With much advancement in the field of contact lenses allowing for increased comfort and duration of use, contact lens use has been rising fast. Despite their many benefits, there are some things to keep in mind as a contact lens wearer to avoid increasing certain risks. Our Langley optometrists at West Coast Optical have compiled the following article to educate you on these risks and how to avoid them.
Store them properly
One of the most common mistakes that contact wearers make is improperly storing them. This can range from using a storage case for an overly long period of time to not changing the contact lens solution daily.. Bad habits like these can ruin the cleaning and disinfecting process and can increase the likelihood of eye infections. Regularly change your lens case and store them in contact lens solution approved by your Optometrist.
Invest in UV protection
Some contact lenses such as Acuvue Oasys include UV protection in their lens design, and provide the maximum eye protection from uv light.. Don’t rely on only your sunlasses for UV protection, but look for contact lenses that provide UV protection all the time. If you’re going to be in the sun a lot on a regular basis, your best bet is to wear contact lenses with UV protection and to invest in a pair of sunglasses with UV protection. Your Langley Optometrists can recommend the right contact lenses for your eyes.
Don’t wear them past their recommended disposal date
Never continue to wear your contacts past their recommended disposal date. Yes, you can save money by wearing your contacts for as long as possible before throwing them out, but doing so will increase the chances of getting eye infections, damaging your eyes and cause significant discomfort. Throughout the years, our Langley optometrists have seen the many negative effects of this practice and we cannot stress the importance of following the disposal date guidelines that your optometrist recommends.
Avoid smoking
If you are a smoker and a contact lens wearer, you are at a higher risk for adverse eye reactions and corneal ulcers. Quitting smoking is the best solution to this problem, but for those that don’t plan on doing so anytime soon, make a habit of removing your contact lenses before having a smoke. This will decrease the risk of smoke irritating your eyes and damaging your lenses, which can pose significant health problems.
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses that can provide more comfort and just as much visual correction. Just keep the above tips from our Langley optometrists in mind when wearing and caring for them to ensure that you don’t unintentionally cause your eyes harm. Take a look at our “Symptoms of Eye Problems – When to Visit an Optometrist”article for some symptoms of eye problems or drop by our store if you’re in the Langley, White Rock or Aldergrove areas.
