How and Why You Should Clean Contact Lenses
By April | September 15, 2007
Lots of people underestimate the importance of contact lens maintenance. Think about it, is it natural for people to place foreign object in their eyes? Absolutely not! So why is it that some people allow themselves to place dirty contact lenses in their eyes?
Clean Your Lenses or Buy Disposable
If you’re one of these people then you must stop this awful habit now. Either replace your normal contacts with disposable ones or ask you optometrist for advice on how to properly care for your lenses. Following the optometrist’s recommendations is the key to success because contact lenses and cleaning products are not created equally.
Buy Commercially-Available Multi-Purpose Solutions
As a general rule, caring for your contacts requires using one of the commercially-available multi-purpose solutions which deal with each aspect of cleaning, disinfecting, rinsing and storage. After removing a contact lens, with hands that have first been washed using non-moisturising soap, shoot the lens with a steady stream of the multi-purpose solution for a minimum of 20-seconds (or as directed), making sure that both sides of the lens are sprayed.
With some of these solutions you need to rub the contacts between the palm of your hand and your fingertip. This is to help loosen dirt, protein, cosmetics and other debris. Just make sure that your hands are clean otherwise you could be doing more harm than good. Also, rinse each lens as directed as this is an important step in helping rid the lens of foreign matter.
Clean the contact Lens Storage Too
Then, fill a clean storage unit with the same solution and place the cleaned lens into the appropriately labelled storage container. When your contact lenses aren’t being worn, the solution you store them in will disinfect them. Repeat these steps for the other lens.
Normally these maintenance steps are the same no matter if they’re soft or gas permeable lenses. Because people often view maintenance as a chore, make sure you devise a way to make it as quick and simple as possible. Again, your optometrist is the person who should advise you on a suitable maintenance routine and to whom you should turn when questions arise.
Those wearing daily contact lenses that aren’t disposable usually need to add an extra step to their maintenance routines, especially if they wear soft lenses or older styles of gas permeable lenses that are more prone to protein build-up. To be extra safe, also use an enzyme cleaner weekly.
- Everything that may come into contact with your contact lenses must be kept clean. That includes fingers, hands, tips of solution bottles and storage containers.
- Never use water for cleaning. It may contain contaminants and it’s too harsh for some lenses.
- Develop a cleaning routine and stick with it. Never change without first checking with your eye doctor or specialist.
If this sounds all too much of a bother then buy some disposable ones instead. That’s what they were created for!
Topics: Health |
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