Never wear contact lenses when you sleep - not even during a nap. Always have a backup pair of eye glasses with your current prescription.Keep your eyes safe. Take time to care for your contact lenses.

Here are some tips for keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable while you wear contacts.

What to Do

• There are different kinds of lenses. Know which kind you have.

• Always take your contacts out at night, even if they are made to be worn overnight. Wearing contacts overnight increases the risk of infection.

• Choose daily-wear contacts. They are linked to fewer infections than extended-wear lenses.

• Wash and rinse your hands before touching your contacts.

• Use only the lens cleaners and eye drops that your eye doctor suggests.

• Follow the directions that came with your lenses, lens cleaner, and eye drops.

• Take care of your lens case. Clean, rinse, and dry it each time you take out the lenses. Get a new case every six months.

• Get your eye doctor's OK before using any new or different medicines. Tell your doctor about things you can buy without a prescription like eye drops or lens cleaners.

• Use eye makeup that is safe for contact lens users.

• For medical advice about contact lenses and eye care, contact your eye doctor.

What Not to Do

• Try not to wear your contact lenses for longer than 12 hours at a time.

• Never use saliva (spit) to clean your lenses.

• Never use tap water, bottled water, or salt water made at home to store or rinse your lenses. It can cause infections.

• Never mix different cleaners or eye drops.

• Never let lotions, creams, or sprays touch your lenses.

• Don't use eyeliner on the inside of your lower eyelid.

• Never wear lenses when you swim or go into a hot tub.

• Never wear your lenses when you are using cleaning products.

• Never wear contact lenses when you sleep - not even during a nap.

• Never wear your lenses longer than your eye doctor tells you to.

Contact Lens Warning Signs

Because eye infections can become serious very quickly, it's important to know the warning signs of infection. If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your eye doctor immediately:

• Blurry vision

• A scratchy feeling in your eye

• Pain or discomfort in your eye

• Redness in your eye for more than two days

• Discharge or excess tearing from your eye

• Itching, burning, or gritty feelings

• Swelling

If you notice a problem, take out your lenses right away and see your eye doctor.

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Published by RelayHealth.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
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