I’ve been wearing contact lenses since I was a teenager and have usually done a good job of taking care of them, although I haven’t always been vigilant. For example, I slept in my contacts last night because we were hunkering down in the basement during Hurricane (Cyclone) Sandy. I also probably use them for longer than I should.
Recently, I came across a study that examined the cases that those of us who wear contact lenses put those lenses in for storage. The study was pretty scary. It found that a full two thirds of the contact lenses cases of healthy adults contained fungi or bacteria, some of which could cause serious infections that could lead to blindness. Ouch.
I had to do some research, and I discovered some interesting things, including something that I am definitely not doing currently to protect my eyes. What is it? Changing out my contact lens container every time I open a new container of solution or at least every three months. I’ve had the same container for years–a very sturdy one. So, it looks like I need to either replace it fast, or disinfect it more often than I normally do.
Other tips for keeping the fungi and bacteria at bay…
Always wash and dry your hands before handling your lenses.
Rub your solution on your lenses before you insert them, even when the solution says “no rub.”
Never top off your solution in your case. Instead, dump the old solution, rinse the case with new and then let it air dry.
If you like them and can afford them, daily disposable contact lenses are the safest, because you put a fresh pair of lenses in each day.
Avoid sleeping in your lenses. Even extended wear lenses should be removed nightly. Sleeping in your lenses increases your risk of an eye infection by five times the normal risk!
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