Ten rules for proper contact lens use

by Clínica García de Oteyza | Oct 9, 2018 | Contact Lenses, Posts, Uncategorized

What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses make it possible to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and, if they are multifocal, even presbyopia. They are generally made of a soft material, which provides excellent comfort for the patient when wearing them. They are undoubtedly a great help for those who do not want to wear glasses all day. However, contact lenses are not a toy, and the patient must take great care with them. The consequences of improper contact lens use can be devastating for the eyes.

Why do you need to be careful with contact lenses?

Wearing them for many hours a day can cause discomfort, red eye, and a foreign body sensation. If this problem becomes chronic, it can reduce contact lens tolerance and lead to the patient having to stop wearing them for a period of time until the eye is no longer inflamed and returns to normal.

Improper contact lens use can also cause corneal infections. The cornea is the eye’s first natural lens, and in order to see properly it must be transparent so that light and images from outside reach the retina correctly. Corneal infections are a real threat to anyone’s vision and can vary in severity. If the infections are in the peripheral cornea, they may have no visual consequences, but if they are in the centre of the cornea, they will leave a scar that will require surgical treatment to resolve. In cases of very severe infections, the microorganism causing the infection could even enter the inside of the eye and cause one of the most serious complications in ophthalmology, known as endophthalmitis.

Acanthamoeba infection in a patient who swam in a pond while wearing contact lenses. An urgent corneal transplant was required

Why is it important to have contact lenses fitted by an ophthalmologist?

At Clínica García de Oteyza, we have been fitting contact lenses for more than 25 years, with a high level of patient satisfaction. The importance of having contact lenses fitted by an ophthalmologist is that, in addition to explaining all the advantages and, above all, the possible problems associated with contact lenses, we also take care of resolving any complications should they arise. Therefore, we do not recommend buying contact lenses online or from opticians, as they will not be able to resolve any serious problem. In addition, at Clínica García de Oteyza we devote a great deal of time to teaching our patients how to put in and remove contact lenses, a relatively complex task if they have never used them before. Finally, we place strong emphasis on the ten rules for proper contact lens use to minimise the risk of infections or other complications as much as possible.

Ten rules for proper contact lens use

1. Do not use contact lenses without proper instruction on how to put them in and take them out.

Many people, for costume parties, use coloured contact lenses or lenses with oddly shaped pupils for the first time, buying them from any shop. The problem usually occurs when removing the lenses, when there is a high risk of damaging the cornea.

2. Do not use contact lenses for longer than 8–10 hours.

Contact lenses are often used as a substitute for glasses for aesthetic reasons. For this reason, we recommend that when you are at home, you remove them to allow the eye to rest and thus avoid a loss of tolerance in the future.

3. Do not fall asleep with contact lenses in.

If someone forgets to remove their contact lenses overnight, they can dry out and stick to the cornea, which can cause significant pain upon waking. They are generally much more difficult to remove.

4. Never shower, bathe, swim in a pool, or go into the sea with contact lenses in.

Tap water, pool water, and seawater are neither clean nor sterile. They contain multiple microorganisms that can adhere to contact lenses and come into contact with the cornea, causing infectious keratitis, which can be very serious.

5. Check that there are no tears and that the contact lenses are not inside out before putting them in.

Contact lenses are made of a soft material that can tear at any time. Putting in contact lenses with a torn edge can cause abrasions to both the cornea and the conjunctiva, leading to significant discomfort and even pain for the patient.

6. Clean contact lenses every day with the appropriate solution.

Just as you should not bathe with contact lenses in, you should also not clean contact lenses with tap water. There are many brands of solutions intended exclusively for cleaning contact lenses.

7. Replace the contact lens case frequently.

The case is where the contact lenses rest when the patient is not wearing them. It is a place that must be kept especially clean to prevent any microorganism from sticking to the lens.

8. Use artificial tears while wearing contact lenses.

Contact lenses sit on the eye, preventing it from lubricating normally. Prolonged contact lens use without proper lubrication can cause dry eye symptoms.

9. Replace contact lenses when they reach the established replacement period.

There are contact lenses on the market designed for daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly use. Under no circumstances should you wear contact lenses longer than the established period, to avoid using deteriorated lenses.

10. If you have any doubts or problems, see an ophthalmologist.

We would like to remind you that the only healthcare professional qualified to detect, diagnose, and treat any eye-related problem is an ophthalmologist. If you have any problem with your contact lenses, you should not see any specialist other than an ophthalmologist to address it.

If you are considering using contact lenses, we would like to offer you our experience in fitting and follow-up care. At Clínica García de Oteyza, we have a highly trained team to fit contact lenses, and we will take the time to explain the ten rules you have just read so that you can enjoy wearing contact lenses while keeping the risk to your eyes to a minimum.