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7 Things Every Contact Lens Wearer Needs to Know

Protecting your eyes is important.

Since contacts are so important option for vision and our eyes are so precious, it’s important to take good care of both. Many people new to contact lenses, and even some experienced wearers, have practical questions about contacts.

Before You Touch Your Lenses

Always wash your hands before you put your lenses in or take them out. Don’t lather up with oily or heavily scented soaps. Lenses can cling to wet hands, so dry your hands well with a lint-free towel. If you want to use a moisturizer, wait until after you’ve put in your lenses. The residue from lotions can stick to them.

How Long Can I Wear My Lenses?

Replace your lenses as often as the doctor suggests, even if you don’t wear them every day. For instance, if you have the disposable kind that are good for one wearing, throw them out after you’ve worn them once, even if they still feel fresh. When you wear lenses for more days than you should, or when you sleep in lenses that aren’t made for overnight wear, you raise your risk of eye infections.

Water and Lenses Don’t Mix

If you’re out of contact lens solution, you might be tempted to rinse your lenses with tap water. Don’t do it! Water sometimes has microbes that can cause serious eye infections. Don’t even wear contacts in the shower. And never put your lenses into your mouth or use saliva to wet them.

Read more about eye contacts care at BlackDoctor.Org.

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(Photo: Safia Fatimi/Getty Images)

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