Contact Lens SafetyFirst-time and even more experienced wearers of colored contacts are often “looking through rose-colored glasses”. Excited only about the cosmetic benefits that their new lenses provide, some consumers put the ramifications and details of their safe use a far second behind “looks”.
However, taking care of colored contacts in between uses should be the first order of business in a beauty regimen. This is not only essential for keeping colored contacts in top condition, free of wear and tear, but more importantly vital for the health and wellbeing of the wearer. Failing to follow a proper cleaning protocol may put the consumer at risk for a host of eye infections, some of which can be very serious and possibly result in blindness.
With the proper instructions and a few supplies, contact lens care is a simple task that will allow the wearer to enjoy their new lenses as long as possible. Basic maintenance of your color contacts include four easy-to-follow steps; prepare, clean, rinse, and disinfect.
• Prepare: Wash your hands to remove dirt and germs that could contaminate your eyes; avoid moisturizing or cream-based soaps as they are not good for colored contacts. Dry with a clean, lint-free towel.
• Clean: Avoiding your fingernails, remove one contact lens and clean it in the solution product recommended by your eye care professional. Place a few drops of the solution into the palm of you hand and gently rub lens with index finger to remove debris. Add more solution and flip over lens to repeat process.
• Rinse: Rinse lens with more solution to wash away dirt and build-up; don’t skimp on this step. Also, never use water from the tap as a rinsing agent as it contains micro-organisms that could cause an unwanted infection.
• Disinfect: Store your color contact lens in a clean case that has been filled with fresh solution to begin the disinfection process. “Topping off” your lens case with a bit of solution is like mixing clean with dirty; don’t do it! Allow your color contacts to disinfect in the solution for the full amount of time, often 6 hours or longer, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Following these simple steps will keep your colored contact lenses sterile and clean for your next wearing. These basic care instructions will remove build-up, cosmetics, allergens and other debris that can muck up your lenses, making them uncomfortable to wear. When you follow the steps you will be happy with your colored contacts and they will be happy with you!
Other good habits to form for safe wearing of colored contact lenses are to limit wearing for 6 to 8 hours at a time; do not wear them for napping or overnight sleeping. Even if the colored contacts are not bothering you, your eyes still need time to get fresh air and rest. When applying makeup, insert your cleaned lenses after you have fixed yourself up; use water-based cosmetics rather than oil-based cosmetics when at all possible. When washing your face a night, do so after you have first removed your color contacts and cleaned and disinfected them according to directions.
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