How to take care of my contacts

The single most important step you can take to avoid complications with your contact lenses is to learn the basics of contact lens care.

First, let’s start with some best practices for caring for your contact lenses.

Contact lens care best practices

• Properly clean your contact lenses (see how, below). 
• Handle your lenses with clean hands, always.
• Keep your lenses away from water.
• Don't sleep in your contact lenses.
• Always keep your contact lens case clean with fresh solution. 
• Replace your case at least every three months.

Best practices for putting your contacts in

• Before you take your contacts out of the case, wash and dry your hands. After rinsing your hands, dry them with a clean, lint-free towel.
• Always inspect the contact lens before putting it in your eye. Make sure it is moist, clean, and free of any nicks, tears, or debris. If you see the lens is damaged, replace it with a new one.
• After putting in your lenses, empty, clean, and rinse your contact lens case using fresh cleaning solution.

Best practices for taking out your contacts

• Wash and dry your hands. 
• Take out the first lens and set it in the palm of your hand. Put a few drops of solution on the lens and rub it with your finger for as long as the solution instructions direct.
• Rinse your contacts again with solution. 
• If you wear lenses that are designed to be worn for longer than one day, always use fresh solution to clean and store your lenses.
• Water and contact lenses are not friends, so don’t clean or rinse your lenses with water.
• If you wear lenses that are designed to only be worn for one day, throw away the lens at the end of the day and open a new one the next time.

For more detailed instructions on putting in and taking out your contact lenses, check out this video.

Which contact lens solution should I use?

That depends on your eyes and the type of lenses you wear. There are two options: multi-purpose solution or hydrogen peroxide solution.

Multi-purpose solution

Multi-purpose solutions let you rinse, clean, and disinfect your contact lenses with one product. Their ease of use makes them a very popular choice.

Hydrogen peroxide solution

Your doctor may recommend hydrogen peroxide solution if you have sensitive eyes or allergies. Hydrogen peroxide solution also cleans, rinses, and disinfects your contacts, but you have to complete a neutralizing step before you can put the lenses in your eyes. Rinsing your lenses and immediately putting them in your eyes without going through the neutralizing process will result in an extremely painful burning sensation. For more info on contact solution, click here.

Lens solution dos and don’ts

• Do use the brand of solution recommended by your eye doctor.
• Do use fresh solution every day.
• Do rub your lenses with the solution to break up proteins and debris.
• Avoid making your own saline solution. (Yes, we wrote “avoid” in a do/don’t list. We like to keep things interesting.)
• Don’t use expired solution.
• Don’t use somebody else’s solution.
• Don’t use tap or bottled water to clean or rinse lenses. Stick with solution.
• Don’t clean your lenses with saliva.

Can I sleep in my contacts?

Some contact lenses are FDA-approved for overnight wear, but the safest practice is to take them out every night before you sleep. Even if you wear “extended wear” lenses, your doctor will probably recommend that you take them out overnight at least once a week.

Contacts and cosmetics

Lots of people choose to wear makeup and contact lenses together. If you are one of them, be sure to discuss your preferences and beauty routines with your eye doctor. Eye care professionals, like many dermatologists, tend to recommend hypoallergenic skin care products for those who wear contact lenses.

Be very careful applying makeup to your eyes and never allow makeup of any kind to come in contact with your lenses. Put in your lenses before you apply makeup and remove them before washing your face. Be sure your hands are clean when inserting or removing your contacts, especially if you have been applying makeup or touching your face. If you wear contacts, never apply makeup to your inner lids, along the inside of your lashes. This could cause irritation, swelling or other complications.

If you experience any discomfort or irritation, stop using your beauty products immediately and call your eye doctor.

Keep those lenses clean

Following these lens care steps will help ensure your lenses work properly and your eyes stay healthy! Remember, your eyes will only be as clean and healthy as the lenses you put in them!

Original published date: 1/23/2020

Updated: 11/9/2022