Are you tired of wearing glasses and ready to make a change to contact lenses? There are a few things to consider before you make the leap. The routine of a contact lens wearer is a lot different than the grab-and-go lifestyle of a glasses wearer!

Contact lenses might not be a good choice for you if:

• Your eyes get a lot of infections.
• You have severe allergies and/or dry eyes.
• You work or live in a dusty environment.
• You are not able to commit to properly care for your contact lenses.

Taking the time to care for your contact lenses is critical for healthy eyes. You need to have emergency supplies with you. Carry additional lenses, cleaning solution, and eye drops with you and keep a stash at work. Be aware of how your eyes feel and don’t ignore redness. The need to use eye drops too often can be a sign of a problem. Never sleep or shower with your contact lenses in your eyes. This may be the easiest thing to do when you’re tired or in hurry, but don’t do it. Remove and clean your lenses properly every day.

Contact lens-related eye infections and other injuries can lead to long-lasting damage but often are preventable. Clean and safe handling of contact lenses is one of the easiest and most important measures patients can take to protect their vision. Hygiene is the most critical aspect of successful long-term contact lens wear. Can you commit to this daily regimen?

According to this article by the American Optometric Association, many common care mistakes like failing to clean and store lenses as directed or sleeping while wearing contacts, can increase the chance of getting bacteria in the eyes and causing infection. Serious eye infections can lead to blindness and affect up to one out of every 500 contact lens users per year, and even minor infections can be painful and disrupt day-to-day life. If you can’t commit to wearing contact lenses daily, maybe try them a few days a week when you know you will invest the time in proper care and hygiene.

Come in and talk with our doctors about your vision needs and expectations. We can help you decide if contacts are a good option for you. Call, text, or email today. We have appointments available!

Read our post here about preparing for your contact lens exam.