Caring for Contacts

That's a lot of stuff to go through to keep them clean, but it's worth the trouble.  The bad thing about contacts is keeping them clean.  If you don't keep them clean you can get damaged lenses and even damaged eyes.

Corneal infections are the most dreaded of all of things that could happen to you.  It usually begins with a corneal uleer which is a break in the cornea that allows germs on a dirty contact to infect the tissue.  If not treated for just a day or two it can scar the cornea so that you could never see again in that eye.

A more common infection is giant papillary conjunctivitis which is an inflammation of the lining of the upper eyelid.  This is believed to be an allergic reaction to the protein deposits on the lens.  This affects about 10 to 15 percent of soft contact lens wearers. This is also affects about 1 to 5 hard contact wearers.  It starts with mild itching.  Then it might be severe itching and watering of the eyes for no reason.  Then you might have to stop wearing contacts for months till the problem stops.

Studies are saying that bad contact care is the big problem with infections and other effects of bad hygiene.  Some people say that they don't want to spend so much money.  So not taking good care of their contacts is very common.  So is using the wrong cleaner at the wrong time and reusing disinfecting solution.  People sometime even skip steps in cleaning. 

Some people just do the main steps(cleaning and disinfecting) and then put their contacts in a dirty case.  Others don't wash their hands before cleaning or they might put on makeup before putting the contacts on their eyes(the lens has some of the makeup on it).  In one study researchers found very high numbers of dirty lenses in soft and hard contact wearers.  In a study of 94 cases 46 cases had dirty lenses.  Several studies have found out that corneal infections result from dirty lenses.

When you first get contacts you get a starting kit.  This usually includes a lens case, daily cleaners, saline rinse, disinfectant, and weekly enzyme cleaner.  This kits usually cost $1 to $5 each.  The companies want to get you to buy their contact lens cleaner kits.  That might not be such a bad idea because you are not taking the chance of contaminating your contacts. 

Each company who sells contact care kits have to prove to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) that their kit works well.  Meaning that all of their products work to together and do not cause problems for the wearer.  It also has to work effectively. 

Any FDA approved soft contact care kit can be used for any type soft contact.  If the kit you got you can return it for a new one.

If you use cleaning solution every day it just might be the most important step in cleaning your lenses.  Studies have shown that within minutes protein deposits start to collect on the clean contact lens after it is put into the eye. 

If the proteins are not removed regularly they can dull your vision, ruin your contacts, and irritate your eyes.  Some types of cleaners can be used for soft and hard contacts.  Most cleaners are for one or the other.  Soft contact cleaners can damage hard contacts and hard contact cleaners can damage soft contacts.  

To get the best cleaning put a drop or two of cleaner on to your contact lens.  Then you should wash off the soapy stuff left on the lens with saline.  If you do not the unrinsed cleaner will be brought over to the disinfectant and can damage the contact lens.  In a study they found out that some cleaners were hard to rinse off the lens. 

They found out that Opti-Clean II was very hard to get off.  If you clean weekly with enzyme it will get off the protein on your contacts that the daily cleaning misses.  The best enzyme product is Ultrazyme.  You just drop a tablet into the peroxide while your contacts are being disinfected.  This is a lot easier than what it was.  Enzyme does not wash away the protein from the lenses.  That is why you should use daily cleaner.  some people think that cleaning disinfects, but it does not.

Disinfecting prevents infections.  You really need to do it if you wear soft contact lenses.  The water that they hold is the perfect place for bacteria to grow.  Hard contacts do not hold a lot a water like soft contacts so it is not as likely for bacteria to grow there.  Usually to disinfect hard contacts you soak them over night.  To disinfect soft contact lenses you can use one of three types heat, chemical, or hydrogen peroxide.

CHECK WITH YOUR EYE DOCTOR BEFORE DOING ANYTHING WITH YOUR EYES!!