For many, contact lenses are a convenient and attractive alternative to glasses when they’re used appropriately. Anyone, from teenagers to the elderly, can benefit from contact lens use. After more than 30 years as the premier name in eye care for Greensboro and High Point, NC, Digby Eye Associates has helped countless customers get started with contacts.

Helpful Advice for Wearing Contact Lenses

1. Replace Your Lenses As Recommended

Your optometrist will tell you how often to replace them, which depends on the lenses you choose. Never use a pair of lenses longer than recommended, as excess wear can tear and degrade them over time. Damaged lenses can harm the surface of the eye.

2. Wash Your Hands Before Touching Lenses

Whenever you handle your contact lenses, wash your hands with antibacterial soap in advance. Whatever grime or microbes were transferred to your hands throughout the day can infect your eyes if they end up on your contacts.

3. Clean & Disinfect Lens Storage Regularly

Your lens storage should also receive regular cleanings. Although contact lens solution is enough to clean them, the storage container must be changed or fully sanitized from time to time.

4. Never Rinse Your Contacts Using Tap Water

While it may seem functional to use tap water to clean your contact lenses, avoid doing so at all costs. Tap water can harbor gritty mineral impurities, as well as microorganisms causing fungal infections. Purchase more contact lens solution if it’s running low.

5. Be Careful Using Eye Makeup 

Always apply eye makeup after putting in your contacts, and keep powder eye shadow away from your eyes. Avoid applying eyeliner to the waterlines between your eyes and lashes, and always choose liners and mascaras for sensitive eyes to prevent irritation. Lastly, remove your contacts with clean hands before washing off your eye makeup or using a makeup remover.

6. Only Purchase Lenses from Legitimate Sources 

While it may be tempting to purchase discounted contact lenses online or use colored lenses, these products are not always FDA-regulated and can cause problems. Common issues associated with unregulated contact lenses include eye infections and scratched corneas, which cause irritation and vision damage. Treat contacts as seriously as other prescriptions, and only obtain them through professional optometrists or ophthalmologists. 

7. Consult an Eye Doctor for Regular Eye Exams

Just as eyeglasses require regular eye exams to ensure that their prescription is up-to-date, your contact lenses will need evaluation regularly by an eye doctor. An outdated prescription can cause undue eye strain and further vision deterioration.

Whether you have experience using contact lenses or are just getting started, you need an optometrist you can trust. Look to Digby Eye Associates for everything you need to keep your contacts clean, safe, and up-to-date. Their team of trained professionals will provide you with the best products in the industry, alongside excellent customer service. Call (336) 230-1010 to schedule an appointment, or visit the website for additional details.