Caring for Contact Lenses When on the Go
Contact lens wearers should make it a habit to always carry saline solution and a contact lens storage case with them. It is also a good idea to have a spare set of contact lenses at hand when needed. Whether you keep these supplies in the glove box of your car, in your handbag or backpack, or in a desk drawer at work, you will be happy to have the supplies you need on hand when you are not at home. In the case of a contact lens falling out during the day or the rare instance of a contact lens tearing during re-insertion after falling out, it will be necessary to have contact lens solution and a spare set of contact lenses nearby. Saline solution is available in convenient travel sizes, making it easy to carry with you, even in an evening bag.
If your contact lens falls out during the day, immediately retrieve it, if possible. Wash your hands as described above and use contact lens solution to clean the lens thoroughly prior to reinsertion. If the lens is torn, do not reinsert it, which can lead to eye irritation or damage, depending on the type of contact lens.
Caring for Different Types of Contact Lenses
There are several types of contact lenses, each requiring a different level of care. Some of these include:
- Daily disposables – This type of contact lens is often prescribed to allergy sufferers and those prone to frequent eye infections, allowing the user to wear a new pair of lenses each day. Therefore, storage and cleaning are not necessary.
- Extended wear disposables – This type of lens is made from durable materials that resist dirt, allowing wearers to enjoy up to one month of continuous wear without cleaning or storage.
Contact Lens Care for Make-Up Wearers
Those who wear make-up may enjoy the option of wearing contacts, which can enhance your appearance, boost your confidence and allow your beauty to shine through without being hidden behind eyeglasses. This is one of the many benefits of choosing contact lenses; however, those who wear make-up will need to take steps to ensure a satisfying contact-wearing experience and to avoid eye irritation.
If you wear make-up, you will need to insert your contact lenses prior to applying make-up and remove them prior to removing make-up. This will lower that instance of getting make-up in your eye or damaging your contact lenses from the rubbing or cleansers involved in make-up removal.
General Tips for Contact Lens Wearers
It is important to remember that both contact lenses and eyes are fragile and require careful handling; therefore, it is imperative that you maintain good hygiene and care for your contact lenses properly.
You should also avoid rubbing your eyes vigorously or excessively while wearing contacts, which can irritate your eyes, increase the likelihood of introducing make-up or dust to your eye, or tear your contact lens.
Be certain to discuss with your doctor any changes in vision, blurriness, discomfort or unusual redness of your eyes. Wearing contact lenses can sometimes require a period of adjustment in the beginning as you get used to this vision correction option. Most wearers are able to wear their contact lenses the entire day right away; however, those with more sensitive eyes may want to begin wearing their contacts for shorter periods of time during the day to allow their eyes to adjust to the sensation of wearing corrective lenses.
By following these guidelines for wearing and caring for your contact lenses you will help to ensure that you have a satisfying, comfortable contact lens wearing experience, clear vision and healthy eyes.
Disclaimer: The author is not a medical doctor, optician, ophthalmologist or any other medical professional, this article has been compiled using a variety of internet reference sources and while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy this cannot be guaranteed. No preference for product or brand is inferred or intended and the contents of this article are not to be used in whole or in part to inform a decision regarding any aspect of contact lens use.
