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Wearing contacts can be a comfortable experience or it
can be a painful one. Although there are several things that can go
wrong with wearing contacts, the most common irritation is one that is
not that serious. Many contact wearers will notice that every now and
then they will see buildup on their lenses. This buildup usually looks
like a blurry spot on your lens that does not easily run off when
wetted. The buildup is commonly due to tear protein.
No matter how great
you are with handling your contacts, protein can sneak in and set up
house on your lenses. It is important to keep the protein under control
however or it can pose a bigger problem. Although all lenses are
susceptible to protein buildup, experts say that rigid gas-permeable
lenses might be more likely to allow more protein buildup than other
types.
If you are curious about why protein can
be such a problem for contact wearers, then you should know more about
what it does to your lenses. Initially you may see protein as a blurry
spot when you are wearing your lenses. If you cannot clean your lenses
right away, this can be quite annoying. When you get the chance to clean
your lenses you may find that the blurry area will not come clean very
easily. With a little aggressive rubbing you can sometimes get the spots
removed. However if you wait too long to clean the lens, the protein may
be there to stay. You can always call your doctor for a stronger
cleaning solution to use. Protein buildup causes lenses to be more
uncomfortable to wear as well. Your eyes will not be able to tolerate
the lenses as well.
The best thing to do when dealing with
protein buildup on your contact lenses is to do everything you can to
prevent it. The best thing you can do to prevent the buildup is to clean
your lenses often. You should always clean them by rubbing them with
saline solution before you put them in your eyes and after you take them
out of your eyes. This will start attacking the protein before it has a
chance to latch onto the lens. Always make sure your hands are clean
from dirt, food, and lotions when handling your lenses. Be sure you are
using the proper type of cleaner as well. Some cleaners work better on
certain types of lenses and vice versa. Ask your doctor for suggestions.
Be
sure to clean out your lens storage case often as well. You would be
surprised at how much bacteria and protein can live in the case alone.
Never clean it with water, as it contains chemicals. Be sure to clean it
using a lens cleaner and let it air dry. Buy a new lens storage case
every three months or sooner. This will help with any possible protein
buildup as well.
If you do have protein buildup on your contacts,
try cleansing them with your regular cleaner. You may need to rub them
for up to a minute in order to remove the buildup. Be careful rubbing
them as you don’t want to tear the lenses. If you cannot remove the
protein, call your doctor’s office and ask if there is a specific
protein cleanser that you can use on your specific lenses. If there is,
try using it to remove the protein. If you still cannot get the protein
removed, consider tossing the lenses if they are disposable. If they are
not disposable you can always take them into your doctor to let him or
her give them a thorough cleaning.
Never wear your contacts if
you think they have protein buildup on them. You will only be allowing
your eyes to be uncomfortable. Protein buildup irritates the eyes. It
also can construe your vision so that you cannot see as clearly as you
should be able to see. Sometimes large protein buildup spots can even
block entire sections of your vision. Be sure to do what you can to
prevent this type of buildup. Talk to your doctor about any problems you
may be having. The best thing you can do however is to be sure you are
cleansing your contacts correctly each day. Proper cleansing is the key
to getting rid of protein buildup forever.
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