Main Content
Top of the page
The following tips can help you keep your contacts clean and safe, which will help keep your eyes healthy and your vision as clear as possible.
Always wash and rinse your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing lenses. Do not apply hand lotion before handling your contacts.
Do not mix products, because they may not be compatible. Never use homemade saline solutions. (They can be easily contaminated with bacteria.) Do not reuse solution. Never use tap water or distilled water to rinse or store your lenses.
The bacteria that are naturally present in your mouth may cause an eye infection.
Let it air-dry to avoid contamination.
Take care not to get makeup on the lenses. Replace eye makeup (especially mascara) every 3 to 6 months to reduce the risk of contamination. Do not apply makeup to the inner rim of the eyelid.
These lenses can cause eye problems, such as damage to the cornea or eye infections, just as easily as contact lenses worn for vision correction.
To avoid eye problems, be sure to follow the directions for cleaning and wearing contact lenses. Contact lens wearers have an increased risk for serious eye infections and injury to the cornea. Contact lenses can cause eye problems, such as damage to the cornea or eye infections. Small objects that get into the eye may become trapped under a lens and scratch the cornea. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) or other minor eye infections are likely to irritate your eyes and make wearing contacts uncomfortable and unsafe.
Symptoms of possible problems with contacts include redness, pain or burning in the eye, drainage, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light (photophobia). If you are having problems, remove your lenses and disinfect them. If you have symptoms longer than 2 to 3 hours after removing and cleaning your contacts, call your eye doctor.
Wash your hands before you try to take out a lens that is stuck in your eye.
To remove a stuck contact lens, you can try one or more of the following tips.
This can help float the lens back over the cornea.
If you can see the edge, use a finger to slide the lens back over the cornea.
Try to feel the lens through your eyelid. If you can feel the lens, try to move it back over the cornea.
See if the lens moves out from under the eyelid back over the cornea.
Start at the top of the eye, and massage downward to see if you can move the lens down.
See if you can see the lens and take it out.
If you can't remove a contact lens, call an eye professional for an appointment.
Current as of: June 5, 2023
Author: Healthwise StaffClinical Review BoardAll Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review BoardAll Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.