Wearing contact lens is a daily necessity for many people who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism. Contact lenses can correct vision and improve the wearer’s quality of life. Because contact lenses come into contact with the eyes every day, learning how to put in and remove contact lenses safely, as well as how to properly store them, can help prevent eye infections.
Types of contact lenses, classified by usage
- The type that is worn only when waking up and removed before going to bed. The wearer must always remove the lenses before going to bed. This is the most popular type of contact lens.
- Continuous wear for 6 days without removal. Sleeping in lenses can only be done with certain lens models and carries a significantly higher risk of eye infection than taking the lenses out before bed.
- Continuous wear for 30 days without removal. The disadvantage is that there is a much higher risk of eye infection than removing the lenses before sleeping.
Understand how to put them on, remove them, and change them. Recommendations for using contact lenses are as follows:
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching contact lenses and eyes.
- Clean your contact lenses and contact lens cases with cleaning solution regularly and correctly. Choose a contact lens solution that can kill germs that are harmful to the cornea, remove protein and dirt, and moisturize your contact lenses before wearing them.
- Do not wear contact lenses while sleeping or swimming, and do not share contact lenses with others.
- Do not use tap water, ยูฟ่าเบท, well water, or unsterilized saline to rinse or clean your contact lenses.
- Contact lenses should not be worn continuously for more than 8–10 hours/day. Contact lenses should be changed according to the recommended time for that type of contact lens.
- While wearing contact lenses, if you experience any abnormal symptoms such as red eyes, eye pain, eye discharge, or blurred vision , you should stop wearing contact lenses and see an ophthalmologist immediately.
Improper care of contact lenses can lead to eye diseases and infections. About 1 in 500 contact lens wearers may develop a serious eye infection that can lead to blindness.