It is a daily ritual for about 36 million Americans. Scooping up contacts out of the case, popping them in and suddenly the world comes into focus. Contacts are convenient, but a lot of us are guilty of some really bad habits when it comes to taking care of them.
Contacts should be easy to take care of as long as you wash you hands, keep them clean, take them out before you go to sleep, and keep them out of your mouth. But some are quite guilty of those contact "sins."
When it comes to how one treats their eyes, Ansley Eye Care optometrist Reena Gupta has seen some pretty nasty habits. She has heard horror stories from people who wear the same contacts for weeks to those who rarely change the disinfectant storage solution.
Dr. Gupta says that if you leave the solution in the case and just top off, it is creating a better living condition for bacteria. And if one runs out of storage solution, tap water is not the answer. She says it's not a good disinfectant and will end up killing contacts.
The same goes with saliva, but that does not stop wearers from rewetting their lenses in their mouth. Dr. Gupta says she believe it actually might be the number one horror story she hears.
She also says of all the bad habits, sleeping with contacts in may just be the worst. This can allow germs to grow between the lenses and the cornea.
"And the problem with sleeping in them is not only are you sleeping in them, you're getting up the next morning and you're showering in them, so all that bacteria in the bath, in the pool, in the hot tub, is just festering on that contact and you're never taking it out," said Dr. Gupta.
Developing sensitivity to light, redness of the eyes, burning or blurred vision, then it could mean the eye has become infected.
Dr. Gupta says it is the long-term abuse which really causes the big problems. She recommends giving eyes a break from contacts at least one day a week. She also suggests staying away from no-rub solutions since you need to rub your lenses to keep them clean.
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