Contact lenses are one of the most safe and effective ways to manage refractive errors. However, many people who wear contact lenses don’t know about or fully adhere to critical hygiene guidelines, which can increase the risk of infection.
Contact Lens Health Week 2020 (August 17-21) aims to solve that problem. Every year, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention organizes Contact Lens Health Week to increase public awareness and promote healthy contact lens use and care. By encouraging patients to take a more proactive role in their eye care through proper contact lens use, the risk of contact lens-related eye infections will be reduced.
Vienna Eyecare Center, the area’s premier eye health expert, shares more below.
Importance of Proper Contact Lens Use
Like eyeglasses, contact lenses allow for clear eyesight, but with a few extra perks. Contact lenses move with your eyes allowing for a more natural field of vision. They do not fog up or get splattered by rain or mud, and are extremely handy for those who play sports and enjoy other physical activities. Did you know that around 45 million Americans wear contact lenses?
Contact lenses are safe and effective, provided the user handles and cares for them properly. Your trusted optometrist, Vienna Eyecare Center, not only offers high-quality contact lenses to our patients, we also educate each patient on proper use and handling.
What Contact Lens Users Should Do
Here are some quick tips to ensure you’re following the proper guidelines for contact lens use and care:
1. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before putting on or removing your contact lenses.
2. Disinfect your contact lenses with the right cleaning solution and dry them with a clean, lint-free cloth. Store them properly in their case.
3. Avoid sleeping with your contact lens still in.
4. Make sure to never enter a pool, shower or hot tub while wearing contact lenses. This is even more crucial in natural bodies of water. Water contains bacteria, and contact lenses can trap these germs inside your eyes, increasing the risk of infection.
5. Replace your contact lenses as prescribed by your trusted local eye doctor.
6. If there’s discomfort when you’re wearing your contacts, consult your eye care provider promptly.
Vienna Eyecare Center offers the highest-quality eye care solutions. We serve areas in and around Vienna and Fairfax, VA. Call us today at (703) 938-7633 or fill out this contact form to schedule your consultation.
