Looking after your contact lenses is imperative in making sure you get the maximum use out of them, and to protect your eyes from contracting any infections. Because we use our hands to transport our lenses to and from our eyes, complete hygiene is absolutely necessary. But it isn’t only clean hands that we need to focus on- how we store and care for our lenses is all part of the process. Read below on how to give your contact lenses the ultimate care.

Wash and dry your hands before handling your lenses

Before you handle your lenses, ensure your hands are clean to prevent any germs from coming into contact with them. When you wash your hands, make sure the soap is thoroughly washed off as soap can stick to the coating of your lenses causing a film to cover them. This can result in having to squint and further strain your eyes to see past the cloudy film. As contact lenses stick to wet surfaces, the same can be said with any residual water on your hands which can cause cloudiness on the lens, or prevent the contact from sticking to your eye. Hence, when washing your hands, make sure you dry them fully.

Always clean your contacts with a contact lens solution before using, and immediately after removal

Before putting your lenses in your eye, take them out with your finger and rinse them with solution to ensure they are clean. If you are using dailies, then once finished, you can simply throw them away. However, if using bi-weekly, monthly, or longer wear lenses, you will need to clean and store them between uses. Upon removing your lens, place the lens on the dry palm of your hand, apply a few drops of your contact disinfectant solution, and slowly rub with one finger back and forth over your palm for around 30 seconds to remove any dirt or debris that may be caught in there. Make sure your contact lens case is clean and full of fresh solution before placing your contact lenses inside one at a time, and keep the case closed overnight.

Clean contacts one at a time

When cleaning your contact lenses, handling them one at a time helps you to keep track of what lens belongs to which eye- this is particularly important for those with different lens prescriptions. Cleaning one lens at a time also limits the risk of damage.

Keep your fingernails short

Long fingernails increase the chance of scratching your eye or causing damage to your contact lenses, so best to keep them short when handling your lenses.

Clean your contact lens case daily

Every time you use your contact lens case, make sure it is sterilised with solution and cleaned every day. Do not reuse old contact solution as this can harvest bacteria. When you take your lenses out in the morning, empty out the old solution, rinse the case with fresh contact lens solution, and leave to air dry upside down on a clean paper towel for the day. At the end of the day when you remove your contacts, refill your case with fresh solution before placing your lenses inside. It is recommended to replace your contact lens case once every three months to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination, or if you notice your case is cracked, replace immediately.

Never wash your contact lenses or lens case with water

Cleaning or storing your lenses in water (tap, distilled, or bottled) can be harmful to your eyes due to the microorganisms that can be found in there. These organisms can inflict damage to your eye, as the cornea does not have immune cells to fight off infection. When cleaning contact lenses and the case you store them in, always use a store-bought sterilised contact lens solution.

Do not use a homemade contact solution

Using a homemade contact solution increases the risk of becoming contaminated, and therefore is not a reliable option to keep your eyes safe. A store-bought solution is guaranteed to be sterile and will not lead to any problems, providing you keep it in its original bottle.

Avoid swimming or showering in your contact lenses

As mentioned above, water can contain harmful organisms that can cause eye infections, so always remember to take out your lenses (storing them correctly) if going for a swim or taking a shower.

Never sleep in contacts unless specified

If your contacts are not for extended wear, then they are to be removed before bedtime. Wearing your contacts to bed if they are not stated for sleep can increase your risk of an eye infection, and leave you with dry, sore eyes.

Unused contact lenses (excluding dailies) can be stored in solution for up to 30 days

If you are not wearing your contacts every day, they can be safely stored in lens solution for no more than 30 days. If used within this time, disinfect and clean with solution before use. Make sure you remove the old solution from your case and clean with new. Contacts stored for 30 days or more need to be discarded and started over with a fresh pair to avoid contamination.