Don’t Do These 11 Things If You Wear Daily Disposable Contacts!
Countless people around the world wear daily disposable contact lenses or dailies. These popular single-use lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a new, fresh pair is inserted the next morning. Used properly, dailies promote eye health, and they’re comfortable and convenient.
Despite the many advantages associated with wearing daily disposables, there are plenty of ways you can damage your eyes and vision — some you may never have considered.
11 Things You Should Never Do With Daily Disposable Contacts
1. Don’t Touch Contacts with Dirty Hands
Before touching your lenses, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. By touching your contact lenses with dirty hands, you transfer bacteria to your lenses, which can lead to an infection. Preferably dry your hands with a disposable paper towel rather than a cloth towel, and ensure that no remnants of the towel remain on your fingers.
2. Don’t Expose Your Contacts to Water
Any source of water, whether tap, pool, or lake water, can change the shape of your lenses and cause micro-abrasions on your cornea. Plus, the water may contain bacteria that can wreak havoc on your eye health and cause you to experience temporary vision loss or even permanent blindness.
If you must get in the water with your contacts on, make sure to wear waterproof goggles. If you do get water on your contact lenses, dispose of these lenses and insert a new pair.
3. Don’t Reuse Your Contacts
Daily disposable contacts are designed to be thrown away after every single use, and people who reuse them risk painful and risky outcomes. Dailies are thinner, more fragile, and don’t hold moisture as well as other contacts. The risk of complications and infection is not worth the few saved bucks.
4. Don’t Insert a Dropped Contact In Your Eye
One of the perks of daily lenses is that they are less expensive (per lens) than other types of contacts. So if you find yourself dropping a lens into the sink or on the floor, don’t bother placing it back in your eye. Doing so can cost you your eye health.
5. Don’t Ever Put Contacts In Your Mouth
Your mouth contains bacteria that can infect your eyes once you reinsert your contacts. If you drop a contact lens, definitely don’t put it in your mouth to lubricate it. Play it safe by carrying around an emergency pair of glasses or an extra pair of daily disposable contacts in your bag, your car, or at work.
6. Don’t Overwear Your Daily Lenses
The maximum recommended daily use for any contact lens is 14-16 hours. Wearing your lenses for extended periods can significantly reduce the amount of oxygen your eyes receive, which can lead to complications including corneal abrasion and even bacterial infection.
7. Don’t Sleep With Your Lenses
Daily lenses should never be worn overnight. You’re risking your sight by sleeping in a lens that’s not approved for overnight use, as it can lead to ocular irritation, swelling and corneal ulcers.
8. Don’t Insert Contacts Before Completing Your Morning Routine
Avoid inserting your contacts before you shower or wash your face, since you risk exposing your lenses to tap water and the bacteria that come with it. Also insert your lenses after blow-drying and styling your hair, especially if you’re using hairspray or other aerosols.
9. Don’t Get Makeup On Your Contacts
Insert your contacts before applying makeup, because any makeup residue on your hands can easily transfer to your lenses. Avoid wearing waterproof makeup, since it can’t always be removed from your lenses, even when rinsed with solution.
10. Don’t Wear Contact Lenses If Your Eyes Are Irritated
As the saying goes, “if in doubt — take them out!” If your eyes feel irritated, uncomfortable, or if you notice any pain or redness, don’t power through. If your symptoms last a while, contact Optique Family Vision Care. You don’t want to let a serious infection go unchecked.
11. Don’t Rub Your Eyes
If your eyes feel itchy or dry, or if a lens feels out of place, you may be tempted to rub your eyes. But rubbing, whether with contacts or without, can lead to long-term ocular issues and may even damage your cornea. Your eye doctor at Optique Family Vision Care can recommend eye drops to relieve any discomfort.
If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more about contact lenses, contact Optique Family Vision Care in Washington Court House today. Your eye doctor will be happy to explain how to care for your eyes and maintain your vision.