Contact lenses can make everyday life easier. They offer clear vision without glasses, can be convenient for sports and active lifestyles, and give many patients more flexibility in how they see and feel throughout the day.
But contact lenses are still medical devices. To keep your eyes healthy, they need to be fitted, prescribed, worn, cleaned, and replaced correctly. Contact Lens Safety Month is a helpful reminder to review your habits and make sure you are caring for your lenses the right way.
At Ortiz Eye and Hearing Associates in Morris, patients can receive contact lens guidance, prescription support, and eye care to help keep their vision clear and comfortable.
Contact Lenses Should Always Be Prescribed
Even if contact lenses do not correct your vision, they still sit directly on the surface of the eye. That means they need to fit properly and be prescribed by an eye doctor.
A contact lens prescription is different from a glasses prescription. Your optometrist must evaluate the size, shape, health, and needs of your eyes to determine which lens type is appropriate. Poorly fitted lenses can cause discomfort, blurred vision, dryness, irritation, corneal scratches, or infection.
If you are new to contacts, interested in switching brands, or struggling with comfort, a contact lens exam can help identify the safest and most comfortable option for your eyes.
Wash Your Hands Before Touching Your Lenses
Clean hands are one of the most important parts of contact lens safety. Before inserting or removing your lenses, wash your hands with soap and water, then dry them with a clean, lint-free towel.
Avoid oily soaps, lotions, or hand creams right before handling lenses, as residue can transfer to the lens surface and irritate your eyes.
This simple habit helps reduce the risk of germs, debris, and irritants getting trapped between your contact lens and your eye.
Never Use Water on Contact Lenses
Contact lenses should never be rinsed, cleaned, or stored in tap water. You should also avoid showering, swimming, or sitting in hot tubs while wearing contacts.
Water can contain microorganisms that may cause serious eye infections. Even clean-looking water is not safe for contact lenses.
Use only the contact lens solution recommended for your lens type. If you wear daily disposable lenses, throw them away after each use instead of trying to clean or reuse them.
Follow Your Replacement Schedule
Every type of contact lens has a replacement schedule. Some lenses are designed to be thrown away daily, while others may be replaced every two weeks or monthly.
Wearing lenses longer than recommended can lead to protein buildup, dryness, irritation, reduced comfort, and a higher risk of infection. Even if a lens still feels okay, it may no longer be safe or healthy to wear.
If you often forget when to replace your lenses, set a reminder on your phone or mark your calendar.
Do Not Sleep in Contacts Unless Approved
Sleeping in contact lenses can increase the risk of eye infections because the cornea receives less oxygen while the eyes are closed. Unless your eye doctor has specifically prescribed lenses approved for overnight wear, remove your contacts before sleeping.
Even a short nap in contacts can sometimes leave eyes feeling dry, red, or irritated. If you accidentally sleep in your lenses and wake up with pain, redness, light sensitivity, discharge, or blurry vision, contact your eye doctor promptly.
Replace Your Contact Lens Case Regularly
If you wear reusable lenses, your storage case matters too. A dirty case can collect bacteria and buildup over time, even if you are using fresh solution.
To care for your case:
- Empty old solution every day
- Rinse the case with fresh contact lens solution
- Let the case air-dry upside down
- Replace the case at least every few months
- Never “top off” old solution with new solution
Fresh solution and a clean case are key parts of safe contact lens wear.
Daily Disposable Lenses Can Be a Convenient Option
Daily disposable lenses can be a great option for many patients because they do not require cleaning or overnight storage. You wear a fresh pair each day and throw them away after use.
This can be especially helpful for people with busy schedules, allergy symptoms, travel routines, or difficulty maintaining reusable lenses. However, daily lenses still need to be worn exactly as directed. They should not be reused, slept in, or exposed to water.
Your optometrist can help determine whether daily disposables or another lens type is the best fit for your eyes and lifestyle.
Be Careful With Decorative or Costume Contact Lenses
Decorative contacts may seem harmless, especially around Halloween or costume events, but they can be dangerous if they are bought without a prescription.
Colored, cosmetic, novelty, and costume contact lenses still require a proper contact lens fitting. Non-prescription lenses can scratch the cornea, cause infections, reduce oxygen flow, and lead to serious eye damage.
Only wear decorative contact lenses that have been prescribed and fitted by an eye doctor.
Watch for Warning Signs
Contact lens discomfort should never be ignored. Remove your lenses and contact your eye doctor if you experience:
- Redness
- Eye pain
- Light sensitivity
- Blurry vision
- Discharge
- Swelling
- A feeling that something is stuck in your eye
- Sudden discomfort with lenses that were previously comfortable
Do not keep wearing contacts through pain or irritation. Your eyes may need medical attention before symptoms become more serious.
Schedule a Contact Lens Exam with Angelo Marino,, O.D.
Safe contact lens wear begins with the right prescription, fit, and routine. Whether you are new to contacts, need an updated prescription, want to try a different lens type, or have questions about comfort, a contact lens exam can help.
Schedule an appointment with Ortiz Eye and Hearing Associates in Morris to review your contact lens options and keep your eyes healthy.
Contact Lens FAQs
Can I rinse my contact lenses with water?
No. Contact lenses should never be rinsed or stored in water. Use only the contact lens solution recommended for your lens type.
Is it safe to sleep in contact lenses?
Only if your eye doctor has prescribed lenses approved for overnight wear. Sleeping in contacts without approval can increase the risk of infection.
Are daily disposable contact lenses safer?
Daily disposable lenses can reduce some cleaning and storage risks because you use a fresh pair each day. However, they still need to be worn and discarded exactly as directed.
Can I wear decorative contact lenses without a prescription?
No. Decorative and costume contact lenses still require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye doctor.
When should I call an eye doctor about contact lens discomfort?
Call your eye doctor if you have redness, pain, blurry vision, light sensitivity, discharge, swelling, or sudden discomfort while wearing contact lenses.