The last thing to touch your contact lens before it goes into your eye is your finger.
I can’t stress enough the importance of proper hand-washing before handling contact lenses. Wash your hands thoroughly with mild soap, rinse completely, and dry with a clean lint-free towel.
Recent studies reinforce the importance of clean hands:
1. Poor or no hand-washing before handling contact lenses increased lipid deposits on the lenses. This can adversely affect contact lens comfort, fit, wearing time, and visual acuity – not to mention attract microbial contamination to the contact lens surface.
2. Poor hand-washing results in increased bacterial deposits on the lens and/or eye. There may also be an inflammatory response to the bacteria, including redness and inflammation of the anterior surfaces of the eyes. Ultimately, less frequent hand-washing is a risk factor for microbial keratitis (eye infections and ulcers). Good hand hygiene, meanwhile, removes hand lotions, makeup, and other oils, which can make lenses uncomfortable or blurry.
To maximize contact lens comfort and longevity, wash your hands.