Contact lens technology has come a long way. From 1887, when the first contact lens was produced out of glass, to 1996, when one-day disposable contact lenses were introduced, contact lenses have changed shape and material over the years. Each improvement has increased the comfort, convenience and healthiness of contacts. However, one thing has not changed, it is still necessary to follow your optometrist’s instructions on how to wear and care for your contacts.
Daily Disposable Contact Lenses: What You Need to Know
To prevent irritation, eye injury and infection, wear your daily disposable contacts only once then throw them out.
With the increasing popularity of daily disposable contact lenses, some consumers may try to stretch their dollar by wearing the lenses more than once. There are several reasons why this is not a good idea and adopting this practice can cause more harm to the eyes.
First, daily disposable lenses are simply not designed to be worn more than once. Wearing them more than one day increases the chance that your contact will be damaged and that bacteria will grow on it and infect your eye.
Second, they cannot be stored or cleaned with any kind of contact lens solution. The solution can begin to disintegrate the contact lens. When you wear a daily disposable that has been cleaned with solution, you introduce the risk of inflammation, corneal ulcers and other problems to your eye. If the contact lens falls apart on your eye from being stored or cleaned with contact lens solution, eye injury can occur, as well.
Third, daily disposables are not created to prevent protein build-up on the lens the way that regular disposables, frequent replacement lenses, or traditional lenses are. Protein can build up on the lens if you wear it more than once, which blocks oxygen flow to your eye and can cause irritation and dry eyes. Protein build-up also causes contact lenses to become cloudy.
Preventing Irritation, Eye Injury and Infection
To prevent irritation, eye injury and infection, wear your daily disposable contacts only once then throw them out. Many people choose daily disposables for their ease of use and their superior comfort, but these benefits are dependent on using them as they were meant to be used. They are single use lenses designed to be thrown out each day.
If you would like to experience the convenience and comfort of daily disposable contacts ask your eye doctor if you are a candidate for one of the many brands available today.
photo credit: care for your contacts – care for your contacts
