How to Care for Your Contact Lenses
Contact lens care decides whether your lenses stay comfortable and safe over time. Poor habits are surprisingly common, even among experienced wearers. At Lawrence and Mayo, this guide covers the seven habits that matter most.
Why Contact Lens Care Matters So Much
Contacts sit directly on your eye for hours at a time. Skipping proper contact lens care raises your risk of infection considerably. According to the CDC, proper cleaning and disinfection are essential for keeping eyes healthy and free from infection. Contact lenses are medical devices, not casual accessories, and they deserve the same consistent care.
Small habits matter more than people expect. A single skipped step, repeated often enough, becomes a genuine risk over time. None of these habits are complicated, but each one only works if it is done every single time.
1. Wash and Dry Your Hands First
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your lenses. Dry them completely with a clean cloth afterward. Damp hands can transfer bacteria straight onto the lens surface, so this first step matters more than it might seem.
2. Never Use Water on Your Lenses
Tap water, distilled water, and even saliva all carry germs that can stick to a lens. Water is never a substitute for proper contact lens care, no matter how convenient it seems in the moment. Always use fresh, recommended solution instead, even when travelling or in a rush.
3. Rub and Rinse Every Time
Rubbing your lenses gently, then rinsing with fresh solution, removes deposits and debris a rinse alone would miss. Skipping the rub step is one of the most common shortcuts wearers take, and one of the least safe, since deposits left behind can irritate the eye over time.
4. Never Top Off Old Solution
Topping off means adding fresh solution to what is already in the case. This reduces disinfecting power considerably, since the older solution has already lost much of its effectiveness. Empty the case fully and refill with entirely fresh solution every single time, without exception.
| Habit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Wash and dry hands | Prevents bacteria transferring onto the lens |
| Avoid water entirely | Water carries germs lenses can absorb |
| Rub and rinse lenses | Removes deposits a rinse alone cannot |
| Never top off solution | Old solution loses disinfecting strength |
| Clean and air-dry the case | Prevents bacterial buildup between uses |
5. Clean and Air-Dry Your Case
Rinse your case with solution, not water, after every use. Store it upside down with the caps off so it can air-dry fully. A case that never dries out becomes a place for bacteria to grow, even if it looks perfectly clean to the eye.
6. Replace Your Case Regularly
Replace your lens case at least every three months, even if it looks clean. Bacteria can build up in ways that are simply not visible to the eye, which is exactly why a fixed replacement schedule matters more than judging by appearance.
7. Never Sleep in Daily Lenses
Daily wear lenses are not designed for overnight use. Sleeping in them significantly increases your risk of a serious eye infection. Always remove lenses before sleeping unless your optometrist has specifically approved extended wear, since this single habit carries some of the highest risk of the entire routine.
Contact Lens Care While Traveling
Pack enough solution for your full trip, since running out and switching to water is a common travel mistake. Carry a spare case too, in the event yours is lost or damaged. Good contact lens care does not pause just because your routine changes, and a little planning ahead avoids most travel-related slip-ups entirely. Browse the lens care essentials worth packing before any trip.
Signs Something Is Wrong
Redness, persistent discomfort, or blurred vision are all signs to remove your lenses immediately. Contact your optometrist rather than waiting to see if symptoms pass on their own, since minor discomfort can indicate a problem well before it becomes obvious.
Building the Habit
Consistency matters more than perfection. Missing one step occasionally is far less risky than treating the full routine as optional most of the time. Explore the full lens range and speak with staff about a routine tailored to your specific lens type.
The Verdict
Contact lens care is not complicated, but it does require consistency. These seven habits, done every time, keep your eyes considerably safer over years of wear. Small effort daily prevents real risk later, and the routine becomes second nature faster than most new wearers expect. Visit the Lawrence and Mayo Boutique for guidance suited to your lenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does contact lens care matter so much?
Contacts sit directly on your eye for hours, so poor habits raise infection risk considerably more than most wearers expect. - Can I use water to clean my contact lenses?
No. Water, including tap and distilled water, carries germs that can stick to lenses and cause infection. - What does topping off solution mean, and why is it risky?
It means adding fresh solution to old solution already in the case, which reduces disinfecting power considerably. - How often should I replace my contact lens case?
At least every three months, even if the case still looks clean, since bacteria buildup is not always visible. - Is it ever safe to sleep in contact lenses?
Only with specific approval from your optometrist for extended wear lenses. Daily lenses should never be slept in. - How should I store my lens case between uses?
Rinse it with solution, then store it upside down with the caps off so it can fully air-dry. - What should I do if my contact lens care routine changes while traveling?
Pack enough solution for the full trip and carry a spare case, rather than improvising with water. - What symptoms mean I should remove my contact lenses immediately?
Redness, persistent discomfort, or blurred vision all warrant removing lenses and contacting your optometrist. - Does rubbing lenses during cleaning actually make a difference?
Yes, significantly. Rubbing removes deposits and debris that rinsing with solution alone cannot fully clear. - Where can I get guidance on proper contact lens care for my specific lenses?
At the Lawrence and Mayo Boutique, where an optometrist can tailor advice to your exact lens type.
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