You must have heard stories about individuals keeping their contact lenses in for so long that the lenses cemented themselves to their eyes or allowed an infection to spread thus resulting in blindness. While we'd want to believe that these stories are false, the truth is that if you wear contact lenses, you must ensure that you're wearing them correctly since misuse can lead to major difficulties. So in order to help you get the most out of your contacts, we've listed the most common mistakes people make while wearing them. Read on to learn more about them & how to avoid them the next time you wear your lenses.

Five Common Mistakes to Avoid When Wearing Lenses

Wearing Contacts While Going to Bed

One of the greatest mistakes you can make with contact lenses is sleeping with them (unless they are particularly made for extended usage). When you sleep with your contact lenses in, your chance of developing an eye infection increases by six to eight times. The reason for this is that your eyes require oxygen & moisture to combat dangerous germs & bacteria. Even a brief snooze in the afternoon is not recommended since closing your eyes creates an atmosphere conducive to pathogen growth.

Forgetting To Clean Your Contact Lenses

You might assume that it's okay to go a few days without cleaning your contacts but this is not the case. One of the most common mistakes people make with contact lenses is failing to clean them. Failure to follow a lens cleaning regimen leads to infections, irritation & the development of keratitis. Keratitis is an eye illness that affects the cornea. It's unpleasant & might cause scars. As a result, always follow the cleaning instructions for your specific contacts & maintain a cleaning routine.

Putting Contacts with Dirty Hands

Believe it or not but you frequently come into contact with unclean surfaces such as doorknobs, dogs & your own hair. This implies that you should always wash your hands before putting in or taking out your contacts. After all, you wouldn't want to get all of the microorganisms from your regular life into your eyeball. It's also necessary to clean your contact lenses before putting them. This phase applies to persons who wear weekly, biweekly or monthly contacts. For this, all you gotta do is rub your contact lens between your *clean* index finger & thumb to remove any buildup from the previous day's wear.

Swimming or Showering in Contacts

Showering with contacts is not recommended due to the risk of contact with tap water. If your contact lenses come into touch with any type of tap water, you risk contracting acanthamoeba, a type of amoeba-borne illness. Water can enter beneath your lens, potentially exposing your cornea to the amoeba, which is how infection occurs. Thus to be safe, remove your contacts before entering the shower or bath.

Using an Old Contact Solution or an Old Lens Case

Yes, the contact solution can expire & should not be used when it does. If your solution has expired, it's time to buy a new bottle. In case you only wear contact lenses sometimes & find that your solution expires frequently, we recommend purchasing smaller bottles. Similarly, using an outdated contacts case is like placing those cornea huggers in a petri dish. As a result, you should replace your contact case every three months.

Final Thoughts

These are just a handful of the most common mistakes individuals make while wearing contacts. Remember that your eyes are windows into the world around you. Do not take them for granted. Maintain good eye health by scheduling frequent eye exams. Want to learn more about eye health? We at Anand Netralaya have you covered. Visit our website to learn more about contact lenses & other eye-care issues! And if you have any further concerns regarding contact lens care, please call or use the online booking feature to schedule an appointment.