by Ryan Peardon, O.D.
Contact lenses, when used properly, are a safe and effective method to provide good vision for those who require vision correction. However, poor compliance can wreak havoc on your eyes and vision. Here are some tips to protect your eyes and maximize your vision with contact lenses:
- Follow your replacement schedule
All contact lenses are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for appropriate lengths of wear and when they should be replaced. Wearing your contact lenses beyond these approved periods can compromise their integrity and possibly lead to irritation or infection. Contact your eye care provider if you are unsure of the appropriate wear schedule and when you should replace them.
2. Avoid water
Swimming and showering while wearing your contact lenses can have drastic consequences, potentially leading to permanently reduced vision. The wear of contact lenses can cause microtrauma to the outer surface of the clear front of the eye, the cornea. These microtraumas present an opportunity for infections as most water is not germ-free. Additionally, you should avoid rinsing your contact lenses with water as this can contaminate your lenses and cause them to harbor bacteria.
3. Do not sleep with your contact lenses in*
The cornea receives most of its oxygen from the surrounding air while the eye is open. When your eyes are closed while sleeping, the amount of oxygen that reaches your eye is already reduced. Contact lens wear adds an additional barrier preventing oxygen from reaching the cornea. Lack of oxygenation to the cornea signals your body to grow new blood vessels within the cornea, which can obscure vision. (*You should only sleep in contact lenses if they are specifically made for sleeping in such as certain specialty contact lenses and your optometrist has directly told you to sleep in them.)
The key to having a long relationship with your contacts is to develop healthy contact lens habits early on. However, if you are a longtime contact lens wearer, it is never too late to implement healthy habits. If you have questions about your contact lenses or ways to keep your eyes safe while wearing contact lenses, contact your eye care provider.
Our team of doctors at Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida will gladly assist you with any of your vision needs. We have several locations to serve you better; contact us at 800-282-3937 or EYESFL.COM.
Bio: Dr. Ryan Peardon is a board-certified optometrist who sees patients at the Lakeland and Winter Haven locations for Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida. He specializes in primary care optometry and contact lenses and is currently accepting new patients.
This column is sponsored by Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFHN or of its advertisers.