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According to FDA and CDC, contact lens-related infections are generally connected with histories of poor compliance with lens care regimens and contact lens wear. Good hygiene and proper lens care practices are important in preventing any type of infection including:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before inserting or removing contact lenses. Be sure to dry your hands thoroughly with a lint free towel.
- Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by your eye care professional. If recommended, rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.
- Store lenses in the proper lens storage case and replace the case every three months. Clean the case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
- Use only products recommended by your eye care professional to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.
- Only fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact lenses. Never re-use old solution. Contact lens solution must be changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, even if the lenses are not used daily.
- Only use your lenses for the prescribed wearing cycle recommended by your eye care professional. Always replace old contacts when you get a new contact prescription. When wearing or cleaning contacts:
- Do not use cream soaps to wash hands before cleaning contact lenses. Cream soaps can leave a film on the hands that can be transferred to the lenses.
- Never put contact lenses in the mouth or moisten them with saliva, which is full of bacteria and a potential source of infection.
- Don't use tap water or homemade saline solutions. Only approved disinfecting solutions can provide the proper cleaning and disinfection properties to ensure a safe and comfortable lens wearing experience.
- Never use contacts that have not been prescribed by an eye doctor. Contact lens wearing is not an option for everyone; consult with an eye care professional to see if it's an appropriate option.
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