If you’re one of the 45 million Americans who wear contact lenses, there’s a good chance that you’re using them in an unhygienic way. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of contact-lens wearers practice at least one “contact lens hygiene risk behavior.” These include not replacing cases frequently enough and wearing lenses to sleep.
In some cases, these behaviors can lead to doctor’s visits and other health issues — but many of these problems are preventable. Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do with your contact lenses to minimize the risk of infection and discomfort.
13 things you should never do with your contact lenses
Are contacts safe? Yes — but only if used correctly. From topping up old contact solution to touching your eyes with dirty hands, here are some of the most common contact lens mistakes to avoid.
Rub your eyes
There’s a reason you’re told to not rub your eyes while wearing contact lenses. Dr. Jennifer Martin Maples, an optometrist with over 20 years of experience, told CNET: “Regardless of contact lens wear, eye rubbing is not a good idea because bacteria and viruses are transferred from the hands to the eye, which can result in eye infection.”
Rubbing your eyes can also worsen eye allergies and has been associated with keratoconus — an eye disease that causes thinning of the cornea and poor vision even when wearing the best glasses or contacts. Not to mention, rubbing your eyes can cause contact lenses to dislodge, fall out or become decentered.
You also don’t want to risk scratching or damaging your cornea or cause your contacts to fold in your eye. To be safe, wash your hands and remove the contacts first before rubbing or touching your eyes.
Sleep with contact lenses
According to the CDC, 1 in 3 contact lens wearers say they sleep or nap in their lenses. However, the agency warns against doing so, saying that wearing contacts to bed can make you six to eight times more likely to get an eye infection. So, are contacts bad for your eyes at night?
“When you sleep in contact lenses, the front surface of the eye known as the cornea becomes deprived of oxygen and the risk of corneal infection increases,” Maples said.
Even though some contacts are approved for extended or overnight use, daily use contacts reduce hydration and oxygen flow to your eyes, which can leave them more vulnerable to bacteria and infections, such as bacterial keratitis and fungal keratitis. Additionally, Maples points out that corneal infections can cause painful corneal ulcers and may result in irreversible vision loss.
Reuse the solution
When you disinfect your contact lenses, you should first ensure that you’ve emptied out any old contact solution that’s still in the case from the last time you cleaned your lenses. Then, you should rinse the case with a new solution and let it air dry before you wash your lenses again. Keep in mind used contact lens solution is no longer sterile.
If you reuse or top off the old solution, the disinfection process will be less effective, and you’ll be more likely to get germs in your case or lenses.
“Reusing or topping off old solution increases the risk of infection with bacteria, fungi and amoebae,” said Maples. These can eventually lead to eye infections and ulcers. So make sure you’re using fresh solution each time.
Use tap water instead of solution
Another risky behavior is using tap water or another liquid, rather than a sterile contact solution, to clean your lenses or case. The official CDC recommendation is to keep contacts away from water altogether and throw away or disinfect any lenses that touch the water.
“Water harbors microbes and exposure of contact lenses to water greatly increases the risk for corneal infection, ulcer and irreversible vision loss,” said Maples.
Leave sunscreen on your contacts
As you may know, getting sunscreen in your eyes can be a painful experience. “You should be careful to avoid getting sunscreen in the eyes or on your contacts because sunscreen can irritate the eyes,” says Maples. However, it can be even worse if you get it on your contacts because not only will it sting your eyes, but it can also ruin your lenses. If that happens, you’ll want to be prepared with a backup pair of lenses or glasses.
To prevent leaving sunscreen on your contacts, wash and dry your hands before putting them near your eyes. Follow the same process when taking them out.
Shower with contacts in
You should also avoid showering with contacts in, for the same reasons we’ve just mentioned above. Even if you live in an area with clean, drinkable water, wearing contacts in the shower increases your risk of keratitis, a serious eye infection that can lead to permanent vision loss or impairment. As Maples mentioned, adding water to contacts can introduce bacteria into the eye so you want to avoid that.
