The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined more than 1,000 cases of contact lens-related infections reported to a federal database over the last decade, and found that nearly 1 in 5 of those infections resulted in eye damage—either a decline in vision or a scarred cornea.
But the agency also found that by simply using your contacts the way you're supposed to, you can protect your eyes. About 25% of the reported cases involved behaviors known to put a person at greater risk of eye infection.
Here are the common eye contact mistakes to avoid for good eye health.
1. You leave them in for too long or sleep in your contacts
Similarly, sleeping in your lenses isn’t healthy for your eye. The plastic acts as a barrier, reducing how much oxygen reaches the surface of your eye. Give your eyes a break at night so they can recover from your day wear.
2. You touch your contacts with dirty fingers
Even clean hands will carry some germs, but washing will make sure you get fewer bacteria in your eyes.
3. You don’t use contact solution
Your contacts need to be cleaned and disinfected but don’t ever clean your lenses with tap water. The water from your sink looks clean enough, but it’s full of harmful microorganisms that could infect your eye and create vision loss. Soak your contacts in fresh, proper solution at night.
4. You don't change your solution daily
5. You shower or swim in your contacts
6. You don't clean them properly or use put the clean lens in the same case
Avoid these mistakes when wearing your contact lenses to keep your eyes free from infection and injury. In addition, go for eye exam annually. It identifies potential health issues and helps to determine the best lenses for you based on your current eye health and lifestyle needs.