hot tub.
Only use approved rewetting drops for lubricating or wetting your lenses. Never place the lenses in your mouth.
Do not use tap water to rinse soft contact lenses.
Be careful with makeup, lotions, creams and sprays. Put on lenses before makeup and remove them before removing makeup. Also, water-based makeup is less likely to damage lenses than oil-based makeup.

Lens Insertion and Removal

If you experience any of the following: Redness, blurriness, light sensitivity. Remove your lenses, if your eyes have not returned to normal after 24 hours, please contact your eye doctor. If you have any change in vision, comfort, or irritation, immediately remove your lenses. If there is no improvement within a couple of hours, contact your eye doctor.

Soft Lens Insertion and Removal