The importance of good contact lens hygiene
It’s estimated that over 3.5 million people in Canada wear contact lenses. While contact lenses are a safe and effective way to correct vision, there are some risks associated with their use. One of the most common problems faced by contact lens wearers is eye infections, which can be caused by poor hygiene practices.
That’s why it’s so important to have good contact lens hygiene. Here are our contact lens specialists’ top tips on how to keep your contact lenses clean, and your eyes healthy.
Tips for good contact lens hygiene
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling your contact lenses. This will help to remove any dirt, oil, or other potential contaminants from your hands that could transfer to your lenses. Make sure they are completely dry before inserting or removing your contact lenses too.
- Avoid using tap water to clean your lenses or store them overnight. Tap water is not sterile and contains microorganisms that can cause infections. Use only the saline solution provided by our optometrists to clean your lenses if they are reusable.
- Never reuse old lens solution. Always use fresh solution when cleaning and storing your lenses every day. Reusing old solution can lead to a build-up of bacteria that can cause irritation or infections.
- Don’t wear your lenses for longer than recommended by our optometrists, for example, only wear daily disposables for one day, and then throw them away. Wearing lenses for too long can dry out your eyes and increase the risk of infection. If you experience dryness or discomfort, remove your lenses, and give your eyes a break.
- Never sleep in your lenses unless you’ve been specifically told by our optometrists that it’s safe to do so. Sleeping in lenses can cause serious damage to the cornea (the clear front part of the eye).
- Always use a solution that has specifically been advised by our optometrists, as some aren’t compatible with certain contact lenses.
Contact lens care in Ontario
Contact lens hygiene is very important to preserve healthy vision and eye health in the long term. Following these tips should help reduce any risk when wearing contact lenses, but if you have any more questions, feel free to contact our expert optometrists in Ontario for advice, or to book a contact lens checkup.