Contact lenses are medical devices which are very safe, if used properly and are cared for in the right way. The same as everything else, there are risks associated with wearing contacts – especially if you don’t use or care for them as directed. So long as you follow proper protocol, you’ll be able to keep contact lenses safe. If you want to keep contact lenses safe and avoid complications, there are certain behaviors you’ll want to avoid.
Here’s what you need to know about the risks associated with contact lenses and what you can do in order to keep contact lenses safe.
Risks Associated With Contact Lenses
Since contact lenses go right on your eyes, you must be very careful with them. Properly fitted contact lenses are so comfortable that you can even forget that there’s something on your eyes. While this is one of the top benefits of contact lenses, it also puts you at risk of being more careless with them. The more comfortable you are with your contacts, the less care you may think they’ll need. However, contact lenses require daily care and following basic rules. Failure to do so puts you at risk for all sorts of issues.
Some of the common risks associated with contact lenses are as follows.
Eye Infections
Simply wearing contact lenses instantly increases your risk of getting an eye infection. This is because you’re putting your fingers close to your eyes and because there’s something on your eyes. In order to avoid eye infections and keep your contact lenses safe, you’ll want to ensure that you thoroughly wash your hands before putting them in or taking them out. You’ll also need to ensure the lenses themselves are clean.
If your contact lenses are dirty or scratched, this can scratch your cornea and cause infection. You can mitigate your risk of getting an eye infection by keeping your contacts clean, not exposing them to water, not sleeping in them, and by ensuring that you switch your old lenses out for new ones as recommended.
Corneal Scarring
This risk of wearing contact lenses often comes about by wearing them for too long. Your contact lenses aren’t meant to be on your eyes 24/7. It’s why you need to take them out when you go to sleep, after all. In order to avoid scarring, you’ll want to keep your lenses clean, make sure they don’t have any scratches, and that you don’t over-wear them.
Corneal scarring can cause permanent damage to your vision, but luckily, you can avoid this by using your contacts as directed and caring for them properly.
Cut Off Oxygen
Contact lenses go directly onto your eyes. As such, they decrease how much oxygen your eyes can get. Your eyes need oxygen in order to stay healthy. Some contact lenses transmit more oxygen than others. However, the longer you have your contacts in, the less oxygen your eye is getting. This is why it’s important not to wear them for too long without giving your eyes a break and another reason why you need to take them out when you go to sleep.
This is also a reason why you should avoid costume lenses, unless you can get them with a prescription from an FDA-approved professional.
Dry Eyes
Contact lenses absorb your tears in order to stay soft on your eyes. This can dry your eyes out, making them itch and burn and turn red. Luckily, if your contacts are drying your eyes out, eye drops can help lubricate them. You don’t want your eyes to get too dry, as this puts you at risk of scarring. To keep your contact lenses safe, make sure that your eyes are properly lubricated, and talk to your optometrist if the problem persists.
These are but a few of the risks associated with wearing contact lenses. Some other risks you can talk to your optometrist about are: red eye, lessened corneal reflex, corneal ulcers, and more. When you receive contact lenses, you will always be directed on how to use them safely and care for them in order to avoid the risks associated with contact lenses and ensure that they improve your life.
How To Use Contact Lenses Safely
Everything has risks associated with it. Contact lenses are no different. However, as previously mentioned, so long as you use them as directed and care for them properly, contact lenses are very safe.
In order to keep your contact lenses safe, you’ll want to ensure that you’re not over-wearing them. You will need to replace them with new lenses as directed. Only clean them with solution, never water or saliva, and make sure that you dump out the old solution and use fresh solution in your lens case every day. Make sure that you’re going to your regular eye exams, so that your prescription stays up to date and any problems are caught early on.
Wolcott Optical offers many different kinds of contact lenses. If you need advice on how to wear contact lenses safely or if you need to schedule a contact lens eye exam, don’t hesitate to contact us today! We want to help you however we can.