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Many people wear contact lenses and at this time of year there are lots of fancy dress parties.
Coloured contact lenses are always fun, but if you don’t follow some basic safety and Contact Lens Care rules they can be dangerous and you can damage your sight permanently.

Here at Barnham Opticians we want you to help you with your Contact Lens Care and keep your eyesight safe.
So here some common questions and care rules to follow all the time to care for your eyes, (not just for your party Halloween lenses).

How can I best take care of my contact lenses?

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing your lenses.
Take care not to catch the lens or your eye with your fingernails – it is good practice to keep them short.
Work over a clean, flat surface.
Use the correct cleaning solution solution to rinse your lenses and case.
To prevent mixing your lenses up, always insert and remove the same lens first.
ALWAYS use the correct cleaning solutions. NEVER EVER use water

 

Cleaning your contact lenses case

Eye infections can happen due to not cleaning your contact lens case properly.
Once you have put your lenses in, throw away the solution from your case, rinse it with the proper cleaning solution and leave to air dry. Replace your contact lens case with a new one every month.

 

Never do any of the following:

Do not rinse your lenses and case with tap water. Bacteria in water can cause infections that can cause the loss of your sight.
Never shower or bath with your lenses in.
Never sleep with your lenses in.
Never swim with your contact lenses in. Just like tap water, swimming pool water carries bacteria that can result in the permanent loss of your eyesight if it gets trapped behind your contact lens.
 

Putting your contact lenses in

Remove the lens from the storage case and make sure it is not damaged, check the edges for damage.
Rinse your lenses with specific contact lens solution before fitting them.
Check the lens is not inside out by checking its shape.
Place the contact lens onto the tip of your index finger.
Pull your lower lid down with the middle finger.
Pull your upper lid up.
Gently place the lens on your eye while firmly holding both eyelids in position.
Once the lens is on your eye, close your eyes slowly and blink a few times.
Throw away the solution from your case, rinse it with cleaning solution and leave it upside down on a clean surface to air dry.

 

Removing your contact lenses

Keep your chin down and look upwards.
Pull your lower lid down gently with your middle finger.
Slide your contact lens down onto the white of your index finger.
To remove the lens, keep your index finger on the lens and gently pinch the front surface with your thumb and index finger (never use your nails as this can scratch your cornea).

If it is a daily disposable lens, throw it away as soon as you have removed it from your eye.
If it is a weekly lens, you must clean it before it is put into the storage case to remove the microbes and deposits that have built up on the lens during the day.

 

Remember:

A contact lens cannot go behind your eye.
If you cannot find the lens in your eye, please go to your optician as soon as possible.
In the case of an emergency: If your eye suddenly becomes red, painful or your vision worsens and you are unable to get to an optician please visit your local hospital A & E immediately.

If you wear make-up, or are making up for a fancy dress party: Insert your lenses before putting on your make-up and remove them before taking your make-up off.