FDA > CDRH > Contact Lenses > Everyday Eye Care

Everyday Eye Care

Here are some safety tips you should follow if you wear contact lenses.

Make sure to:

• Get regular eye exams to assure the continued health of your eyes.
• Always have a back-up pair of glasses with a current prescription in the event that you have problems with your contact lenses.
• Always ask your eye care professional before using any medicine or using topical eye products, even those you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may affect your vision or irritate your eyes.
• Ask your eye care professional about wearing glasses or contact lenses during sports activities to minimize your chance of injury.
• Apply cosmetics after inserting lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup.
• Apply any aerosol products (hairspray, cologne, and deodorant) before inserting lenses.
• Always inform your employer if you wear contact lenses. Some jobs may require the use of eye protection equipment or may require that you not wear lenses.
• Follow and save the directions that come with your lenses. If you didn’t get a patient information booklet, request one from your eye care professional or look for one on the manufacturer’s website.
• Replace contacts as recommended by your eye care professional. Throw away disposable lenses after recommended wearing period.

Do Not:

• Sleep in daily wear lenses because it may increase your chance of infection or irritation.
• Purchase contact lenses from gas stations, video stores, record shops, or any other vendor not authorized by law to dispense contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription. See Buying Contact Lenses to help you take simple precautions to make your purchase safe and effective.
• Swap contact lens with another person. Swapping provides a way to transfer germs between people. Contact lenses are individually fitted. Incorrectly fitted lenses may cause permanent eye injury, infection and may potentially lead to blindness.
• Smoke. Studies show that smokers who wear contact lenses have a higher rate of problems (adverse reactions) than nonsmokers.
• Swim while wearing contact lenses. There is a risk of eye infection from bacteria in swimming pool water, hot tubs, lakes and the ocean
• Rely on contact lenses to protect your eyes from the sun. Make sure to use sunglasses that block ultraviolet light. For more information, see “What to Look For in a Pair of Sunglasses” and “Sunglasses: It’s Just As Much About Function as Fashion.”

To view a video on handling, inserting, removing and caring for your contact lenses, go to:

American Optometric Association
http://www.aoa.org/x8024.xml

Updated November 6, 2008