How to Clean and Care for Your Contact Lenses For Healthy Eyes

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Taking care of your contacts goes a long way toward having a healthy set of eyes.

If used and treated incorrectly, lenses can attract bacteria, dirt, and protein deposits. This can result in eye infections, irritation, blurred vision, or severe eye problems.

The good news is that proper care can be relatively easy when you follow the right steps. In this guide, you will find out how to clean and store your lenses, develop safe daily habits, and avoid all these common mistakes.

Whether you’re new to contact lenses or just need a quick refresher, this guide will help you keep your eyes and contacts in tip-top shape every day.

The Various Types of Contact Lenses and Their Cleaning Requirements

Various contact lenses require various kinds of care. Knowing what type of lens you have can help guide the best routine for you.

Daily Disposable Lenses

Daily contact lenses are intended for single use. You put on a new pair each day and toss them after use. Tampons are not required on these lenses.

Tips for safe use:

• The lens is recommended to use after washing and drying your hands
  
• Do not reuse a daily lens no matter how clean it seems
  
• Always empty them out at the end of the day
  

Reusable Soft Lenses

They are worn for a certain number of days, like two weeks or one month. Every time it comes out, it has to be cleaned and put away properly.

Tips for cleaning and care:

• Give them a daily cleanse with the appropriate lens solution
  
• Keep them in a clean lens case with fresh solution
  
• Put them on the schedule provided by your eye care professional
  

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses

These lenses are hard and smaller than soft lenses. They also last longer, often one year, but require more meticulous cleaning and maintenance.

Tips for RGP lenses:

• Use only the recommended cleaning solution for RGP lenses
  
• Rub and wash them each day before storing
  
• Store them in fresh solution in a suitable case

Step by Step on How to Clean Your Contact Lenses

It is essential to clean your contact lenses properly to protect your eyes and avoid inflammation and infections. Just read this complete how-to guide to ensure that you are doing it right every time.

Wash and Dry Hands First

Always wash your hands well before handling your contact lenses. Clean with a mild, unscented soap and warm water. This will wipe away dirt, oils, and bacteria on your fingers that might transfer to the lenses or your eyes.

Afterward, wash your hands well to ensure no soap residue persists. Pat them dry with a clean, lint-free towel. If you have glasses, don’t use tissues or cloth towels that can leave behind lint. Little fibers can cling to your lenses and cause them to feel scratchy or blurry.

Tip: It also helps to make this the first step in your routine every time, whether you’re taking lenses out or putting them in.

Rub and Rinse the Lenses

Rubbing your lenses gently, even if your lens solution is labeled “no rub,” helps to remove more debris and protein build-up. This process helps keep your lenses clear and safe for use.

To clean:

• Set the lens on your clean, dry palm
  
• Dab on some of the disinfectant
  
• Use your fingertip to rub the lens back and forth for about 10 to 15 seconds
  
• Turn the lens over and repeat on the other side
  

After rubbing, rinse your lens well with fresh solution. This removes the loosened debris and prepares the lens for wear or storage.

Important: Do not use tap water, saliva, or any homemade solution to rinse your lenses. Use only contact lens solution recommended by your eye care practitioner.

Store in a Clean Lens Case

After your lenses are clean, store them in a clean contact lens case. Fill the case with new solution up to the fill lines and drop the lenses into the solution until they are fully submerged.

Do not use the old solution from yesterday. “Topping off” old solution may seem like a shortcut, but it reduces disinfection strength and increases your risk of infection. Old solution can also harbor bacteria or germs.

Once filled with fresh solution and lenses, close the lids tightly. Store your case in a clean, dry place, not near a humid bathroom sink.

Pro tip: Clean your lens case regularly and replace it every 1 to 3 months to maintain hygiene.

Disinfect as Directed

Disinfection is the last and most critical step in contact lens care. Once you have cleaned and stored your lenses, they must soak in a disinfecting solution for a certain time to kill bacteria or microbes.

Follow the exact directions on your lens solution box. There may be slight differences depending on the brand or formula.

If your eye care provider gave you a specific cleaning system like a hydrogen peroxide-based solution, follow the instructions carefully, especially the neutralizing step.

Reminder: Don’t cut short the soaking time. Plan ahead, and never use water or anything not approved by your eye doctor.

What to do (and not to do) with Contact Lenses

Caring for your contact lenses properly is one of the best things you can do for your eye health. Good habits also help you avoid irritation, dryness, and infections. Here is an additional explanation of what you should and should not be doing when it comes to your lenses care.

Do’s

Follow your eye doctor’s instructions

Your eye care provider is the one who knows what’s best for your eyes and the lense. They’ll provide guidance on how long you should be wearing your lenses each day, the cleaning solution to use and when to replace not only your lenses but your case.

Complying with their instructions is one way to prevent trouble and protect your peepers.

Replace the lenses and the cases on time

Do not even attempt to stretch the lifespan of your contacts. Daily lenses should be discarded after a day’s wear, and bi-weekly or monthly lenses should be replaced as directed.

The same goes for your contact lens case, too. That you should replace every one to three months, even if it looks clean. Bacteria can develop over time in small scratches or hard-to-clean corners.

Keep nails short and clean

Letting your nails grow too long and then scratching your contacts with them, or your eyes, for that matter, could accidentally scratch them.

They also can harbor bacteria that may spread to the lens. Short, clean nails also limit your chances of risking injury when putting in or taking out lenses.

