This is why you should Never Store your Contact Lenses in Water

The first thing that hits your mind for storing contact lenses in absence of the contact lens solution is water. If you also resort to water; STOP! Stop immediately, as contact lenses should never be exposed to water- not even to the tiny droplet! Water carries a rare but horrific parasite “Acanthamoeba Keratitis” that actually feeds on corneal tissues. We advise you to rely on homemade Saline solution for soaking contact lenses instead, when your regular disinfectant is not readily available.  "That space between the eye and the contact lens is a place that this little amoeba really likes to live," says Dr. Andy Howard at LaFollette Eye Clinic.             

Doctors warns against Acanthamoeba that runs in water. They suggests to never shower, swim or wash face when wearing contact lenses. It is not only the pools that carry the risk but tap water too. The parasite devours cornea way too quickly than you might even think- sometimes it takes even less than 24 hours. Unfortunately, there is no over the counter treatment but removing the eyeball in most of the cases.

When you wash or soak your contact lenses in tap water, acanthamoeba from water can cling to your soft contact lenses that may then transfer to your eyes. In seconds, the parasite gets activated to feed on the tissues. The damage is often fatal leading to complete blindness. The symptoms of Acanthamoeba attacks are:

1. Extreme stinging burning sensation
2. Light Sensitivity
3. White spots on the surface of eye
4. Horrific inflammation & redness

According to the Howard; they see about one acanthamoeba keratitis infection every year. This is most common in people who disregard doctors’ suggestions and neglect taking care of their contact lenses. He encourages patients to talk their doctors about the best contact lens solution & contact lens care instructions. He stressed enough on never washing your contact lens cases with water.

Contact lenses are excellent vision correction devices and more than 30 million people are being benefitted. If you are really concerned about your vision; it is only your attitude towards contact lenses you need to improve. Look how people are creating exciting makeup looks using colored contacts whilst staying safe!

How to Organize Circle Contact Lenses?

Picture credits

It is often a mess to have a bunch of circle lenses and; a head-ache to keep them all organized in your stash. Though circle lenses are one’s prized possessions; they may create a heck out of problems if you are a poor manager. Certainly; cosplayers are found in greater trouble since they play around with all the very dozens of colored and crazy lenses. It is easy to organize your circle & colored contact lenses; you just need to spend some time & should have a sense to have the things settled-around.

Organizing & Storing Circle Lenses

1. Label your circle lens cases and mention “Left” & “Right” on the chambers.
2. Always store your contact lenses in their respective chambers
3. Get small zip-lock bags & mention the color of the contact lenses on it using a permanent marker.
4. Replace the freebie contact lens cases with better quality cases that are efficient in retaining the solution.
5. Mention the date on the zip lock back to keep a track on the expiry of circle lenses
6. Get a handy drawer case to accommodate your circle lenses. A small jewelry box having enough space will also do.

Some tips on Storing Circle Lenses

The more pairs of circle lenses you have, the more attention you need to pay on to storing them. It is a bit of the nerve-game to keep all of them hygienic but you ought to be cautious after all. You won’t love to risk your eyes. Would you?

1. You have to replace lens cases after every 3 months.
2. Keep checking on the solution once every week.
3. Don’t top off the solution. Just throw and refill the chambers with fresh solution
4. Circle Lenses turned dry? Read here: What you can do to prevent circle lenses from being dry and ripped.

Warning: Never store your circle lenses at these places!

Where to Store Circle Lenses/ Contact Lenses when I am not using them?

If you are a regular wearer of circle lenses and contact lenses; you might have several pairs of circle contacts piled up in your stash that are not in your current use. One must pay great concern on storing circle lenses to extend their life.

Circle lenses are available in many different types; designed specifically for special occasions & events.  It is therefore impossible to keep all pairs of circle contact lenses included in your routine-wear. For instance lenses exclusively purchased for Halloween can only be worn in thematic events that share their ideology either with Halloween or cosplay conventions. Of course; novelty contacts such as sclera circle lenses or crazy circle lenses have unusual pattern which makes them inappropriate to wear them on daily basis.

Circle lenses and contact lenses when not in use should be stored in clean, disinfected and sterilized contact lens cases. See here how to sterilize contact lens cases.  Circle lenses should always be stored in places away from moisture. Avoid keeping them in humid places such as near wash room. It is recommended that one must not deal or treat circle contacts lenses in washroom as the water droplets may get in contact with soft cosmetic lenses. This may become the reason of bacteria accumulation. Furthermore; minerals found in regular tap water may completely destroy your circle lenses though the damage is not visible to naked eye.

It is important to take proper professional care of big eye lenses and contact lenses. Colored contact lenses though differs circle lenses in few aspects; both types of soft lenses are needed to be taken care of in the same ways.Even if you are not wearing circle lenses; you must keep a check on them. Circle lenses absorb water; therefore they get dry once in 15 days even though they are completely immersed in the solution. Instead of topping off lens solution; empty the case and fill the wells with fresh solution. Replace circle lens cases every three months and reuse these old cases of contact lenses. Recycle to stay beautiful in beautiful environment!