Daily contact lenses, also known as dailies or daily disposable contact lenses are an incredibly popular choice due to their convenient nature. Comfortable and hygienic, these lenses are thrown away at the end of each day eliminating the need for a lens cleaning routine. When used correctly, dailies promote excellent eye health and hygiene. However, despite being easy to use, there are many ways in which improper use can damage your vision, one being overwearing your daily lenses. Eye health experts at Feel Good Contacts (the UK’s no 1 contact lens retailer) are here to take you through the 5 dos and don’ts of daily lenses and why you shouldn’t overwear them.
Don’t overwear your daily lenses
Wearing your daily contact lenses for a prolonged period of time can be detrimental to your eyesight which is why you should always follow the wearing time advised by your eye health specialist. It’s essential to give your eyes a break from contact lenses so that your eyes can receive enough oxygen. Failure to give your eyes the rest they need can lead to complications such as swollen corneas, corneal abrasion, bacterial infections, or neovascularization (lack of oxygen to the cornea).
Don’t sleep in your contact lenses
You should never sleep with your contact lenses in, unless prescribed for extended wear by your optician. Wearing your lenses overnight when you’re not supposed to can result in irritation, swelling and corneal ulcers or neovascularization (lack of oxygen to the cornea).
Don’t shower in your lenses
This goes for all contact lenses, not just dailies. You should avoid showering or coming into contact with water of any type while wearing your contact lenses, as this can introduce microbial keratitis into your eyes and lead to serious eye infections such as Acanthamoeba Keratitis. If not treated immediately Acanthamoeba Keratitis can lead to vision loss or total blindness. Furthermore, water can change the shape of your contact lenses which can lead to discomfort.
Don’t re-use your contacts
Daily contact lenses are designed to be worn once and disposed of at the end of each day before replacing them with a new pair the next day. Due to their design, they are thinner and retain less moisture than other contact lenses which means, re-using them can risk your eye health. Attempting to prolong the lifespan of these lenses by cleaning them in solution is problematic as this can break down the lens which can lead to an eye infection.
Don’t insert your contact lenses after dropping them on the floor
Inserting your contact lenses after dropping them can cause bacteria to enter the eye and lead to infection. If you wear daily lenses, it’s best to throw them away and use a new pair if you accidentally drop them.
Now that you know the don’t of wearing daily contact lenses, it’s time to familiarise yourself with the dos. You can buy daily contact lenses and learn more about them via this website but before you do, it’s definitely worth getting a good overview of how best to handle them.
Do wash your hands before handling your lenses
It is crucial to wash your hands thoroughly with a mild soap and dry them with a lint-free towel before handling your contact lenses. This will prevent bacteria and dirt from being transferred to your lenses.
Do remove your lenses and consult your eye care practitioner if you experience a reaction
The reaction could be pain, redness, blurry vision, excessive watering, sensitivity to light, a burning sensation or any other kind of discomfort.
Do remove your lenses if they become torn, damaged, or scratched
If your contact lenses are torn or damaged, they will not fit your eye’s curvature, causing your lenses to move around and possibly damage your cornea.
Do attend your follow up appointments
These are essential to monitor the health of your eyes and ensure that you’re getting on fine with your lenses and your prescription is correct and up to date. Follow up appointments are also a great opportunity to learn about new technology that might be more suitable and better for your lifestyle.
Do comply with your optician’s advice and recommended wearing schedule
Overwearing your daily contact lenses can lead to serious complications, so it’s crucial that you listen to your optician’s advice on how many hours per day to wear your lenses.
