Your Guide To Caring And Maintaining Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great way to enhance your eye color for a special occasion or to simply skip the glasses day to day. Whether you wear them for vision correction or purely for the color, taking proper care of them matters, both for the lenses themselves and, more importantly, for your eye health.

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Basic Hygiene Rules

Before you even touch your lenses, a few habits protect your eyes from irritation and infection:

• Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing lenses.
• Never use tap water on your lenses or case, only use a proper contact lens solution, since tap water can carry microorganisms that cause serious eye infections.
• Never sleep in your lenses unless your eye doctor has specifically approved an extended-wear lens for that purpose.
• Follow your prescribed replacement schedule exactly, whether that’s daily, biweekly, or monthly, since overusing lenses increases infection risk.

Rinsing Your Lenses

Based on your individual tear chemistry and wear schedule, clean your lenses for a few seconds with a proper multi-purpose contact lens solution to remove dust and debris. Always follow what your eye care professional specifically recommends for your lens type. Shop a contact lens solution (paid link).

Disinfecting Your Lenses

After you’ve used your lenses, it’s time to disinfect them properly:

1. Place your lenses in a clean contact lens case. Shop a contact lens case (paid link).
2. Fill the case completely with fresh, unused multi-purpose solution, never top off old solution.
3. Soak your lenses for the amount of time recommended on your specific solution’s packaging, this varies by product, so always check the label rather than assuming.

Once fully soaked, your lenses are ready to wear again.

Storing and Replacing Lenses

Never reuse old solution, always empty and refill your case with fresh solution each time. Replace your lens case itself every 1-3 months, since even a clean-looking case can harbor bacteria over time. Also replace your lenses according to their intended wear schedule (daily, biweekly, or monthly), regardless of how comfortable they still feel.

When to Remove Your Lenses and See a Doctor

Remove your lenses immediately and consult an eye doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Persistent redness, pain, or irritation
• Blurred vision that doesn’t clear up
• Unusual discharge or excessive tearing
• Sensitivity to light
• A feeling that something is stuck in your eye that doesn’t resolve after removing the lens

These symptoms can indicate an infection or other issue that needs prompt professional attention rather than home remedies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use tap water to rinse my contact lenses in an emergency?

No, never. Tap water can contain microorganisms that cause serious, sight-threatening eye infections. Always use a proper contact lens solution, even in a pinch.

How often should I replace my contact lens case?

Every 1-3 months, even if it looks clean. Cases can harbor bacteria and biofilm over time that regular rinsing doesn’t fully remove.

Is it safe to sleep in my contact lenses occasionally?

Only if your eye doctor has specifically prescribed extended-wear lenses approved for overnight use. Sleeping in regular lenses significantly increases infection risk.

Can I top off old solution instead of using fresh solution each time?

No, always empty the case and use completely fresh solution. Topping off reduces the solution’s disinfecting effectiveness and increases contamination risk.

What should I do if my eye feels irritated after inserting a lens?

Remove the lens immediately and check it for damage or debris. If irritation persists after removal, or you notice redness, pain, or discharge, contact an eye doctor rather than reinserting the lens.