Stop Contaminating your Contact Lens Cases

All your efforts of keeping your circle lenses free from bacteria accumulation have been just a waste provided your contact lens cases are contaminated/ not replaced on timely basis. Cases of contact lenses need similar disinfection that your contact lenses go through. Ignorantly, most of the contact lens wearers are involved in bad hygienic practices that increase the risks of contamination in contact lens cases as revealed by a study published in February issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry

3 Hygiene Practices Linked with Contact Lens Case Contamination

The study assessed habits of 119 contact lens wearers against their provided used cases of contact lenses. Three hygienic habits were claimed to have been closely knitted with contamination in contact lens cases.

1. Abstaining from washing hands with soap & water

Patients who avoid washing hands before handling contact lenses with soap & water were at higher risk of contaminating the cases of contact lenses. The best way to reduce the risk is to every time wash your hands properly with soap, as washing only with tap water do not make a difference.

2. Abstaining from air-drying contact lens cases

Chances of bacteria accumulation are higher when the contact lens cases are not allowed to air dry before storing contact lenses. Cases must always be put to air-drying with lids off and faces down. Water carries microorganisms that may attract the floating bacteria in air. Another study previously suggested that “Rub, Rinse, Tissue-wipe & Air dry” is the best pragmatic approach to keep cases free from harmful bacteria accumulation.

3. Using mismatched contact lens cases & disinfectants

Contamination was increased when patients used cases & disinfecting solutions from different manufacturers. Cases that come with your contact lenses are only to save you from agony. Therefore, get your FDA approved contact lens cases asap.

There are other risks factors involved such as continuing to use your contact lens cases for more than 3 months or failing to replace your contact lenses past the expiry.

"Lens cases play an essential role in disinfection of contact lenses," comments Anthony Adams, OD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Optometry and Vision Science. "However, without proper maintenance, the lens case itself may become contaminated with micro-organisms during handling".

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Reference:

Wolters Kluwer Health

Cute & inexpensive contact lens cases

Related: Avoid Contaminating your Contact Lenses: 3 Things to Know