Contact lenses help provide safe and comfortable vision correction for over 40 million Americans. They are medical devices prescribed by a physician that must be handled with care. When mishandled, contact lenses can cause infections, impaired vision or even blindness.

In today’s post, your eye doctor from Spectrum Eye Care discusses symptoms of contact-lens related eye infection and shares steps you can take to prevent this problem.

Eye Infection Symptoms:

Stop wearing your contact lenses if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Extra tears, sticky discharge from your eyes
• Blurred vision
• Light Sensitivity
• Itching, burning or gritty sensation
• Eye pain

Preventing Eye Infections

Here are some preventive measures you can take to prevent eye infections:

1. Replace Your Lens Case Regularly – Be sure to replace your lens case every three months. In addition, always sterilize your case before using it.

2. Rinse Your Lenses Properly – Never rinse your lenses with water, as it may contain germs. Use a store-bought saline solution to gently clean your lenses.

3. Get New Lenses – Consult your eye care specialist when you’re due for a contact lens replacement. Only wear your contact lenses for the prescribed period. Wearing old lenses can lead to discomfort and infection.

4. Rest – Be sure not to over-wear your contact lenses. Give your eyes regular breaks. Always remove your contacts before going to bed to prevent infection.

Are you in need of a new pair of eyeglasses or due for an eye check-up? Trust Spectrum Eye Care to take care of all your vision needs. We strive to give our patients the highest quality of vision care and service. Call us at 704-334-4444 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.