Are you using contact lenses and want to know how to take care of your eyes? Listed below are few effective eye care tips suggested by FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) especially for people using contact lenses:
- To ensure healthy eyes you need to go for regular eye exams.
- It is better to keep an extra pair of glasses with current prescription. This is helpful in case you encounter problems with contact lenses.
- Make sure that you follow all the instructions given to by your ophthalmologist as well as mentioned on contact lens pack and other lens care products.
- Before handling your contact lenses wash your hands properly, this will reduce the probability of an infection.
- Each time you remove your lenses, make sure that you clean, rinse and air dry the lens case. This is important because contact lens case is susceptible to bacterial growth.
- In case you experience any redness, irritation or vision changes then immediately remove your lenses and consult your ophthalmologist.
- Inquiry your eye care professional regarding wearing contact lenses or glasses during any sport activities so as to decrease the chances of injury.
- Before using any topical eye drops or medicine consult your eye care professional. Even if the medication is prescribed you need to consult your ophthalmologist.
- It is advisable to apply eye make-up after inserting contact lenses. And before removing eye make-up make sure that you remove contact lenses.
- It is better to use aerosol products like deodorants, hairsprays and cologne before inserting contact lenses.
- Make your employer aware that you wear contact lenses. This is essential as certain jobs may require use of eye protection gear.
- Make sure that you get information booklet with your pack of contact lenses. In case you don’t get then ask for one. It is necessary that you follow each and every instruction mention on the patient information booklet.
- In case you are using disposable contact lenses then throw them after the recommended period of usage.
- Make sure that you replace your contact lenses as recommended by your ophthalmologist.
Things to Avoid by Contact Lenses Users
As per FDA there are certain things contact lens users need to avoid. Some of them are listed below:
- Avoid wearing lenses while sleep as it may increase the chances of irritation and infection.
- Avoid purchasing contact lens from unauthorized store to dispense contact lenses.
- Don’t use other person’s contact lenses. Swapping of contact lenses the possibility of infections, injury and other complications. Sometimes it might even lead to blindness.
- Avoid smoking as various research studies have shown that smokers wearing contact lenses experience more problems.
- Avoid swimming wearing contact lenses. It might increase the chances to bacterial infection.
- Avoid putting lens in mouth. Saliva is not a sterile solution and might cause infection.
- For cleaning your contact lenses do not use distilled water, tap water or any other homemade saline solution
- Never transfer your contact lens solution to any other container as it might affect its sterility.
- Don’t completely depend on contact lenses for protection from UV rays of sun. Make sure that you wear sun glasses before going out in sun.
