Steps to Clean Your Contact Lenses
Many prefer contact lenses to glasses for the sake of appearance and because of the ease of their use. However, contacts should be properly cared for to ensure eye health and safety. Following a few simple steps and obeying the manufacturer's directions can lead to clean, safe contact daily use.
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Preparing to Clean
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Before cleaning your contact lenses, make sure your hands are clean. Bacteria can easily collect on your hands, and when you take out the contact, the bacteria could get into your eye. Wash your hands carefully.
Make sure your lens case is clean. Between each storage, lens cases should be left open to fully dry. In addition, don't use normal tap water to wash out the lens case after each use, as bacteria from the water could infect the case. If it needs cleaning, rinse it with contact solution or with very hot water.
Using Solution
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The proper use of solution will depend on the type of lenses you own or personal preference. There are saline solutions, used for rinsing and storing. There are also cleaning solutions, intended only for disinfecting and not for storage. Multi-purpose solutions combine rinsing, cleaning, disinfecting and storing all together.
Remove the contact and place it in the palm of your hand. Rinse it thoroughly with contact solution, including a multi-purpose solution and a rinsing solution followed by a disinfecting solution. While many brands promote the "no-rub" use of their product, it is always a good idea to rub the contact gently to remove any particles and proteins built up on the surface of the contacts.
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Storing Lenses
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Hydrogen peroxide solutions should only be used with the included neutralizing case. Place the contacts in the case and leave for six hours to neutralize. Do not use the contact lenses during this time, as it can cause severe pain. The case usually has a built-in neutralizer; some cases include a neutralizer tablet to be added. Multi-purpose and saline solutions require storage for only a few hours; however, lenses can be worn again at any time with no real harm.
Contacts should be removed every day and cleansed; those with extended wear contacts should clean and rinse the contacts whenever they are removed.
Finally, make sure you replace contact lenses in accordance with the instructions from your eye doctor. In addition, make yearly appointments to update your prescription and guarantee continued eye health.
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