478.368.5385 or 478.368.5386 or 478.368.5384
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SELECT EYECARE LLC
Dr. Alisa Burnett, OD
Dr. Camilla Donald, OD, FAAO, Diplomate ABO
Glasses & Contact Lens Exams
Healthy Eyes for Life
ARE CONTACT LENSES FOR YOU?
Millions of people choose to wear contact lenses. However, they are not for everyone. Your cornea and tear film must be healthy for you to be comfortable and see clearly with contact lenses.
You might not be able to wear them for the following reasons:
You may be successful wearing contacts if:
Your dry eye is moderate.
Your allergies are seasonal.
You wear daily disposable contact lenses instead of 1-2 week or monthly options.
You wear contact lenses occasionally.
Ask your doctor if contact lenses are right for you.
INSERTION AND REMOVAL
CONTACT LENS CARE
You can get a serious eye infection if you do not clean, disinfect and store your contact lenses correctly. Follow your eye care provider's instructions exactly!
You must clean and disinfect any contact lens you remove from your eye before you put the lens back in. There are 2 types of cleansing systems, Multipurpose and Hydrogen Peroxide. The choice depends on the type of lens you use, if you have allergies or if your eyes tend to form protein deposits. Ask your eye doctor what kind of cleaning solutions you should use. Take special care to clean and store your lenses correctly to avoid dangerous eye infections.
Be diligent:
Keep the schedule your eye doctor gives you for wearing and replacing your lenses: 1 DAY, 1-2 WEEKS OR 1 MONTH.
Follow directions from your doctor, from the contact lens manufacturer, and from the lens cleaning solution manufacturer to clean and store your lenses. If you store your lenses in the case for a long time, re-disinfect them before wearing them. Never wear your contact lenses if they have been stored for 30 days or longer without re-disinfecting.
Keep your eye exam appointments. Contact lenses can warp over time, and your cornea can change shape. To make sure your lenses fit properly, and the prescription is right for you, see your eye doctor regularly.
Do not shower, swim, use a hot tub or do anything where water gets in your eyes when wearing contacts. Water and contact lenses do not mix.
DO NOT SLEEP IN CONTACT LENSES.
Clean and rewet carefully:
Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel before touching your contact lenses.
Use a “rub and rinse” cleaning method no matter what type of lens cleaning solution you buy. Rub your contact lenses with clean fingers, then rinse the lenses with solution before soaking them. Use this method even if the solution you are using is a “no-rub” type.
Never put contacts in your mouth to wet them. Saliva (spit) is not a sterile solution.
Do not rinse or store contacts in water (tap or sterile water).
Never use a homemade saline solution.
Do not use saline solution or rewetting drops to disinfect your lenses. They are not disinfectants.
Use new solution each time you clean and disinfect your contact lenses. Never reuse or top off old solution.
Do not pour contact lens solution into a different bottle. The solution will no longer be sterile.
Make sure the tip of the solution bottle does not touch any surface. Keep the bottle tightly closed when you are not using it.
Keep a clean contact case:
Keep your contact lens case clean. Rinse it with tap water, then leave the empty case open to air dry.
Replace the case at least every 3 months, or right away if it gets cracked, damaged or dirty.
CONTACT LENS SOLUTIONS
If you wear any contact lenses that you take out and use more than once, you must disinfect them with a solution to keep them clean and safe.
There are two main types of contact lens cleaning solutions: hydrogen peroxide-based and multipurpose. Both kinds remove debris and build-up when used properly, but they work in different ways.
Sometimes people are allergic to contact lens solutions. This can also occur over time.
Red or inflamed eyes, pain and excess tearing can be signs of an allergic reaction to solutions or could be a contact-lens-related-eye-infection.
Contact your optometrist If you experience these symptoms.
CONTACT LENS TIPS
As a beginner contact lens user, consider keeping your fingernails short to prevent accidentally scratching your eye.
Always put the first contact lens in the same eye, either left or right. That way you won’t mix up the lenses for the right eye and left eye.
Keep your eyes moist and healthy so dry eyes don’t bother you. Use rewetting drops as your eye doctor recommends.
Drink lots of water.
Remember to blink when using a computer, smart phone or watching TV.
CRITICAL CONTACT CARE
Contact lenses that are old or that do not fit well can scratch your eye. They can also cause blood vessels to grow into your cornea, a dangerous condition that threatens your vision.
Eye drops not designated for contact lenses can cause problems with your contact lenses. It is best to avoid using any kind of eye drop when wearing contacts. However, you can use contact lens rewetting drops or preservative-free lubricating drops as recommended by your eye doctor.
Remove your contact lenses and call your eye doctor right away if your eyes are very red, painful, watery or sensitive to light. Do the same if you have blurry vision or notice discharge (ooze or pus) coming from your eye. These can be symptoms of serious eye problems.