Contact lenses provide another option for improving eyesight. However, you need to keep them clean to enjoy all the benefits. Failing to care for them properly can result in an infection, so follow the best practices outlined by your optometrist and keep these do’s and don’ts in mind.

Do:

Wash your hands thoroughly first.

No matter how well you clean your contacts, they’re just going to get dirty again if your hands are full of bacteria. Before handling your contact lenses, start with clean and dry hands.

Clean your case regularly.

Your case can also easily transfer bacteria and germs to your contacts. To prevent this, clean it out with solution in between each use, and replace the case every three months as well.

Don’t:

Use homemade solutions or tap water.

Some people think they can save money by using water or homemade cleaners on contacts. However, each type of contact has specific cleaning requirements, so it’s important to use only the solutions recommended by the manufacturer and your optometrist. Otherwise, your solution may not kill all the bacteria on your contacts or you could even damage them in the process.

Reuse solution.

Others may also try to save by reusing the same solution multiple days in a row. However, once a contact solution has been used, it then holds the bacteria you’ve already cleaned off of your contacts and won’t be able to clean as effectively. These solutions are made to be used once, so follow those instructions for best results.

If you’re thinking about getting contact lenses, Nelson O. Yoshioka Jr., O.D., Cheryl C. Niitani, O.D., and Evan Tanaka, O.D. can help. With offices in Honolulu and Pearl City, HI, the optometrists and their staff take pride in offering quality vision care services to people throughout Oahu. They use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and methods to deliver effective solutions to people of all ages. Whether you need new eyeglasses or just want to schedule an annual exam, visit their website to learn more about service options. When you’re ready to schedule an appointment, call (808) 734-7050 for the Honolulu office or (808) 455-3333 for the Pearl City office.