Are contact lenses safe to wear?

Is it harmful to wear contact lenses?

Wearing contact lenses is generally safe. The main risks come from factors like incorrect fitting, poor hand hygiene, and not following instructions. It's essential to clean your hands thoroughly before handling lenses to prevent transferring bacteria. When inserting or removing lenses, use clean water and soap to wash your hands and dry them thoroughly with a lint-free towel.

Proper storage is crucial for those using two-weekly, monthly, or yearly lenses. Clean, disinfect, and store them each night before re-inserting in the morning. Using a multi-purpose solution is a cost-effective and convenient way to care for your lenses. This type of solution is perfect for both cleaning and storing the lenses. You can use hydrogen peroxide solution or multipurpose solution for cleaning and storing your lenses, check with your optician which solution is most suitable for you. Saline solution is great for rinsing your lenses before inserting, and it can also be used to store your lenses temporarily (such as when you want to go for a swim/shower). Please note that saline solution doesn’t have any disinfecting properties, therefore, after storing your lenses in saline solution they must be properly disinfected before they are worn again.

To minimise risks, consult a qualified optician who can check the fitting of your lenses and schedule regular check-ups.

Can contact lenses make you go blind?

Wearing contact lenses alone cannot make you go blind. In some very rare instances, wearing lenses and not following correct protocol, can cause sight loss.

A rare but serious eye condition associated with contact lens wear is acanthamoeba keratitis. It is caused by contaminated water coming into contact with the eye. This can easily get caught between the lens and the eye and harbour an infection. It is difficult to treat and in some rare cases, can cause partial or complete blindness.

Adhering to the following precautions will significantly reduce the risk of infection while wearing contact lenses:

• Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses
• Make sure your lenses don’t come in contact with any kind of water
• Do not swim or shower whilst wearing your contact lenses
• Only use contact lens solutions recommended by your optician for cleaning and storing your lenses

Can contact lenses worsen your eyesight?

No, contrary to the common myth that wearing vision correction aids like glasses and contact lenses can worsen your sight, wearing contact lenses does not harm your eyesight or vision in any way. However, if your lenses are not properly fitted and you do not follow proper care routines, your eyes could be at risk of potential damage.

Can you wear both contact lenses and prescription glasses?

It is a great idea to alternate between contact lenses and prescription glasses based on your preferences and needs. Some people choose to wear glasses during the week and switch to contact lenses for special occasions or weekends. Others may prefer to wear contact lenses during the week and wear prescription glasses at the weekend. Another option is to wear contact lenses during the day and switch to prescription glasses in the evenings.

It should be noted that prescription glasses and contact lenses require two different prescriptions and therefore require two different tests. You cannot convert your glasses prescription to a contact lens prescription and vice versa.

Disclaimer: The advice in this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical care or an in-person check-up. Please check with an eyecare professional before purchasing any products or remedies. For information on our article review process, please refer to our Editorial Policy.