Contact Lens Care and Safety: How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Contact lenses are safe for millions of people, but they sit directly on the eye, so how you care for them really matters. Start with clean, dry hands every single time, before putting lenses in and before taking them out. Use fresh solution, never topped up over old solution, and rub and rinse reusable lenses even when the bottle says no rub. Keep water away from lenses. No tap water, no showering or swimming in them, and never use saliva. Water can carry an organism that causes a severe corneal infection. Empty and air-dry the case face down after each use, and replace the case at least every three months. Do not sleep in lenses unless they are specifically approved for it. Sleeping in lenses raises the risk of infection substantially. Stick to the replacement schedule. Daily disposables are for one day only, and stretching lenses beyond their life is a common cause of problems. Remove your lenses and get checked promptly if an eye becomes red, painful, unusually light-sensitive, or blurry. Those are not symptoms to sleep on. This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Ask your eye doctor what's right for you.