- Keep your eyes safe! Take time to care for your contact lenses. Here
are some tips for keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable while you wear
contacts.
What To Do
o Wash and rinse your hands before
touching your lenses.
o Use only the lens cleaners and eye
drops that your eye doctor suggests.
o Follow the directions that came with
your lenses, lens cleaner, and eye drops.
o Take care of your lens case. Clean,
rinse, and dry it each time you take out the lenses. Get a new case every
six months.
o Get your eye doctor's OK using any
new or different medicines. Tell your doctor about things you can buy
without a prescription, like eye drops.
o Use eye makeup that is safe for
contact lens users.
o Take out your lenses and call your
eye doctor right away if:
your vision changes.
your eyes are red.
your eyes hurt or feel itchy.
you have a lot of tears.
What Not to Do
o Never spit on your lenses to clean
them.
o Never use tap water, bottled water,
or salt water made at home to store or rinse your lenses. It can cause
infections.
o Never mix different cleaners or
drops.
o Never let lotions, creams, or sprays
touch your lenses.
o Don't use eyeliner on the inside of
your lower eyelid.
o Never wear lenses when you swim or
go into a hot tub.
o Never wear your lenses when you are
using cleaning products.
o Never wear daily-wear lenses when
you sleep--not even during a nap.
o Never wear your lenses longer than
you eye doctor tells you to.
Contact lenses may cause major eye problems.
If you notice a problem, take out your lenses right away and see your
doctor.
If You Have a Problem
o Contact lenses may cause major eye
problems.
o If you notice a problem, take out
your lenses right away and see your doctor.
o Report the problems to FDA's
MedWatch program. Call 1-800-FDA-1088.
o You can also fill out the form on
the web. Go to www.fda.gov/medwatch/. Always contact your doctor for
medical advice. There are different kinds of lenses. Make sure you know
which kind you have.
Types of Contacts? How long can I wear them?
When do I clean my lenses?
o Disposable
Lenses
Lenses that you throw away You can wear the lenses for one day. - You don't need to clean them.
- You use new lenses each day.
o Daily Wear Lenses
Lenses you use again and again You can wear them for one day.
- Take them out when you go to bed or even take a nap.
- Clean and rinse the lenses every time you take them out.
- Clean them if you have not worn the lenses in a long time.
o Extended Wear Lenses
Lenses you can leave in for up to 30 days, even while you sleep FDA has
only approved these lenses to be worn all the time for up to 30 days.
- After 30 days, you need to take the lenses out and clean them.
They can increase your chances of getting small sores on the eyeballs.
See your doctor right away if:
o Your sight changes.
o Your eyes get red.
o Your eyes hurt or feel itchy.
o You have a lot of tears.
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