precaution while using contact lenses

Precaution while using Contact Lenses

A contact lens, or simply contact, is a thin lens placed directly on the surface of the eye.
11. Dont use Contact Lenses
1Your eye is painful.2You are sensitive to light.3Your eye is red for more than two days.4You have discharge from your eye.5You have blurry vision.6Your eye feels scratchy.Remember to book yearly contact lens and eye health exams for the protection of you eyes.
12. Safest medical devices
Contact lenses are one of the safest medical devices when worn responsibly, says Thomas L. Steinemann, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. While contact lens use is safe, not caring for contact lenses properly or failing to follow contact lens safety rules can lead to serious problems. Contact lenses can be a potential point for infection, says Dr. Steinemann. No matter how careful you are, germs are on our hands, eyelids, everywhere. When germs such as bacteria and fungi are on the contact lens, they can invade the eye.
13. Get a contact lens prescription from an eye doctor
Have your lenses fitted by a qualifiedeye care professional, says Steinemann. Also be sure to get instruction on proper lens care. Make sure that the contact lens is on the cornea of the eye. Cover the opposite eye, and if your vision is blurry, inspect the upper area of your eye by lifting the upper lid and looking into a mirror, and the lower area by gently pulling down the lower lid.
14. Dont wear contact lenses overnight
When you close your eyes with your lenses in place, youre reducing oxygen, says Steinemann. The surface of the eye becomes more vulnerable to infection. Also, you have a lens being closed against the eye any germs on the lens are being slammed against the cornea.
15. Dont wear your contact lenses in the shower or while swimming
Lakes, rivers, sea water, swimming pools, and even tap water can all harbor an organism calledacanthamoeba, which can cause eye infection. Wearing contact lenses while swimming, showering, or doing other waterrelated activities can lead to seriousacanthamoebainfections of the eye.
16. Dont reuse contact lens solution
You may think youre saving money by doing so, but the disinfecting capability of the solution is gone, says Steinemann. Use fresh solution every time you store your lenses in their case. There are two common methods for removing contacts. Follow the one that your doctor recommended, and if either of these methods are difficult for you, your doctor can recommend another method of removal.
17. Dont use saline solution for contact lens cleaning or disinfection
Saline solution is simply sterile salt water. It will not clean or disinfect. Be sure to choose a solution that includes disinfectant. For the pinching method, look up, slide the lens to the lower part of the eye using the forefinger, pinch the lens between the forefinger and thumb, and remove the lens. The pinching method should not be harmful, your fingernails should not touch the lens or your eye.
18. Replace your contact lens case every two to three months
Lens cases get dirty, just like a toothbrush, says Steinemann. The forefinger and thumb method means you dont have to actually touch your eye. Place your hand or a towel under your eye to catch the lens. Place your forefinger on the center of the upper lid, and your thumb on the center of the lower lid and force a blink. The lens should fall out onto your hand or the towel.
19. Never use saliva as a wetting agent
Your mouth is one of the dirtiest places in your body, says Steinemann. After you remove the contact, follow care instructions given to you by your doctor, or on the case of the contact. If they are single use contacts, discard the lens immediately. If they are for multiple use, immediately follow care instructions.
20. Take out your contacts if they are bothering you
It seems like common sense, but it can be easy to ignore irritation when youre busy or distracted. Never put up with irritation, as it could be sign of an infection or other problem. Make sure to clean, rinse, then disinfect your lenses after you remove them. Cleaning and rinsing the contacts removes any film, dirt, and anything that may have accumulated while you were wearing them. Disinfecting them is important for the elimination of germs.