No matter how careful you are, germs are everywhere, guys. Think about it: on your hands, eyelids, face, everywhere. But when these germs get on contact lenses, they can invade the eye. And when “the many different types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes get on contact lenses, they can cause infection,” Mirwat Sami, M.D., a board-certified ophthalmologist in Houston, tells SELF. The thing is, this type of stuff is everywhere: Bacteria can be found in water, while viruses can be transmitted from an infected person or blister, for example. “Contact lenses can create an environment of dryness and decreased oxygenation, making contact lens wearers more susceptible to infections,” Sami says.
Here’s how to know what’s going on with your contacts, plus how to keep them fresh and clean—and save those eyes of yours, too.
When contacts are exposed to water, they can be exposed to microorganisms that can be very harmful, including acanthamoeba, according to Howard Purcell, O.D., and a senior VP at lens-maker Essilor of America. “If you choose to swim in contacts, talk to your doctor about using your contacts with goggles and potentially changing to a daily disposable lens that’s discarded daily to minimize your risk of infection,” Purcell tells SELF.
The main eye infection contact lens wearers can get—keratitis—can actually be caused by excessive UV exposure, Purcell says. Many contact lens brands now claim to have UVA/UVB protection, but this is never an acceptable replacement for a pair of light-blocking sunnies. “Since spring is here and summer is approaching, it’s critical to protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays just as you would protect your skin,” he tells SELF. “Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV rays, or ask your eye care professional about the best sunglasses to fully protect your eyes from the sun.”
“The care and maintenance of your contact lens case is very important first step for reducing your risk of infection,” Purcell tells SELF. “When it comes to storing your contacts, keep in mind that a fluid-filled dark environment is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.” And when you put your contacts away, make sure you don’t use saline solution—it won’t cut it, Sami tells SELF, as it’s just sterile salt water; it doesn’t have any any cleansing agents. Proper solution, alternatively, usually contain some kind of preservative, a binding agent, a buffer, and a surfactant or wetting agent. Sami also recommends replacing your lens case every two to three months. I mean, wouldn’t you do the same with your toothbrush? (No? Erm, then you should probably read this.)
It’s not just as matter of being gross, it’s about being safe. After all, on each square inch of skin, there are approximately 1,500 bacteria—which means a disturbing number of germs on your hands. And it’s not like your eyes are germ-free at the end of the day, either: A small study from researchers at the New York University School of Medicine found that different types of bacteria reside on the eyeballs of contact lens wearers than non-lens wearers—and the bacterial populations were more similar those found on skin than typically found on the eyes. The solution (pun intended), lies in a proper lens care routine. Sami says this can “help prevent keratitis and improve overall hygiene.”
Here's how to take care of your contacts like a champ:
- First, wash your hands and dry them with a lint-free towel.
- After taking your lenses out of your eyes, rub them with disinfecting solution.
- Rinse with fresh solution.
- Fill case with fresh solution before storing.
- To put them back in, rinse once more with disinfecting solution.
- Empty and wash out the case, letting it air dry with tops screwed off.
Eye infections can cause pain, blurred vision, and sometimes even blindness. Proper storage is key to contact lens health. Signs: discomfort, excessive tearing or mucus, sensitivity to light, itching, burning, a “gritty” feeling, redness, blurred vision, swelling and pain. The symptoms can be confused with allergies, but for one telling difference: With allergies, you’ll usually see symptoms in both eyes simultaneously, notes Sami, but with an eye infection, either or both eyes can be under fire.
“Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea, which is the dome of the eye where the contact lens rests,” Purcell tells SELF. “Keratitis results in a thinning and destruction of the layers of the cornea with possible spread to the inner structures,” Sami says. “Although it’s a rare and serious complication, it’s very painful and requires immediate medical attention. If it’s not cured, it can result in vision loss, or a corneal transplant may even be needed to treat the infected eye.” What’s more, “keratitis can even stem from your eye’s reaction to various contact solutions,” so be careful to choose one with your eyecare practitioner.
I’m not entirely sure why anyone would do this (I guess maybe it could save money?), but never DIY contact solution, Sami tells SELF. Because you’re not working in a sterile environment, you’re at risk for mixing in a litany of germs into your solution, too. Don’t store them in water, either, says Purcell. “Contact lenses are intended to be soaked in saline that has a very particular balance that mimics your natural tears,” Purcell tells SELF. “Soaking contact lenses in water will upset this delicate balance, potentially affect the lens shape and size, and most importantly can expose the lens—and thus the eye—to microorganisms that can be very harmful, including acanthamoeba,” he says.
When you close your eyes with your lenses in place, you’re reducing oxygen, so the surface becomes more vulnerable to infection. Meanwhile, any germs on lens are being slammed against cornea by the insides of your eyelids.
“Acanthamoeba is the scariest amoeba that can affect the eye, [as they] are relatively ubiquitous and can live in, but are not restricted to, tap water, freshwater lakes and rivers as well as soil,” Purcell tells SELF. “Infections from acanthamoeba can lead to significant and permanent vision loss, so if your eye starts to feel funky”—after, say, swimming in a lake or going river rafting—“see your doctor. As a rule, early diagnosis and treatment will improve the opportunity for a full recovery.” Symptoms can include sensitivity to light, excess tearing, blurred vision with redness and pain, the sensation of having something in your eye, and severe headaches.
“Ultimately, contact lenses are safe and the risk of serious complications is low,” Purcell tells SELF. “Nevertheless, it is still critical that all wearers have regular evaluation to determine the health of the cornea, best lens fit, best lens material and the appropriate wearing and replacing schedule to meet your needs. Remember, contact lenses are prescription medical devices and should be treated as such.”