How to Wear Contact Lenses, Without Making These Common Mistakes

Optometrists weigh in.
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If you’ve made the switch from glasses to contacts, you know the many joys the latter can bring — like crystal-clear, peripheral vision. You’re probably also familiar with the routine that accompanies them; unlike glasses, you can’t just slide contacts onto your face and call it a day. And, since they’re in direct contact with your eyes, misuse can end up having serious consequences.

To get a comprehensive lens lesson, we caught up with Dr. Elise Brisco, optometrist at the Hollywood Vision Center, Dr. Mark Jacquot, clinical director of LensCrafters, and Dr. Charissa Lee, director of education at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. Longtime contact lens wearers may already be familiar with some of their sage advice, but a few of their rules might catch you by surprise. Below, their list of the 13 things you should never, ever do with your contacts.

1. You Forget to Wash your Hands
This may seem like an obvious one, but always (always, always) wash and dry your hands before putting them anywhere near your eyes. "Dirt, Bacteria, and oils from your skin can get on your contacts and cause real problems,” says Dr. Jacquot. Not only can having dirt under your lenses really hurt, but it can also lead to infection.

2. You apply your makeup first.
Nope! Makeup goes last. Both Dr. Brisco and Dr. Lee stressed the importance of putting your contacts in before you start executing that perfect winged liner, so that the lens isn’t catching any mascara or shimmery shadow on its way to your eye. This should go without saying — but you also always want to make sure you’re inserting and removing your contacts with clean hands.

3. You get creative with cleaning.
As difficult as it is to believe, both Dr. Brisco and Dr. Lee have had patients who do this don’t. So we’ll say it again for them: never use spit to clean your contacts or put them in your mouth. Using tap water to rinse or store your soft contact lenses is also something to avoid; the water can contain microbes that will hurt your eyes. “Always use solution that is meant to clean and store reusable soft contact lenses,” says Dr. Lee. “Read and follow the solution manufacturer’s instructions. For reusable lenses, this generally means rubbing and rinsing the lenses with multipurpose solution to get the deposits and debris off.”

4. You reuse old contact solution.
“Avoid reusing solution from the day before, which will not properly disinfect your contact lenses,” warns Dr. Brisco. “Always store your contact lenses in fresh solution and a clean case. Dr. Lee also recommends checking out the label on your lens solution. If you’re using a saline solution — instead of a multipurpose or hydrogen peroxide solution — you’ll want to also pick up a separate cleaning product. “Saline, by itself, will not get rid of microbes that can harm your eye,” she says. And though solution may seem to last forever — especially if you’re a daily lens wearer — be sure to toss it as soon as it hits the expiration date.

5. You hold onto your contact case too long
Turns out, those little plastic cases aren’t meant to last forever. “Bacteria can grow in contact lens cases, so it is important to properly use, clean and replace your case monthly,” says Dr. Jacquot. To help keep the cases clean, be sure to empty, rinse and wipe the case with a clean tissue daily, and allow the case and caps to air dry sitting face down.

6. You reuse daily lenses.
The beauty of a daily lens is that no cleaning or storage is necessary. Dr. Brisco favors this type (her go-to is the 1-Day Moist Contact by Acuvue) because it decreases the chance of protein or air pollutant buildup. That said, you must toss these at the end of the day. When you’re not rinsing these out with solution, every touch of finger to lens increases the risk of contamination. This goes for overuse of two-week lenses, as well. “It’s not worth risking the health of your eyes by wearing an old lens,” she cautions. “They tend to have dirt trapped in them that cannot be cleaned out, and become scratched from use.”

7. You decide to be your own optometrist.
“Never use contact lenses unless you have had a proper fitting by an eye care professional,” says Dr. Lee. “They will confirm that it is safe for you to wear a contact lens and evaluate whether the contact lens fits and moves properly on your eye.” Even if you have a prescription, don’t assume that all contacts will be right for your eyes. For instance, light-sensitive eyes might benefit from a UV-blocking contact lens.

“Contact lenses come in many different designs, materials, and curvatures,” adds Dr. Brisco. “If you are not properly evaluated for, and prescribed contact lenses, you risk eye infection and, in serious cases, loss of vision.”

8. You wear them past the point of comfort.
While it can be tempting to leave your contacts in all day long, going over the recommended wear time will negatively impact your eye health. So what’s the magic number? According to Dr. Brisco, it varies by person, depending on how much protein and mucus your eyes and tears produce, plus the environment you live in. “For example, certain cities have more pollen or air pollution, so contact lenses might need to be worn less,” she explains.

9. You blink through the pain.
“Never put contact lenses in your eye if your eyes are irritated and painful,” says Dr. Lee, who recommends checking in with your eye doctor to make sure you’re getting proper treatment before wearing your lenses. Likewise, attempting to insert a lens with a tear or a chip in it is also a bad idea. “Throw it away and get a new lens,” she instructs. Basically, toughing it out is never a good idea where your vision is concerned.

10. You try to get more bang for your buck.
“Don’t try to stretch out your lenses longer than your eye care professional recommends, because you may be increasing your risk of complications if you do,” advises Dr. Lee. “If you wear reusable lenses, the easiest way to remember your replacement schedule is replacing them on the 1st or the 15th of the month for two-week lenses. You can also try using the Acuminder tool.” Another way to make sure you’re discarding lenses on time is to schedule everything out when you purchase your annual supply. That way, you never have to worry about running out, either.

11. You live by “sharing is caring.
”However much you may want to spread the clear-vision love, your contact lenses should never touch anyone’s eyes but your own. “Do not share contact lenses with your friends,” says Dr. Brisco. “Your lenses are prescribed especially for you, and no one else. What may be healthy for your best friend, may not be the right lens for you at all.” Plus, once again, you’ll be putting yourself at risk for an eye infection — and that’s not fun for anyone.

12. You sleep in your lenses.
There's a reason why waking up in your contact lenses feels like your eyes have been glued shut and coated with sandpaper: It's really, really bad for them. "Make sure not to wear your contact lenses overnight unless they are specifically designed for extended wear and your eye doctor has approved you to sleep in your lenses," says Dr. Jacquot. "For many people, wearing contact lenses during sleep increases the risk of eye problems, including loss of vision.” Keep a lens case next to your bed and a pair of glasses handy to help you break the bad habit.

13. You don't get your eyes checked every year.
Contact lens prescriptions are generally only good for a year, which means that even if they still feel like they're working for you, they'll still benefit from a check-up. "Seeing your eye doctor annually for a comprehensive eye exam will not only assess your vision and need for updated prescriptions, but it may also help identify and lead to a diagnosis of other health concerns such as hypertension and diabetes,” says Dr. Jacquot. Plus, you won't be able to order a new set of lenses until you do.

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