Congratulations on choosing contact lenses. You're going to love the freedom of no longer dealing with glasses, but you'll have the best experience if you develop good aftercare habits. Contact lenses aren't just a way to make you look better; they're a medical device designed to improve your eyesight. Respecting your lenses and caring for them properly is the only way to keep them safe and comfortable.

Optometrist Advises on Contact Lens Care

When you visit Dr. Papernick, you'll get a thorough, efficient exam and contact lens fitting experience. Your visit won't end there, though. Our entire staff is dedicated to helping you learn about contact lens cleaning, contact cases, and even the soaps you use when washing your hands before handling your contacts. Here are some practices our doctor recommends:

• Always wash your hands before dealing with your contact lenses, but take care to use the right kind of soap. Liquid soaps or bar soaps that contain moisturizers can leave a residue on your hands, which can transfer to your contact lenses. We carry a special soap at the office that is made specifically for contact lens wearers. We also suggest clear Liquid soaps, such as Ivory Liquid Clear. You can always ask us if you are not sure.
• Replace your contact lens case every 3 months. No matter how clean your case may look, bacteria will build up in the case. Replacing it is one of the safest ways to help prevent eye infections. While your current case it still in use, always rinse it with saline solution instead of tap water. When you take the lenses out of your case in the morning, dump the lens in the palm of your hand. Do not scrape it off the case since this may damage your lens. Empty the old solution and wipe the case clean with a lint free towel. Replace the solution and carry your case with you while you are wearing your lenses.
• Clean your lenses regularly with the recommended contact lens cleaning solution (rub with your solution for 10 seconds on each side, and rinse with your solution). We'll advise you on the right type to use. Clean them every time you take them off, before putting them into the case for disinfecting.
• Keep your contact lens solution clean and free of bacteria by always replacing the top on the bottle after use, and never touching the nozzle in the solution already in the case.
• Inspect your lenses every time you put them on. Cracks and tears can appear without warning and you risk problems with your eyes if you use damaged contact lenses.
• Do not sleep with lenses in your eyes if they have not had prior approval by the doctor
• Do not wear the lenses longer that prescribed, i.e. if you have frequent replacement lenses that need to be replaced monthly, please only wear for that amount of time.