Everyone who uses contact lenses should follow some important habits when it comes to wearing and caring for them. Those who are new to contact lenses may find it difficult to follow the rules recommended for their safe use, but you will get the knack once you get familiar with them. If you have been using glasses before you will also get to know that caring for your lens and eyes is much easier.
Many of the patients wearing contact lenses don’t practice proper contact lens hygiene habits which leads to severe problems like infection blurry vision and irritation. There are also many misconceptions about contact lens hygiene such as rising them in tap water and wearing them throughout the day which can actually be harmful to the eyes.
Are you wondering if there are any bad contact lens habits that you have to leave behind? Read this article to get a clear idea of some habits you should avoid while wearing and caring for your contact lenses. In addition, an expert eye specialist can provide you with more specific tips and suggestions based on whether you are prescribed Ortho K or scleral contact lenses in Ghaziabad.
1. “Topping up” the contact lens solution
A habit to avoid when using your contact lenses is filling new contact lens solutions into the old solutions already in the case. While refilling your lens with fresh solution to ensure adequate disinfection you should first remove the old solution in the case. If you don’t change the solution according to the guidelines by the manufacturer it can make the lenses dirty and lead to severe eye infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis.
2. Not washing your hands
Handling your lenses without washing your hands can get them exposed to dirt, oil, or bacteria leading to the risk of contamination and severe eye infection. You should be mindful about washing your hands every time you put in or take out your contact lenses. Dr. Shalini Jain, Ortho K specialist in Ghaziabad recommends using a clear, lotion-free handwash and drying hands before touching the lens.
3. Showering with contacts in
You should be mindful to not wear contact lenses while taking a shower, or using a hot tub or swimming pool. Getting in contact with water can cause your contact lenses to swell and change their fit and even lead to eye infections due to the impurities and microorganisms present in the water.
4. Not replacing lenses at the recommended time
Dr. Shalini Jain advises patients with Myopia in Vaishali Ghaziabad to replace contact lenses at a recommended time depending on the lens type. You should avoid wearing contact lenses beyond the recommended period of time as it causes discomfort and health problems to the eyes. While gas-permeable lenses can be used for up to a year, some disposable lenses have to be replaced every other day or week.
5. Wearing contacts for too long
Unlike other organs that absorb oxygen through your blood, the eyes absorb oxygen directly from the air. Keeping your corneas covered will limit the oxygen intake, so you should remove contact lenses before bed and follow a healthy wearing schedule not exceeding 10-12 hours a day. Prolonged wearing of contact lenses can also lead to dirt accumulation in the lenses and eyes getting exposed to protein deposits.
6. Wearing contact lenses without a prescription
There is a misconception among many people that all contact lenses are cosmetic accessories that can be worn without the prescription of an eye specialist. As the properties of the eye’s surface are unique for each patient you should get a doctor’s prescription for prescriptive or cosmetic contact lenses in Vaishali Ghaziabad. The assessment of your eyes can be done only by an experienced eye specialist who has been helping patients overcome vision problems with contact lenses.
7. Not making regular appointments with an eye specialist
Many people wearing contact lenses usually skip their routine eye examination just because they think that their eyes are doing well. You should make sure never miss to make an appointment with the eye specialist as many problems associated with the use of contact lenses don’t show any early signs. You should immediately see an eye specialist if you have itchy, red or watery eyes which don’t improve or get worse even after removing the lens.
These are the 7 contact lens habits you should avoid regardless of whether you’re using soft, hard, daily-wear or extended-wear contact lenses. Make your contact lenses do magic to your vision with these daily care habits and even forget that you’re wearing them. Incorporating these small changes to your contact lens hygiene habits can help you maintain better lens and eye care. You can visit Dr Shalini Jain’s Samyak Eye Care Clinic to provide the right advice and prescription for Boston scleral and Ortho K lenses in Vaishali Ghaziabad.