Don't Do These 11 Things If You Wear Daily Disposable Contacts!
Countless people around the world wear daily disposable contact lenses or dailies. These popular single-use lenses are removed and discarded at the end of each day, and a new, fresh pair is inserted the next morning. Used properly, dailies promote eye health, and they're comfortable and convenient.
Despite the many advantages associated with wearing daily disposables, there are plenty of ways you can damage your eyes and vision — some you may never have considered.
1. Don't Touch Contacts with Dirty Hands
Before touching your lenses, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. By touching your contact lenses with dirty hands, you transfer bacteria to your lenses, which can lead to an infection.
2. Don't Expose Your Contacts to Water
Any source of water, whether tap, pool, or lake water, can change the shape of your lenses and cause micro-abrasions on your cornea. Plus, the water may contain bacteria that can wreak havoc on your eye health and cause you to experience temporary vision loss or even permanent blindness.
3. Don't Reuse Your Contacts
Daily disposable contacts are designed to be thrown away after every single use, and people who reuse them risk painful and risky outcomes. Dailies are thinner, more fragile, and don't hold moisture as well as other contacts.
4. Don't Insert a Dropped Contact In Your Eye
One of the perks of daily lenses is that they are less expensive (per lens) than other types of contacts. So if you find yourself dropping a lens into the sink or on the floor, don't bother placing it back in your eye. Doing so can cost you your eye health.
5. Don't Ever Put Contacts In Your Mouth
If you drop a contact lens, avoid rooting around the floor trying to find it, and if you do, definitely don't put it in your mouth to lubricate it. Your mouth contains bacteria that can infect your eyes once you reinsert your contacts.
6. Don't Overwear Your Daily Lenses
Wearing your lenses for long periods of time can damage your eyes, even if they're daily contacts. The maximum recommended daily use for any contact lens is 14-16 hours, though your eye doctor will determine the exact number of hours you should wear your lenses.
7. Don't Sleep With Your Lenses
Daily lenses should never be worn overnight. You're risking your sight by sleeping in a lens that's not approved for overnight use, as it can lead to ocular irritation, swelling and corneal ulcers.
8. Don't Insert Contacts Before Completing Your Morning Routine
Avoid inserting your contacts before you shower or wash your face, since you risk exposing your lenses to tap water and the bacteria that come with it. We also recommend that you insert your lenses after blow-drying and styling your hair.
9. Don't Get Makeup On Your Contacts
Insert your contacts before applying makeup, because any makeup residue on your hands can easily transfer to your lenses. It's not uncommon for people to get concealer, eyeliner or mascara on their contact lenses.
10. Don't Wear Contact Lenses If Your Eyes Are Irritated
As the saying goes, "if in doubt - take them out!" If your eyes feel irritated, uncomfortable, or if you notice any pain or redness, don't power through. If your symptoms last a while, contact our eye doctor. You don't want to let a serious infection go unchecked.
11. Don't Rub Your Eyes
If your eyes feel itchy or dry, or if a lens feels out of place, you may be tempted to rub your eyes. But rubbing can lead to long-term ocular issues. This may cause you to experience blurred vision, and may even damage your cornea.
If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more about contact lenses, contact Middletown Eye Care in Middletown today. Our eye doctor will be happy to explain how to care for your eyes and maintain your vision.