You may be new to the idea of placing tiny pieces of malleable plastic onto the surface of your eyeballs, but contact lenses provide many advantages including clear peripheral vision. Once you get used to the habit of inserting and removing your lenses, you may be tempted to become pretty lazy about the way you treat them. When you wore glasses, you could easily take them off and throw them on the nearby couch, but contacts require more care and attention than your turtle shell frames.

Sleeping in Your Contacts

Wearing your contacts to bed or for an extended period of time is a definite “no” unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor.  When you wear your contacts for an extended period of time, you’re depriving the cornea, or the outside layer of the eye that the contacts cover, from oxygen. A study published in the Journal of Optometry found that sleeping in contacts was the probable cause of microbial keratitis, corneal infections, and potential blinding ocular issues.

Refusing to Clean you Contacts

Debris and other protein accumulate on contact lenses, and the deposits can cause allergic or immune reactions such as bumps developing under the eyelid. If you clean your contacts every day with a cleaning solution, you’ll decrease your risk of disease and/or infection. Our doctors prefer you to use brand name contact lens solution to generics.

Swimming in Your Contacts

Don’t shower and definitely don’t swim with your contacts still in. Water found in public pools, lakes, hot tubs and tap water is a natural home for microorganisms, bacteria, and parasites. Contact lenses absorb anything they’re exposed to, so when your contact comes in contact with a pool the water is absorbed into the lenses and trapped against the eye. This allows the microbes in the water to attack the surface of the eye. Don’t risk the chance of infection. Wear prescription goggles, or consult your optometrist about other options when swimming.

Wearing Your Contacts Past the Wear Time

Your contact lenses have a wearing schedule for a reason. Old lenses become coated with bacteria and the build-up of cleaning solution and other residues. Wearing your contacts for a long period of time may be the most convenient thing to do, but it’s increasing your risk of infection. A good solution to these problems, are daily wear lenses. By using a new lens every day, these contacts have greater water content, are more breathable, are thinner, and are more hygienic.

CALL THE CATONSVILLE EYE GROUP TODAY!

Our doctors are able to fit you in monthly, biweekly or daily lenses depending on your needs and lifestyle.  We also have experienced staff that can train new contact lens wearers on the correct way to insert and remove your contacts and most importantly how to care for them.

Here at the Catonsville Eye Group, providing the best patient care is out #1 priority. The professionalism of our doctors coupled with our capable and caring staff, state of the art technology, and extensive frame and lens options are what have made Catonsville Eye Group the first choice for families in our community.  We strive to provide the best possible professional care at fair and reasonable prices to our patients in the most courteous way possible!

If for any reason, you have any concerns or problems with your eyes and contacts please don’t hesitate to call us.  If you would like to schedule an appointment, order contact lenses, or ask questions about our services at Catonsville Eye Group, please call our office at (410) 747-1221 or email us by clicking this link. We will respond to your request within 24 hours.

We’re located at the heart of the Music City at 611 Frederick Rd., Suite 101. Drop on by, or schedule an appointment today. We’re looking forward to seeing you!