Contact lens care overview

The health of your eyes and the ability to see your world better makes contact lens care an essential activity. What steps you need to do, and how often, depends on the contact lens care products you use, the kind of contact lenses you wear, and your eye doctor's instructions on how to wear and how many days to wear your contact lenses before replacing them with a fresh, new pair. Contact lens care involves a number of steps including: storing, cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, and periodically getting rid of protein deposits. Contact lenses are available in short and long term use varieties. You can find daily wear contacts for one day, or one day and night use. These are replaced in the morning with a fresh new pair of contact lenses. They require almost no care, unless you find they need to be cleaned during the day for some reason. Though, with daily contacts, it's usually easier to replace the ones you're wearing with a new pair, instead of cleaning them. Other contact lenses can be worn from 7 days to 2 weeks before replacing them with a fresh pair. These usually require storing, cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, and may need to have protein deposits removed on a regular basis. Some contacts can be worn for a month or more, usually removing them at night for cleaning and storage. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses can manytimes be used for many months, even up to a year or more. They can remain effective with regular cleaning and are also usually removed at night for contact lens care. Remember to consult your eye doctor and the contact lens care product packaging for detailed instructions on how to keep your contact lenses at their best.

Storing your contact lenses provides numerous benefits to your contacts. The fluid used to store your contacts helps preserve the high water content of your contact lenses, and keeps them from drying out. Usually a saline type solution, this fluid can condition your contacts and keep them comfortable to wear. This step remains important for rigid gas permeable contacts, and soft contacts you wear for more than a day. Contact lens storage also protects your contacts from tearing or damage when they are not in use. Numerous contact lens cases are available to add your own personal touch when storing them.

Cleaning your contact lenses removes dirt and debris and is usually performed once a day. Rinsing, the next step, removes the cleaning solution and prepares the contacts for further contact lens care. Next, disinfecting your contacts destroys any microbes that could damage your eyes over time. Protein deposits from your tears can build up on your contacts making them uncomfortable. Using a protein removal enzyme product about once a week can make a big difference in the life and comfort of your contact lenses. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses can become more difficult to care for effectively over time. Ask your eye doctor about having them polished. This may be an option to extend their life, and improve their comfort. For greatest convenience, check with your eye doctor about using a single contact lens care product to store and condition, clean, rinse, and disinfect your contacts.

If you are good to your contacts, they will be good to you.