Tips for safe use of contact lenses

October is Contact Lens Safety Month, and if you’re one of the 45 million Americans who wear contact lenses, it’s a good time to review some safety tips to protect your eye health for years to come.

• Make sure your prescription is current. Never order contacts with an expired prescription (even if you can get away with it), and don’t stock up on new contacts if your prescription is about to expire.
• Stick with known and reputable contact lens suppliers. A good supplier always requires a valid prescription before dispensing lenses.
• Keep your exact prescription (including the brand and lens name) written down, and check it against new contacts when you receive them to ensure you have the correct lenses.
• Never buy costume lenses from novelty stores or online if a prescription isn’t required — these unregulated lenses can pose serious health risks and should be avoided at all times.
• Never share contact lenses.
• Clean and store your contact lenses properly — always use a new solution and replace your lens case at least once every three months.
• Replace your lenses as often as recommended by your optometrist.
• Keep a spare pair of glasses handy in case of eye infections or problems with your lenses.
• Always remove your lenses before you go to sleep.
• Discard contact lenses daily after a single use — don’t re-wear them.
• Water and contact lenses don’t mix — avoid swimming or showering in your lenses.