Are Contact Lenses Safe?

Millions of people in the UK wear contact lenses, which have many benefits, such as convenience, comfort, and more natural vision, giving more all-round vision free from distracting spectacle frame rims in sight, compared to glasses. While contact lenses are safe to wear, they sit directly onto your eyes, so proper care and safety precautions are required to protect eye health during wear and reduce the risk of getting an infection.

Here, we’ll explain how to wear contacts safely and the vital dos and don’ts of contact lenses.

Will contact lenses damage my eyes?

If worn correctly, it is perfectly safe to wear contact lenses. If you’re wearing contact lenses for the first time, they may feel strange at first, and you might experience some blurry vision and discomfort for up to two weeks while your eyes adjust. This is normal, though, and often nothing to worry about unless the problems persist, in which case, make sure you speak to your optometrist.

However, poor hygiene practices and bad contact lens habits can lead to complications, such as bacterial infections, swelling and pain and more serious damage, such as corneal ulcers, temporary visual loss and even blindness.

How to wear contact lenses safely

To wear contact lenses safely, the most important things to remember are to let your eyes breathe by taking a break from wearing them and keeping your lenses clean.

Let your eyes breathe

Contact lenses can have an impact on the amount of moisture and oxygen that reaches the front surface of your eye, which can lead to comfort issues, such as dry eye syndrome, bacteria growing on your cornea, infections, pain, blurred vision and redness. Depending on the type of contact lens you wear, they can be worn for a maximum of 10-12 hours a day.

As part of a healthy contact lens-wearing schedule, it is recommended to take a full day’s break every now and then, for example, on a weekend or a day you’re not working, to let your eyes rest. On rest days, you can temporarily wear a pair of eyeglasses instead.

Keep your contact lenses clean

Keeping your contact lenses clean is vital for your overall eye health and the longevity of your contacts unless you use daily disposable lenses. When used regularly, bacteria, debris, and general grime build up on the lenses. Without daily cleaning, these dirty lenses will be more uncomfortable and increase the risk of developing an eye infection.

While only a small percentage of lens wearers, approximately 4 out of 20,000 in the UK, develop an eye infection each year, they can be severe and cause pain and intense discomfort. Your optician will recommend a suitable contact lens solution to use to disinfect your lenses after each use. It’s also recommended to disinfect your lens cases regularly to remove any dust or dirt buildup and replace the cases every three months.

Using the correct solution is also important, as it’s the most effective cleaning agent that will ensure your lenses are safe to wear. You never use tap water or a homemade saline solution, as it won’t be enough to remove all bacteria, and so poses a risk of serious infection. Additionally, you should also never show or swim in lenses. Expired or old contact lens solution that you may have used the night before should be disposed of and not reused as the solution will have lost its effectiveness and increase the risk of infection.

Dos and don’ts when wearing contact lenses

Below are the crucial dos and don’ts of wearing contact lenses to keep in mind and ensure you’re always practising proper care and hygiene.

The DOs:

While it may seem like a bit of effort, following these contact lenses dos will keep your eyes safe and your contact lenses in good condition:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your eyes or lenses to avoid spreading bacteria.
• Clean and disinfect your lenses daily, unless you wear disposable lenses, by using the proper contact lens solution.
• Dispose of daily lenses at the end of each day.
• Store your lenses in their case when you aren’t wearing them.
• Keep the lens case clean every day.
• Ideally, replace the case every 3 months.
• Make sure the contact lens solution bottles are closed properly and out of reach of children to avoid contamination.
• Discard any contact lens solution past its expiry date.
• While putting in your contact lenses, try to relax and not tense up, as this will make for a quick and smoother application.
• Get into the habit of inserting the same lens first each morning to avoid any confusion.
• Avoid getting makeup, soap or aerosol products in and around the eyes.
• Carry an extra pair of contact lenses or glasses with you in case of emergencies.
• To prevent dry eyes, stay hydrated and use moisturising eye drops that are compatible with your lenses.
• Schedule regular eye exams to maintain your eye health and discuss any issues you may be experiencing with contacts.
• Remove your contact lenses if you experience abnormal discomfort.
• If you’re feeling unwell, it’s best to stop wearing contact lenses until you are better and symptom-free to avoid spreading bacteria.

The DON’Ts:

Below are some of the things you should avoid doing to prevent the risk of damage to your eyes and the lenses themselves or infections:

• Don’t sleep in your contact lenses, as this will significantly reduce airflow and moisture to your eyes, leading to further complications, such as corneal ulcer formation.
• Try not to wear contact lenses for more than 12 hours.
• Don’t wear contact lenses that haven’t been prescribed to you as this is unhygienic and the type of contact lenses won’t be suited to your specific eye needs.
• Don’t share lenses or lens cases with others, such as close family members or partners.
• Take out your contact lenses before swimming or using a jacuzzi, sauna or steam room.
• If you want to change your lens care products, consult your optician first.
• Don’t reuse contact lens solutions.
• Never use tweezers to remove contact lenses unless advised otherwise by a medical professional, as this could be dangerous and cause serious damage to your eye.
• Only use eye drops that are compatible with your contact lenses.
• Don’t put your contact lenses under tap water or in your mouth to moisten them.

Do schedule regular eye check-ups and proper care

To summarise, contact lenses are perfectly safe to wear and unlikely to cause damage if you follow the correct care and safety precautions, such as taking a break to allow your eyes to breathe, keeping the lenses clean and ensuring your hygiene practices are up to standard.

However, even by following the advice above, it’s still highly important to schedule regular eye check-ups to maintain your eye health and discuss any problems.

Book an eye appointment with your local Leighton’s branch today.

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