Tag: contact lens case

Minimize Risk of Contact Lens Related Problems

Karen Griffith

Contact lens safety depends on the wearer following the prescribed lens wear schedule and cleaning regime.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes three key areas to healthy contact lens wear:
1. Healthy contact lens hygiene habits

Always wash your hands with soap and water before inserting and removing the contact lenses

Replace your contact case at least every 3 months.

2. Proper use, care and storage of contact lenses and supplies

Don’t sleep in your contact lenses. Sleeping in contact lenses increases the chance of an eye infection 6 to 8 times.

Replace your contact lenses as prescribed

Rinse out your contact lens case every morning, turn upside down and allow to air dry.

Soft Contact Lens Solutions

3. Regular visits to the optometrist

Contact lens materials and solutions change as do our eyes. To maintain good vision and healthy eyes have an eye examination every year.

Established contact lens wearers tend to have higher levels of case contamination compared to new contact lens wearers. Poor contact lens habits develop over time, don’t become compliant, remember the details of good contact lens care to ensure your continued successful contact lens use.

Contact Lens Bad Habits

Karen Griffith

 

 

 

 

 

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Contact Lens Misbehaviors[/heading]hand-washing

 

  1. Overstayed Welcome. Studies indicate around half of soft contact lens users wear lenses longer than prescribed. If you wait until the lenses start to bother you, you waited to long.
  2. Caught Dirty Handed. The cleanest, daily disposable lenses are all for naught if wearers do not wash their hands before inserting the lenses. The last thing touching the lens before it goes into the eye is your finger.
  3. Damp Digits. The flip side of dirty hands are wet hands. Sometimes people forget to dry their hands before handling contact lenses. Water can harbor harmful microorganisms that can be transferred onto the lens and subsequently into the eye. Make sure the towel you use is clean.
  4. No Respect for the System. Not all contact lens care systems are created equal, in terms of disinfection and chemical sensitivities. Some solutions are not compatible with all  lens materials. Before grabbing a cheaper, generic solution consider your eye comfort and health.
  5. A Case of Grimy Cases. Proper contact lens care extends to storage cases, as well. Contact lens cases should be replaced at least every three months and cases should be cleaned and disinfected daily.
  6. Dozing Dangers. And finally, people snoozing in contact lenses that are not designed to be slept in are at a five times higher risk of developing corneal infections, ulcers and inflammations. Even extended wear lenses carry risk of infections. If you are in a situation without a case and solution, just throw your lenses away instead of sleeping in them.

Contact lenses are an amazing medical device. When treated well and respectively you can count on years of successful wear.

Successful Contact Lens Wear

Karen Griffith

Proper contact lens care is essential for the best contact lens wearing experience

contact lens and eye

Contact lens wear is quite safe as long as proper lens and storage case care are followed. Improper lens wear and care can put the lens wearer at risk for serious consequences. Sight-threatening microbial keratitis (corneal ulcer) is the most significant adverse event associated with contact lens wear and is largely preventable.
Single-use or daily disposable soft lenses are prescribed to be worn once and discarded. This is the safest soft lens wearing modality because no lens cleaning, lens care or storage case is required.
The contact lens storage case is the most likely potential reservoir for contact lens related ocular infections. Contact lens cases are not meant to be family heirlooms. Replace the case at least every 3 months.

General Contact Lens Care Instructions

  • Hand washing: always wash your hands before handling contact lenses. Use mild, basic soap and avoid  deodorant, scented or moisturizing liquid soaps.
  • Cleaning, rinsing and disinfection: Digital cleaning (rubbing the lens with your finger on your palm) removes dirt and debris and prepares the lens surfaces for disinfection. Rub and rinse thoroughly, even if the product is labeled “no rub.” Lens storage solutions contain chemicals that inhibit or kill potentially dangerous microorganisms while the lenses are soaked overnight.
  • Do not re-use old solution or “top-off” the liquid in the lens storage case. Empty the storage case daily and always use fresh solution.
  • Do not use lens care products beyond their expiration dates. Discard opened bottles after 30 days.
  • Do not allow the tip of the solution bottle to cone in contact with any surface, and keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
  • Make-up Removal: Insert contact lenses before applying contact lenses. Take contact lenses off before thoroughly removing make-up every night.
  • Keep contact lens storage case clean, inside and out. Replace the case at least every 3 months.

The Contact Lens Case

admin

Not much thought goes towards the contact lens case. But this little keeper of contact lenses can harbor microbes and oils that contaminate the contact lenses. Dirty contact lens cases make for dirty contact lenses, increasing the chance of blur, discomfort and infection of the eyes.

Eye Hygiene Care - set of contact lens cases

A recent study in Australia showed that the manufacturer’s recommendation of rinsing with multi-purpose contact lens solution and air drying is not enough. The most effective technique to remove the most bacteria was to rinse and wipe the case with a tissue before air drying.

I have always advocated dumping the contact lens solution every morning and rinsing the case with hot water then air drying. I am now adding the use of multi-purpose solution (MPS) instead of water and wiping with a tissue as well. For soft contact lens wearers, using the MPS to rinse instead of water is safer. For rigid gas permeable wearers, hot water is still indicated. (the soaking solutions are too viscous to be effective).

Contact lens case care (soft lenses)
1. Dump solution
2. Rinse with multi-purpose solution
3. Wipe with a tissue
4. Air dry

Contact lens case care (rigid gas permeable lenses)
1. Dump out solution
2. Rinse in hot water
3. Wipe with a tissue
4. Air dry

And the final step to maintaining a clean contact lens case it to replace it regularly.