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Cleaning Contact Lenses: Everything You Need to Know About Contact Lens Care

You put in a fresh pair of contacts and everything is clear, crisp, and bright. Luckily, you can keep things that way. It all starts with cleaning your contact lenses the right way and following the right hygiene routine. This guide will teach you the right way to care for your contact lenses so your lenses stay clean, your vision stays clear, and your eyes stay healthy.

If you use daily disposable contact lenses, skip down to the last two sections of this guide. Why? Because instead of cleaning your contact lenses, you simply throw them away at the end of every day. This type of contact lens has absolutely no maintenance.

For everyone else, however, there are things you need to do every day to keep your contacts clean and disinfected.

Steps for Cleaning Contact Lenses

person cleaning contact lenses on a fingertip with contact solution

Here are the steps you take:

  1. Believe it or not, the first step in cleaning your contacts has nothing to do with your eyes. Instead, it has to do with your hands. Be sure that your hands are clean before touching your contact lenses or eyes. Wash your hands with hot water and soap. The soap should be fragrance and lotion free. Use a lint-free towel to dry your hands thoroughly.
  2. Have your contact case and contact solution ready to use.

    The best time to clean your contact case is when you put your contacts in. This way, the case will be ready when you remove your lenses later in the day.

    To clean your case, rinse it with contact solution. Do not rinse with water. Let the case air dry. Finally, replace your case on a quarterly basis to avoid a buildup of bacteria that can cause eye infections.
  3. Remove one of your contact lenses.
  4. Add three to four drops of contact solution onto the lens and place in the palm of your hand.
  5. Rub the contact lens gently into your palm with the tip of your finger. Be sure to use this step even if the contact solution you use says it is a no-rub variety. Also, be sure to be gentle. If you rub too vigorously, you may rip your lens.
  6. Rinse the lens completely using your contact solution.
  7. Add fresh solution to your contact case. Be sure that the case is clean before use. Also, do not reuse solution left in the case from the day before.
  8. Put the lens in the case.
  9. Now, repeat steps three through eight with the second lens.
  10. Let contacts soak. Be sure to read the directions on the bottle of solution to know how long they need to soak.

Thinking About Contact Lens Solution

white contact lens solution with white and blue contact lens case

The steps above work for anyone using multipurpose contact solution. However, there are different types of solutions available. Be sure to follow the directions for the type of solution you use.

Follow Directions for Good Contact Lens Care

notebook with words follow the rules

When it comes to caring for your contact lenses, the most important thing is to follow the directions provided to you.

  1. Always look at the instructions on the packaging for your:
  2. Listen to your eye doctor. They may suggest something slightly different than the manufacturer’s directions due to your unique eye issues. Doing so will help you get the best performance from your lenses and keep your eyes healthy.

More Contact Lens Care Tips

water drops on white background

To keep your eyes healthy, there are a few more lens care things to think about besides cleaning. Here are some points to keep in mind.

Eye Care Beyond Cleaning

closeup of young woman applying eye drops

Although you need to have a regular cleaning schedule, there are other issues that may require some changes in how you care for your eyes and lenses.

Protein Buildup
If you have protein buildup, your doctor may recommend a protein removal product. Cleaning your lenses removes buildup, but some people have more buildup than others. This makes contacts feel uncomfortable. Of course, what your eye doctor suggests will depend on the amount of protein in your eyes and the type of lenses you wear.

Dry Eyes
Dry eyes may require a rewetting drop. This helps your eyes feel moist and lubricated. Be sure to use drops made for those wearing contact lenses.

Sensitive Eyes & Allergies
You may find that you are sensitive to a particular brand of contact solution. It’s important to talk to your eye doctor because they can recommend a different solution. Most of the time, people with sensitive eyes need a preservative-free product.

More Eye Health Tips

eye doctor with white coat and blue tie holding out contact case

In addition to taking care of your contact lenses, you also need to take care of your eyes. This will help you avoid eye infections that could lead to permanent vision loss.

That’s it! By following these steps and tips for cleaning contact lenses, you will have clean lenses and help prevent eye infections as well.

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