Contact Lenses and Your Eye Health

Contact lenses can be safe and convenient, but they are not without risks.

The U-T San Diego reported that infections from improper contact lens care lead to about one million doctor’s office visits annually. According to the CDC, people that regularly sleep with their contacts in are 20 times more likely to develop keratitis. Similar reports have also pointed out that extended-wear lens users are 15 times more likely to develop an eye infection compared to daily-wear lens users. The good news is that many contact lens-related infections are preventable. Here are some tips for prevention from Dr. Sandy Feldman of San Diego’s ClearView Eye & Laser Medical Center:

  • Sleep in your contacts ONLY if you have been prescribed to do so by an experienced eye care physician
  • Avoid infection by only wearing clean, properly fitting contact lenses
  • Always wash your hands with soap and water before putting in or removing your contacts
  • Do not wear contact lenses for longer than the prescribed amount of time
  • Do not reuse disposable lenses
  • Replace your contact lens case at least four times per year
  • Never store contacts in water; and remove contacts when showering, bathing, or swimming
  • Do not reuse contact solution; use fresh contact solution each time you store your contacts

Always consult your eye care provider to find the best contact lens products and routine for you. Find an ophthalmologist in San Diego.


 

Set your eyes on proper contact lens care

Doctors treat thousands of eye infections annually By Erin Hutkin, Special to the U-T San Diego | December 16, 2014 Sloppy contact-lens care leads to hundreds of thousands of eye infections annually, and those infections can result in permanent scarring of the cornea and permanently decreased vision. An infection can also cause irregular astigmatism of the cornea that may not be correctable with glasses or contact lenses. Occasionally, severe infections can lead to the need for a corneal transplant, which requires lifelong prescription eye drops and care. Click here to read more… Original Post By: U-T San Diego

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