Do's and Don'ts of Contact Lens Wear

Do:

Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by your optometrist. If recommended, rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.
Store lenses in the proper lens storage case and replace the case at a minimum of every three months. Clean the case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
Only fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact lenses. Never Re-use old solution. Contact lens solution must be changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, even if the lenses are not used daily.
Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule prescribed by your optometrist.
Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.
Avoid tap water to wash or store contact lenses or lens cases.
See your optometrist for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination.

Don't:

Use cream soaps. They can leave a film on your hands that can transfer to the lenses.
Use homemade saline solutions. Improper use of homemade saline solutions has been linked with a potentially blinding condition among soft lens wearers.
Put contact lenses in your mouth or moisten them with saliva, which is full of bacteria and a potential source of infection.
Use tap water to wash or store contact lenses or lens cases.
Share lenses with others.
Use products not recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.

For more information on contact lenses visit the FDA's website for a teaching video and additional information on lens care.

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