You will agree that your lenses (including contact lenses) make a huge difference in our lives.
Do you remember what it was like the first time you were able to see individual blades of grass and leaves on trees after putting them on, or read you bibles and other materials clearly?
It’s important to take good care of our lenses so that we can get the maximum benefit from wearing them.
Tips for Glasses Care
- Even with protective coatings, glasses tend to gather dust and oil as we wear them, and they require regular cleaning. As tempting as it is to reach for the corner of your shirt, it’s better to use a microfiber or cotton cloth and some glasses cleaner.
- Make sure never to use wood-based materials like napkins or tissues. Because they are made of wood pulp, they can scratch the lenses very easily which can affect the clarity of vision through the lenses .
- Also avoid using chemical cleaners like ammonia or window cleaner, because they can dissolve the protective coatings on your lenses.
- When you are not wearing your glasses, the best way to store them is in their case. Don’t fall asleep with them on, or you might damage them in your sleep!
Contact Lens Care and Safety
It’s a little more complicated to take care of contact lenses. This is because they sit directly on the eye, so hygiene is extremely important!
- Only handle contact lenses with freshly clean hands, and only use fresh *contact lens solution* to clean and store them, because it takes just one use for solution to become contaminated.
- Never use water or any other liquid on contact lenses (and definitely don’t use spit), because all sources of freshwater contain microorganisms that will contaminate your contact lenses.
- Follow the instructions on the packaging for how frequently to replace your lenses and how long to keep them in at a time. It might be tempting to use lenses beyond their recommended time but are your eyes worth the risk of a possible eye infection?
Preventing Eye Infections as a Contact Lens Wearer
A contact lens wearer should be diligent about minimizing the risk of eye infection by observing the following practices:
1. Do not rub your eyes (rubbing can damage the lens or introduce germs into the eye).
2. Blinking frequently to help spread tears over the surface of the eyes.
3. Drink water to stay hydrated
4. Use eyedrops when extra moisture is needed.
5. Follow the instructions for how long they are safe to wear and when to replace them!
Bring Us Your Lens Problems and Questions
If you have questions about how best to care for your lenses, whether glasses or contacts, just let us know! We want our patients to get the most out of their glasses and contacts.
Also, you can get in touch if you’re experiencing any redness, irritation or other symptoms from contact lens use. If everything is going well, still make sure to schedule regular eye exams! Not every eye problem or outdated prescription is obvious.
Our top priority is your lifelong healthy vision!