Contact lens wearers in Hertfordshire are being encouraged to brush up on their everyday habits and make sure they are doing everything they can to protect their eyes as part of Contact Lens Safety Week.
The team at J Oliver Radley Opticians, based in High Street, Buntingford, is using the awareness week, which started today (17 August), to remind people that while contact lenses are a safe, convenient and highly effective form of vision correction, good hygiene and proper aftercare are essential.
Contact lenses sit directly on the surface of the eye and failing to follow the correct advice when wearing, removing, cleaning or storing lenses can increase the risk of irritation, inflammation and potentially serious eye infections.
Dispensing optician and practice manager Michelle Doherty, said: “Millions of people enjoy the freedom and convenience that contact lenses can provide, and for the vast majority they are an incredibly successful way to correct their vision.
“But because contact lenses become such a normal part of everyday life, it can be easy to become complacent about how we look after them.
“Small habits make a big difference. Washing and drying your hands properly before touching your lenses, following the recommended replacement schedule and keeping lenses away from water are all simple things that can help keep your eyes healthy.
“Contact Lens Safety Week is a useful opportunity to remind wearers that looking after their lenses means looking after their eyes.”
The practice is encouraging contact lens wearers to follow 10 simple steps:
- Always wash and thoroughly dry your hands before inserting or removing contact lenses.
- Follow the wearing and replacement schedule you have been given. Do not try to make lenses last longer than recommended.
- Keep contact lenses away from water. Remove them before swimming or showering and never use tap water to clean or store lenses.
- Only use the recommended contact lens solution to clean and store reusable lenses, following the instructions provided by your eye care professional.
- Never top up old solution in your contact lens case with fresh solution.
- Do not sleep in your contact lenses unless you have specifically been advised that the lenses are suitable for overnight wear.
- Never share contact lenses with another person, including cosmetic or coloured lenses.
- Attend regular contact lens aftercare appointments, even if your lenses feel comfortable and your vision appears unchanged.
- Keep a pair of up-to-date glasses available so you can remove your lenses if your eyes become uncomfortable.
- Never ignore a problem. If an eye becomes painful, unusually red or sensitive to light, or you experience discharge or a change in vision, remove your lenses and seek professional advice promptly.
Michelle added: “One of the most important messages we can give contact lens wearers is not to persevere if something doesn’t feel right.
“A contact lens should feel comfortable. If you develop persistent redness, pain, irritation or a sudden change in your vision, take your lenses out and contact your optician for advice.
“Regular aftercare appointments are important too. They allow us to check the health of the eyes, assess how well the lenses are performing and make sure they remain the right option for the individual patient.
“Contact lens technology has advanced enormously and there are now options available for a huge range of prescriptions, lifestyles and visual needs. If you have previously been told you cannot wear contact lenses, or you tried them in the past and didn’t get on with them, it may also be worth discovering if there are newer options suitable for you.”
Anyone who would like advice about their existing contact lenses, or who is interested in trying contact lenses for the first time, can visit www.bookaneyetest.co.uk.
