4 Things You May Do That Will Wreck Your Contact Lenses

Posted on: 11 December 2014

Do you find yourself going through contact lenses at a ridiculous pace? Contact lenses are convenient and attractive, but they can also be incredibly expensive. Whether you have monthly or yearly contacts, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these mistakes.

1. Spitting on Them

You wouldn't spit into your eye, would you? With that in mind, it's positively astonishing how many people will lubricate their contact lenses with saliva and then insert them into their eyes. Not only is this incredibly dangerous and unhealthy (the mouth has bacteria that the eye simply is not equipped to deal with), but it's also bad for the lenses. Saliva has digestive enzymes in it, which can wear the contact.

2. Rubbing Your Eyes

It can be easy to forget that your contacts are in and begin rubbing your eyes. But this is always bad, even if it temporarily does clear up your contacts. Not only are you hurting your eyes when you rub them (you're gently abrading the surface), you're also hurting your contacts by adding additional wear to them. If your eyes feel strange, use eye drops.

3. Wearing Them When Sick

Whether you have allergies or a cold, it's a bad idea to put your contacts in when you're sick. When you're sick, you may find your eyes sticky or gummy. This will add a "tacky" texture to your contacts, which could rip and stretch them. Likewise, if your eyes are very dry, your contacts will be painful and they may, again, become damaged. If your eyes aren't perfectly healthy, your contacts will only make them worse.

4. Sleeping in Them

Everyone is told not to sleep in their contacts because it will damage their eyes. And, of course, this is true. But it's rarely pointed out that sleeping in your contacts can also damage your contacts. They will usually dry out and you may not be able to successfully re-hydrate them. They may also become stretched, torn or damaged as you sleep, and they may experience a build up of material within your eye that cannot be easily removed. 

If you really can't seem to get a hang of contact lenses, you might want to ask your optometrist about daily use lenses. These lenses may initially seem to be more expensive than alternatives, but if you're already going through tons of monthly or annual use contacts, it might actually be cheaper. To learn more, contact a company like A New Vision with any questions you have.

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