Contact lenses are a popular option for vision correction—30 million people in the US wear them—and there’s good reason: it’s an excellent option for those that don’t want to wear glasses or get corrective surgery. But what’s striking is the amount of these wearers who are believed to not properly care for their lenses; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that anywhere between 40-90% do not do so, which can lead to the risk of serious eye infection. That said, according to Oahu’s best optometrist, Dr. Endo of Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates, proper maintenance of lenses can easily be incorporated to your daily life.

So how do you properly care for your contacts? Let’s take a look:

• Clean Hands: Before putting or taking out lenses, make sure your hands are washed with soap that’s free of oils, lotions or perfumes.
• Finger Tips: As much as possible, only use your finger tips to handle lenses; never use tweezers or fingernails.
• Double Check: Before inserting lenses, make sure there’s no debris, dirt or damage on the lens.
• Stick to the Schedule: Be sure to adhere strictly to the schedule prescribed by your eye doctor: never wear lenses that are too old.
• New Solution: Every time you take out your lenses, clean and disinfect them with fresh solution: never, ever recycle it.
• Symptoms: If your eyes become red, irritated or if you notice your vision changing, take the lenses out as soon as possible and call your optometrist.

It’s important to closely follow any additional instructions you get from your eye doctor. Of course, if you’re looking to get your first pair of contacts or a new prescription, the dedicated staff of Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates are ready to help. They want nothing more than to help you see the beautiful world around you clearly and sharply.

To schedule an appointment, call the office at (808) 487-5500, and, if you’d like to learn more about this practice, the kinds of services they provide and products they carry, check out their website.