If you’re a contact lens wearer, the process of deciding on getting them was probably not a piece of cake. Besides having to decide on the type and brands, you’ve likely had to sit through countless horror stories about contact lenses. After all, our vision is one of the most important senses we have. As such, it is important to know how to take good care of your lenses by being aware of common mistakes you may make, without realising it.

When they stay on your eyes for too long

While the beauty of contact lenses lies in its ability to make you forget that you have anything on your eyes at all, this also poses a lot of danger.

Contact lenses shouldn’t be worn 24/7. According to experts, the rule of thumb is to wear them for no longer than 8 hours to give your eyes a break for some fresh air. In saying that however, it also depends on what kind of lenses you are wearing. To be safe, ask your doctor and/or optometrist for the recommended wearing time and replacement schedule.

When you don’t clean your hands and lens

Understandably, after coming home from a whole day of hustle, the last thing you want to do is to clean your lenses. However, this is the primary reason for many contact lens horror stories.

Dirty contact lenses can cause infections, so clean and dry hands are essential whenever you handle your lenses. After which, you can rinse your contact lenses with a saline solution and clean with a suitable cleaning solution.

When you forget about your cases

Cases can become grimy very quickly without proper care. The American Optometric Association recommends replacing lens cases at least once every three months while periodically cleaning it with a suitable cleaning solution in between.

Another common mistake is to reuse the solution inside the casing over a few days. Germs and bacteria can go into the casing if it is reused and left for too long. Always replace the solution after use to ensure that it remains germ-free.

Additional good news for all contact lens wearers! As the Circuit Breaker period comes to an end, many people may have to start reporting from work but are out of contact lenses. Thankfully, you don’t need to fret because there are many free contact lens delivery services available now.

ACUVUE has launched a free direct-to-patient contact lens delivery service for everyone who has a valid ACUVUE prescription within the last 6 months. As well as ACUVUE, The Lens Men is also offering free delivery for contact lenses in this period for current or first-time customers. This way, not only is replenishing your contact lenses easier than before, it also helps to support the businesses of local optical stores under the existing safe distancing measures.

Resources:

https://coopervision.com/blog/five-tips-for-first-time-contact-lens-wearers
https://accuratevisionclinic.com/2014/07/24/common-mistakes-that-contact-lens-wearers-make/

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