Eye health: How to take care of your contact lenses

If you’re the one who has to wear contact lenses regularly, it becomes imperative for you to ensure that your lenses are properly cleant. Cleaning the contact lens will not only assist in promoting good health of the eyes but also will substantially reduce the risk of infection. It will help you see better and clearer.

1. Before you touch your lenses, either to put them in or take them out, you should wash your hands using a mild soap, ideally fragrance and oil free. You should make sure you dry your hands thoroughly with a lint free towel to avoid any small debris getting in your eyes.

2. Slide the lens out of the packet or case onto the palm of your hand using your finger. If you have been advised to rinse your lenses with solution by your eye doctor or eye clinic do this now, then place the lens on the tip of your index finger.

3. Rinse your lens with a cleaning solution and then replace it in the lens case. Remember to never rinse your eye lenses with water. Water contains many microbes which can cause serious infections to your eyes.

4. Fill the lens case with cleaning solution. You should always use a new solution after disposing the earlier used and never “top off” from the last used solution.

5. Soft contact lenses are more likely than hard lenses to absorb pollutants in the air and in the environment including smoke, sprays, fumes and other substances. Any time you remove your soft contact lenses you will need to clean them. There are special lens cleaners designed for these types of lenses.

6. In case you are wearing hard contact lenses you will have to clean and disinfect your lens every time you wear them with cleansing solutions exclusively designed for your hard lenses. Your lens type will determine exactly which solution should be used and also the frequency of cleaning your lenses.