UTSW optometrist offers optimum care guidelines for contact lens users
DALLAS – Nov. 03, 2022 – A recent viral video showing a California ophthalmologist removing 23 contact lenses from an elderly patient’s eye has drawn attention to the importance of properly using contact lenses to ensure the health of your eyes.
Katrina Parker, O.D., an optometrist and Faculty Associate in the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, said wearing contact lenses requires special daily care to keep them clean and avoid infection.
Contacts should be cleaned daily but never with tap water because of chemicals and bacteria that can irritate and infect the eyes. Only use cleaning/disinfecting solutions recommended by eye care professionals for the specific lens material and avoid expired products.
Dr. Parker said it’s important to follow manufacturers’ guidelines for appropriate disposal of contact lenses. Studies show that patients have fewer complications when lenses are replaced more frequently, and wearers are more compliant and experience fewer problems when using daily disposable lenses.
Although many people sleep in their contact lenses, Dr. Parker advises against it. Overnight contact lens wear can increase ocular health risks, she said.
Dr. Parker also offers these recommendations:
- Do not swim in contacts. Water can alter lenses’ shape, causing them to swell and adhere to the eye. This can scratch the eye surface, causing pain and infection.
- Do not share contact lenses. All contacts, even for cosmetic purposes, are considered medical devices and require an evaluation and prescription from an eye care professional.
- Before using prescribed or over-the-counter eye drops, consult a professional to determine if the lenses need to be removed prior to insertion.
- A healthy contact lens-wearing experience should not cause redness, pain, or blurred vision. Contact an eye care professional immediately if experiencing these symptoms.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 18 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,900 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 4 million outpatient visits a year.