Summary: Contact lenses are considered medical devices and should be treated as such to avoid infection, irritation, and irreversible damage.
There is a common misconception floating around that contact lenses and dry eyes are directly correlated with one another. While this may be true in certain circumstances, suffering from dry eyes means that the moisturizing film in your eyes aren’t working as well as they could – they do not automatically mean that contact lenses are the culprit.
While it can make wearing your contacts more difficult, and perhaps even exacerbate the symptoms of dry eyes, there are ways to bypass some of these irritating symptoms.
Always Wash Your Hands Before Touching Your Contact Lenses
Before handling your contact lenses, always make sure your hands are clean. Touching your contacts with dirty fingertips makes it more likely you will transfer pathogens to your eyes. This typically leads to serious infections that may require serious medical attention. Lens.com, an experienced contact lens supplier, recommends washing your hands with water and mild soap and drying them with a lint-free tower before touching your contact lenses.
Never Sleep With Your Contacts On
This is one of the biggest mistakes that you can do. Sleeping or napping with your contact lenses on increases your risk of infection. The reason behind this is because your lenses don’t allow your eyes to receive the proper amount of oxygen they need, therefore creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Furthermore, infections that occur on the cornea may lead to corneal ulcers which are essentially sores that itch and burn.
Don’t Wear Your Contact Lenses Beyond Their Expiration Date
On the side of each contact lens box, there should be a printed expiration date. It’s important that you follow this date and never wear them past this date. Even if you follow the safest, most hygienic cleaning route there is, debris will naturally start to build up over time, making it more difficult for your natural tears to spread evenly across your eyes.
Naturally, this can lead to a variety of problems – especially if you’re dealing with dry eyes. Instead, if the time is up on your lenses, simply contact your local optometrist or buy contacts online from a reputable supplier that you’ve purchased from before. The process is quick and you won’t have to deal with the issues that commonly follow with wearing expired contacts.
The Bottom Line
The key to keeping your eyes healthy is to follow your eye doctor’s instructions at any cost. Failing to do so can result in serious infections, irritation, and will eventually exacerbate your dry eye symptoms. If you have further questions, consult with your optometrist and he or she will gladly give you a rundown on what you need to do to keep your eyes safe and healthy.
