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Contacts are a great thing to have especially when eye
glasses irritate you. They are stylish and discreet. The only way people
know you are wearing contacts is when you choose to tell them. The first
contacts manufactured were uncomfortable and difficult to handle.
Today’s lenses are easier to deal with and when handled properly, they
are as comfortable as wearing nothing at all. If you are a new contact
wearer remember these eight things to consider when handling your
contacts in order to get the most out of your new eye wear.
A) Clean hands make clean lenses: The number one rule in
contact handling is you should always wash your hands well before
touching your eye area or contacts. This will help you avoid getting
anything in your eye. Sometimes, even when you think your hands are
clean, there will be traces of moisturizers or food on them. If you
touch your eye or your contacts, you will be putting yourself at risk
for infection. So, be sure to always make it a habit to wash your hands
before putting your contacts in and before taking them out.
B)
Reuse is too risky: Another thing you must always remember is
that you should never reuse your contact solution. What this means is
that you should always empty the solution from your contact case after
you put your contacts in your eyes. This will keep the case cleaner and
allow it to dry throughout the day while you are wearing your lenses. If
you do reuse the solution for a few days, bacteria can grow in it. This
can possibly damage your contacts and your eyes.
C) Replacing
your case: Some contact wearers have no clue that you should
replace your contact storage case every three months or sooner. This is
an important rule when handling contacts. It is great to keep a few
extra storage cases around your home, in case you forget to get one at
your local store every three months. They are inexpensive and will not
cost a lot to replace. If you keep your case too long, you are risking
harvesting bacteria.
D) Keep them clean: Before you place
your contacts in your eyes and after you take them out of your eyes, you
should always clean them. This is extremely imperative for good contact
hygiene. When you take the extra time to clean your lenses, they will
last longer and feel more comfortable during normal wear. Even if you
have a “no rub” saline solution, you should still make it a habit to rub
each lens with saline solution in order to remove any possible build up.
E)
Swimming with contacts: Swimming with your contacts in is a huge
mistake. Not only can the chemicals in the water ruin your contacts, but
it can also cause you to have eye damage. You can experience serious eye
diseases from swimming in your contacts that can even lead to blindness
when not treated right away. So, be sure to always take your contacts
out before hitting the beach, pool, or hot tub.
F) Makeup rules: Just
because you wear contacts it does not mean you can’t wear makeup as
well. You should however follow a few basic rules. Remember to always
put your contacts in before applying anything to your face, including
moisturizer. Try to stick with eye shadows in cream form, as they won’t
flake off into your eye. Even though you can’t always see the tiny
particles, powder forms will flake. Also remember to be gentle with your
eye area. Always remove your contacts before removing eye makeup to
avoid any injury to your eye or the lenses.
G) Sleeping with
caution: Many people with soft lenses feel that it is safe to
sleep in them. While some types of lenses are completely safe to sleep
in, others are not. Some lenses will damage your eye when you sleep with
them in. Be sure to ask your doctor about your lenses and the specific
sleep rules. No matter if your lenses are fine for sleeping or not, when
you sleep in your lenses, they will not last as long. So, be sure to
remove your contacts before shutting your eyes for the night.
H)
Eye drop specifics: Occasionally there are times when contact
wearers will need a little extra moisture in their eyes. Instead of
reaching for normal eye drops however, contact users must only use
contact-friendly solutions. There are specific eye drops made for
contact users, so be sure to look for them at your local general
merchandise store.
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