While getting used to caring for your lenses is simple, it’s just as easy to slip into a few bad habits, especially if you are in a rush. We’ve listed some of the most common and why they should be avoided at all costs.
Sleeping in Lenses:
Unless specifically designed to be slept in, contact lenses need to be taken out before you go to bed. Overnight our eyelids are designed to provide moisture to our eyes, simultaneously soothing them and cleaning away any bacteria. With your contact lenses in, they will soak up the moisture instead which leads to very dry eyes by the morning.
If you think you could benefit from being able to sleep in your lenses, ask your optician about extended wear lenses.
Topping off Solution:
Once contact lens solution has been used once, it should be thrown out immediately. In much the same way you wouldn’t wash your dishes in dirty water, used contact lens solution contains all the dirt and bacteria from the night before. Wearing contact lenses that haven’t been properly washed in clean solution can lead to a painful eye infection.
Bathing in Lenses:
Whether you prefer to shower or take a bath, it’s important you take your lenses out first. Because contact lenses are designed to lock in moisture, they will collect up any water they come close to. Unfortunately, water contains a number of that could be harmful to your eyes, especially with prolonged exposure. This can lead to a lot of discomforts and ultimately an infection.
Over Wearing Lenses:
Contact lenses all have a very strict replacement schedules which should never be strayed from. Whether you wear daily, weekly or monthly lenses, keeping your lenses on for longer than suggested can seriously reduce the amount of moisture they can provide your eyes. This leads to uncomfortable dry eyes and massively increase the risk of an eye infection.
Washing Lenses in Your Mouth:
Contact lenses should never be put anywhere near your mouth. While it might seem harmless, using your mouth to wash lenses can introduce them to all kinds of bacteria which will very quickly reach your eyes as soon as you put them back in. In fact, the human mouth is home to over 60,000 individual types of bacteria, most of which will have a serious effect on your eyes and eyesight.