CONTACT LENS CARE: SOFT CONTACT LENSES

What kind of care do soft contact lenses need?

During normal wear, dirt, protein particles, and germs can get on contact lenses. Contacts need to be disinfected to kill the germs that can cause serious eye infections. They also need to be cleaned to protect your eyes from irritation and to remove substances that may shorten the life of the lenses. Shortcuts should never be taken when cleaning lenses. Follow the prescribed cleaning method completely.

When do soft contacts need to be disinfected?

Soft contacts must be disinfected every time you remove them. If you have daily-wear soft contacts, you should clean and disinfect them every night. Most eye doctors recommend that all contacts be taken out and cleaned each night, even so-called extended-wear contacts. Daily disposable contacts should be thrown away rather than cleaned and reused.

How are they disinfected?

There are several ways to disinfect soft contact lenses. The most common way is chemical disinfection. The basic procedure involves putting a few drops of cleaner on the lens, rubbing the lens gently between your fingers, and then rinsing the lens with a saline rinse solution. Next, the lens is soaked in disinfecting solution for several hours or overnight in the lens case.

Rinse the contacts again with saline solution before you put them in your eyes again. Always rinse out the case thoroughly with tap water, and either dry the case or let it air dry.

Some soft lenses can also be disinfected with a heat process that takes about one hour to complete. This particular cleaning process may be recommended by your provider for a specific type of lens.

Do soft contacts also need enzyme cleaning?

To help remove protein deposits, your eye doctor may recommend enzyme cleaning. Enzyme cleaning is usually done once every week or two. Using the enzyme cleaner on the same day each week may help you to remember when enzyme cleaning is needed. Use your enzyme cleaner according to the directions on the package. Then disinfect and rinse your lenses before putting them in.

What else can I do to help prevent eye infection?

Finally, to prevent infection:

Wash your hands before you put in or take out your lenses.
Do not use homemade or nonsterile saline solutions.
Do not wear your lenses while swimming.
Do not sleep with your lenses in your eyes unless you have extended-wear lenses and your eye doctor approves.
Use aerosol sprays, such as deodorant and hair spray BEFORE you put in your lenses.
Put in your contact lenses BEFORE you put makeup on. Eyeliner applied between the lashes and the eyes may discolor soft lenses permanently.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File EYE4205F.HTM Release 9.0/2006