Most people know that contact lenses are medical devices that you can wear for corrective, therapeutic, or cosmetic purposes. What a lot of people don't know when they get contact lenses is that wearing them means taking on a big responsibility. You need to care for your contact lenses, take safety precautions, and make hygiene a priority. Whatever you do, do not make these five mistakes when you have contact lenses.

Stop! Don't Go in the Hot Tub with Your Contacts On

Hot tubs are so relaxing, and you may not intend to put your head under water when you get in a hot tub. Nevertheless, don't even think about going into your hot tub while wearing contact lenses. Acanthamoeba keratitis, a parasite that feasts on the eyes and causes blindness when it's left untreated, can attach easily to hard or soft lenses. 

Stop! Don't Touch the Contacts Without Washing Your Hands

Touching your contact lenses without first washing your hands is bad news. Doing so can easily transfer bacteria from your hands to the contact lenses. This can result in infections and even partial or full blindness. Think about all the bacteria-laden things you likely touched throughout the day. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds before handling your contact lenses.

Stop! Don't Splash Tap Water on Your Contacts

It might be hyperbole to say that splashing tap water on your contacts is not a good idea. Remember Acanthamoeba keratitis, the eyeball-eating parasite? It can also be present in tap water. In fact, a university student is believed to have contracted it from tap water. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you not expose your contact lenses to any type of water, including tap water, bottled water, distilled water, lake water, and even ocean water.

Stop! Don't Fall Asleep Just Anywhere

One of the most common mistakes that contact lens wearers make is falling asleep with their contact lenses still in their eyes. It can lead to irritation or possibly a bacterial infection. CNN even reported that sleeping in your contact lenses can lead to a loss of vision. Make an effort to remove and properly clean them before you go to sleep.

Finally, keep in mind that wearing contact lenses can easily become an unobtrusive part of your daily routine. They can fix vision issues without leaving you tied to carrying around glasses all day. As long as you are vigilant about taking optimal care of your contact lenses, your eyes, and your hygiene, you can enjoy wearing contact lenses as long as you want to do so. Click here to investigate more ways to care for your contacts.

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