Contact lenses are the perfect choice of corrective eyewear for people who are active or simply don’t want to worry about donning eyeglasses every day. Despite their many advantages, though, infections can develop if the lenses are not correctly taken care of. Fortunately, you can reduce this risk and protect your overall eye health by following a few simple tips. 

Caring for the Lenses

If you want to protect your eye health while wearing contact lenses, always follow your eye doctor’s guidelines for cleaning and replacing them. This includes washing your hands thoroughly before handling them, rinsing and storing them in an approved cleaning solution, and taking them out before swimming.

You should also dispose of the lenses and their case as advised. Unless you wear single-use lenses, that usually means replacing them every two to four weeks, but some contacts are designed to last much longer. Regardless, do not use the same lens case for more than three months, as infection-causing bacteria can eventually grow in it.

Caring for Your Eyes 

If you wear contact lenses, it’s important to schedule regular eye exams. This will give an optometrist the chance to identify and treat any minor problems before they turn into major issues. An eye doctor will also want to know about any discomfort the lenses cause so they can teach you how to ease it. For example, did you know you should never use certain kinds of eye drops while wearing contacts because the lenses can absorb the liquid, irritating the eye all day long? And if you are experiencing allergy symptoms when wearing contacts, you may need to switch to products that are labeled “preservative-free.”

If you want to learn more about caring for contact lenses or need a new prescription, turn to The Whitefish Eye Center in Montana. They have been treating patients of all ages throughout Flathead County for more than 40 years. Visit their website to learn more about the quality eye care they provide, or call (406) 862-2020 to make an appointment today.