According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 45 million Americans wear contact lenses. These medical devices, or cosmetic aids, are worn by those who wish to no longer wear glasses, but still improve the ability to focus and temporarily reduce poor distance vision (nearsightedness).

Contact lenses are available in the following forms:

• Rigid, or hard, contact lenses made from plastic.
• Soft, or malleable, contact lenses are made from flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through the cornea.

Sadly, the CDC estimates that a staggering 90% of contact lens wearers don’t properly follow lens care instructions and risk increased rates of inflammation and eye infection as a result. The main culprits of eye infections (i.e., keratitis, a painful eye infection) include improper and infrequent cleaning. Current day optometrists most often recommend soft contact lenses in disposable monthly, or weekly disposables, or daily options. How you care for them will depend on their expiry date (i.e., daily, weekly, or monthly) as well as how you store and clean your contact lenses between wear. Here are some tips:

1. No tap water
Refrain from using tap water to clean your contact lenses and your hard contact lens case between wears. Tap water often contains microbial germs, which can cause eye irritations and infections. Instead, stick to natural tears and optometrist recommended saline cleaning products.

2. Don’t sleep in contact lenses
Never sleep with your contact lenses in your eyes. Instead, remove them before bed, and clean and store them in a protective hard contact lens case. Contact lenses can be dangerous to wear while sleeping because lack of tears can dry out and lenses and cause tiny tears that damage or irritate the eye.

3. Handle with clean hands
It’s important to trim your fingernails when handling contact lenses to prevent scratching the surface of your eye or tearing a contact lens. Also be sure to fully wash your hands prior to handling lenses, and avoid harsh soaps, hair or beauty products, which can remain on hands and get into the eyes. Also clean the tip of your solution bottle after use to avoid contaminating clean contact lens solution.

4. Don’t share contact lenses
Never wear or share your soft contacts with others. Previously worn lenses often carry dirt, germs, and infection.

5. Optometrist recommended products only
Only use contact lens drops, cleaners, and solutions recommended by your optometrist or ophthalmologist. Only purchase eye drops (i.e., natural tears eye drops) specific to contact lens wearers.