Contact Lens Care

Hey Everyone! 

A lot of people like the ease of wearing contact lenses instead of glasses. While I don’t wear them myself, I frequently hear from my friends about what they have to do to care for their contacts. Our eyes are delicate and complex organs, so wearing contact lenses requires some special care to avoid infections or damage. Let’s explore the biology behind why proper lens care is so important and what you can do to keep your eyes safe. 

Part 1: The Importance of Lens Hygiene

Wearing contact lenses means that you’re placing a foreign object directly on the surface of your eye, specifically on your cornea which is the clear, dome-shaped front part of your eye that covers your iris and pupil. The cornea plays a very important role in our sight, performing the initial process, around 65-75% of the job, of focusing light into the retina (More information on the cornea here). The lens creates a small barrier that can trap debris, bacteria, and other microorganisms against your eye. If you’re anything like me, I bet that image of little organisms wandering around on your eye makes you squirm. If you don’t take care of your lenses properly, you risk developing infections like keratitis, which is an inflammation of the cornea. These infections can drastically worsen your vision, so it’s important to know how to take care of your lenses. 

Biology Behind the Risks: The cornea receives the oxygen it needs to function both through the body delivering it and directly through the air. Wearing contact lenses can reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea, especially if the lenses aren’t cleaned properly. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this lack of oxygen can prompt the cornea to start growing new blood vessels to get account for the deficiency. These new vessels can cause complications such as inflammation and increases the risk of getting an infection.  Another biological risk comes from exposing contact lenses to water, including rinsing or storing them in water (as opposed to specialized contact lens solution). If you wear your lenses in the shower or while swimming, you are potentially exposing yourself to infections. Tap water may be safe for drinking, but it isn’t sterile and contains microorganisms that can lead to eye problems. 

Tips for Avoiding Risk:

• Wash Your Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contact lenses. This removes oils, dirt, and bacteria that can transfer to your lenses and then to your eyes. Even tiny amounts of bacteria can lead to serious infections.

• Disinfect Carefully: When you disinfect your lenses with contact lens solution, make sure you always use fresh solution and dispose of the used solution. Reusing solution can pose a risk of infection before you even put your contacts in. 

• Take a Break: Taking breaks from wearing contacts is fine to do, but if you don’t wear your contact lenses often, you should disinfect them the night before you plan on wearing them. And don’t ever wear your lenses while you sleep unless specifically instructed to by a doctor.

Part 2: Proper Contact Lens Care and Storage

Proper storage of contact lenses is just as important as how you wear them. When lenses aren’t stored correctly, they can harbor bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens that could lead to infections.

Biology Behind Storage: Contact lenses are made of materials designed to allow oxygen to pass through them to the cornea. However, these materials can also absorb water and other substances. If lenses are stored in old or contaminated solution, they can become breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms. The National Institute of Health explains that these microorganisms can adhere to the lenses, transferring directly to the eye and causing infections or even corneal ulcers.

Storage Tips:

• Use Fresh Solution Every Time: Always use fresh contact lens solution to store your lenses. Never reuse old solution, because it loses its disinfecting properties over time and can lead to contamination. This is especially important because contact lens solutions contain specific chemicals designed to kill bacteria and fungi.

• Clean Your Contact Lens Case Regularly: Your contact lens case can easily become contaminated if it isn’t cleaned properly. By rinsing it with fresh solution and allowing it to air dry, you reduce the risk of bacteria and fungi transferring from the case to your lenses.

• Avoid Water: Water contains microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. This particular amoeba can attach to contact lenses and infect the cornea, potentially leading to vision loss. It is crucial to avoid any water exposure to your lenses.

For more detailed advice on avoiding eye infections, check out this resource from the AOA.

Part 3: Looking Out For Your Eyes

Your eyes are incredibly sensitive and can often show signs of something being wrong. If you are a contact lens wearer, it’s important to recognize these signs early to prevent any long-term damage.

Biology Behind the Symptoms: The cornea has a dense network of nerve endings, which makes it extremely sensitive to irritants, infections, and injuries. This sensitivity is why you might experience discomfort, redness, or watering eyes when something isn’t right. So what should you look out for in particular?

Signs to Watch Out For:

• Redness, Irritation, or Discomfort: These symptoms could indicate that your cornea is inflamed or irritated, possibly due to an infection or an allergic reaction to lens material or solution. If you experience these symptoms, remove your lenses immediately and consult an eye care professional, as noted by Harvard Health and the Center for Disease Control. Early intervention can prevent more serious issues from developing.

• Blurry Vision: Blurriness could mean that your lenses are dirty, damaged, or that your prescription needs updating. Since contact lenses sit directly on the tear film of your eye, any sort of disruption can affect how light reaches through your cornea and lens.

• Light Sensitivity or Excessive Tearing: These could be signs of a serious issue such as an infection or an abrasion on your cornea. It is essential to see your doctor if these symptoms occur.

Routine Eye Exams: Regular eye exams are crucial for contact lens wearers. During an exam, an eye doctor can check for signs of infection, dryness, or damage that you might not notice. The American Optometric Association recommends annual eye exams to monitor eye health and ensure lenses fit properly.

Final Thoughts

Taking care of your contact lenses isn’t just about convenience…it’s about protecting your vision and overall eye health. By understanding the biology behind why these practices are necessary, I hope you can start to appreciate the importance of proper lens care. Your eyes are complex and delicate, and it’s up to you to keep them healthy.

Be well!