Don’ts

Do not rinse with tap water or saliva

You might think tap water is clean, but it can be home to harmful microorganisms like Acanthamoeba, which can cause devastating eye infections.

The mouth is full of bacteria, and saliva is unsafe for cleaning lenses. Clean and store with contact lens-approved solution. Always use clean solution to help prevent infection.

Avoid sleeping with the lenses in, unless your doctor tells you it’s okay

Lenses trap your eyes’ natural moisture while you’re sleeping, which can reduce the amount of oxygen that flows to your eyes — and that makes it more likely for infection to occur, not to mention can lead to discomfort.

Only certain lenses are sold for overnight wear, and even then, should be done under a doctor’s supervision. For most people, lenses should always be taken out at bedtime.

Never reuse or top up your contact lens solution

Reusing the same solution or adding new solution to old may decrease its disinfection effective. After using, drain the case completely and refill with fresh solution. This is to make sure your lenses are clean as they should be and your eyes are safe.

Toric Contact Lenses for Astigmatism.

Cleaning and Changing Your Lens Case

While many people worry about cleaning their lenses, they forget that the lens case is a major part of eye safety. A dirty or ancient case may expose contact lenses to bacteria. Here’s how to care for your contact lens case the right way.

There is no other cleaning solution to use other than with contact lens solution

Pour out the old solution from the case once you have taken the lenses out. Rinse the case with fresh care solution for lenses. Don’t use tap water to clean the case — you could be adding germs that stick to the inside of the case.

Keep the case open to dry air

After rinsing, place the case upside down on a clean tissue or paper towel in a dry place. Allow it to air-dry thoroughly before using it again. These help prevent bacteria from multiplying in the case.

Change your case every one to three months

Despite how meticulous you are about cleaning it each day, your contact lens case can, over time, be a veritable breeding ground of bacteria.

Change your case no less often than every 3 months, unless it’s been cracked or discolored, or you are finding it challenging to clean it.

Signs of Poor Lens Hygiene

Your contact lenses should be so comfortable and clear that you forget you’re wearing them. So when something feels off, your eyes may be trying to tell you your lenses aren’t being taken care of.

Here are some typical clues that there might be an issue of hygiene at play or a possible health concern.

Redness, burning, or irritation

If your eyes are irritated, itchy, or red, that issue may stem from buildup on the lenses, bacteria, or dryness. These symptoms can usually be attributed to inadequate lens cleaning or too long a wear.

Blurry vision or excessive tearing

Blurred or cloudy vision can be a sign that your lenses are covered in deposits or damaged. And if your eyes have started watering more than normal, there could be other factors at play, such as dryness, sensitivity, or infection.

When to take out your contacts and call your eye doctor

If you are not better after removing your lenses, or if they just get worse, keep them out and call your eye care provider. Do not attempt to power through discomfort, as this can cause more serious issues such as corneal ulcers or infections.

More Considerations as a Long-Term Lens Wearer

Contact lens wear, like many things, can begin to feel relatively normal after it’s been a part of your life for years and years. These are additional suggestions that particularly benefit those who depend on their contacts on a daily basis.

Get Used to Taking Frequent Breaks from Wearing Your Lenses

Let your eyes have a break. On days you’re not working, wear glasses for a few hours or for one full day a week to minimize dryness and irritation. Your eyes need oxygen to remain healthy, and wearing lenses around the clock can, in some cases, restrict that flow.

Use Rewetting Drops If Needed

If your eyes feel dry frequently while wearing lenses, consider using lubricating eye drops that are safe for contact lens wearers and ask your doctor about your options. These drops will help you keep your lenses moist and your eyes more comfortable all day long.

Obtain Yearly Eye Exams for Prescription Updates

Your vision and eye health can change even if your lenses feel comfortable. Regular eye exams make sure your prescription is still accurate and your eyes are still healthy with prolonged use of contact lenses.

Some Misconceptions About Cleaning Used Contact Lenses

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about how to clean and care for your contact lenses. Here’s why buying into these myths could be bad for hygiene and up your chances of an eye infection. Let’s debunk a few of the most popular.

Myth: Single Doses Fix Everything

While these all-in-one solutions are convenient, they don’t always cut it by themselves. Many still need the lenses to be rubbed to fully clear them of deposits and bacteria. Always read and follow the label, or ask your eye doctor which method is best for your lenses.

Myth: If They’re Soft, You Can Sleep in Contact Lenses

If you have soft contact lenses, you can sleep in them — right?

Not all soft contacts are manufactured to be worn overnight. Wearing lenses unapproved for sleeping in can cut off oxygen to your eyes and cause infections that can be very serious. Always consult with your eye doctor before sleeping in any kind of contact lenses.

Myth: It’s Safe to Top Off Solution in the Case

You may think that just adding more solution into what’s already in your lens case is harmless, but this can weaken the solution’s disinfecting power. Be sure to remove the old solution completely and refill with new solution each time.

Conclusion

Taking good care of your contact lenses is crucial for the health of your eyes. Good hygiene can mean the difference between uncomfortable eyes and blurry vision to serious infections that could cause blindness.

Because when you take simple steps every day, like washing your hands, cleaning with a new solution and storing in a fresh case, your eyes stay healthier and your vision stays clear.

Replace your lenses and lens case as directed, resist shortcuts such as rinsing or storing lenses in water and reusing old solution, and never forgo regular visits to your eye doctor. Clear lenses help keep your vision clean, clear and bright, any day, every day.

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