Another common question: Can you wash your face with contacts in? Again, no. Getting your contacts wet — whether while showering or washing your face — can cause them to bend or stick to your eye, potentially scratching your cornea and making them painful to remove.
Go swimming
Like showering and cleaning your contacts with water, wearing contact lenses while swimming or using a hot tub is another major no-no. This just makes you more at risk of getting an infection, so it’s not a habit Maples supports.
Whether you’re in a pool or a natural body of water, your contacts can soak up the water (which may be contaminated with bacteria) and trap it against your eye. After this happens, you may be more likely to develop uncomfortable and dangerous eye problems, including inflammation, infection, irritation and corneal abrasion.
Not replacing them frequently
There are many types of contact lenses, including daily wear and extended wear options. But regardless of which kind you have, it’s important to replace them according to your eye doctor’s recommendations. That might mean changing them daily, weekly or monthly.
“As the lenses age, more pathogens collect on the lenses,” said Maples, adding, “Even with regular cleaning and disinfecting, small defects in the lens surface allow for pathogens to hide in small tears or crevices in the lens surface.”
If you use a pair of contact lenses for too long, the consequences can be serious, ranging from discomfort to pain to blindness. Speak with your eye doctor immediately if you’ve noticed any of these symptoms.
Touching your eyes with dirty hands
Whether inserting or removing your contact lenses, it’s imperative to do so with clean hands. “Even when the hands look clean, they still harbor pathogens that can cause serious eye infections,” Maples warned. You could get all kinds of bacteria into your contacts or eyes, increasing the chances of developing inflammation or an infection.
There are simple ways to reduce these risks: Before handling your lenses, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water, then use a clean towel to dry them.
Leave contacts in even when eyes are itchy
Itchy eyes can be triggered by a number of things, including seasonal allergies, dryness or an allergic reaction to your contacts or contact solution.
“Environmental allergies can be exacerbated by contact lens wear if not properly managed,” Maples said.
In some cases, the contact lenses could trigger the allergic response. Either way, it’s best to temporarily take out your contacts until you’ve identified and resolved the issue with your doctor.
“Without proper treatment, continued wear of contact lenses can worsen allergy symptoms and lead to increased discomfort and irritation,” Maples explained.
In some cases, relief from itchy, dry eyes may be as simple as changing the brand of your contacts, replacing your lenses more often or using eye drops. Your ophthalmologist can help you determine the best solution for your situation.
Keeping your case dirty
Since your case holds your contact lenses while you wash them, it should also be kept clean and tightly sealed. Otherwise, it could transfer bacteria onto your lenses and potentially lead to an eye infection. “Over time, pathogens accumulate on the contact lens case and can form a thin film, called a biofilm, that can lead to infection,” said Maples.
She recommends cleaning your case daily using contact lens solution, rinsing and air-drying in a room that is not your bathroom. Maples recommends replacing your contact lens case once a month.
Leave makeup on your contacts
If you wear makeup, you need to be careful about not getting it on your contacts, as it could leave a film and contaminate them. To avoid this, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before putting in your contacts and again when taking them out.
Also, the American Optometric Association suggests putting in soft lenses before you apply makeup. If you wear rigid gas-permeable lenses, these should be inserted after doing your makeup routine.
“Makeup should be removed nightly to avoid blockage of the meibomian (oil) glands in the eyelids and to remove bacteria and allergens, like pollen,” said Maples. She added that blockage of the eyelids’ glands can lead to infection, commonly called a stye.
Tamper with your contact solution
If you’re heading out on a business trip or weekend away, it might be tempting to transfer your contact solution into a smaller, travel-friendly container. However, the US Food and Drug Administration advises against this, as it can compromise the solution’s sterility and put you at risk of an eye infection. “This could also result in damage to the eyes and reduced efficacy of the disinfecting and cleaning process,” Maples said.
The FDA recommends disposing of any contact solution that’s past its expiration or discard date since the formula can become less effective after these dates.
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