Contact is easy to take for granted today, especially in an era of widely available laser correction surgery, but every morning, your clear plastic disc of each eye slipping into each eye is still a relatively new invention – and if you don’t respect them, there is still a risk.
The first modern plastic contact lenses were not introduced until about 1950, and disposable contact lenses were not available until the 1980s. As Dr. Robert Kinast said: “We thought contact lenses were so normal, but 100 years ago, no one was walking around the eyes.”
“Contact lenses are foreign objects and should be respected,” said Dr. Kinast, vice chairman of the ophthalmology at Legacy Devers Eye Institute and co-founder of Gentledrop. To this end, we talked with ophthalmologists to learn how to take care of contact lenses and when to replace them.
How long does the contact last?
The lifespan of a contact lens depends on some factors. “Soft daily disposables are disposable, so you need to discard them after a day,” explains Dr. Meenal Agarwal, an optometrist and podcast host. On the other end, she says, “Hard mirrors can last for one to two years with proper care.” According to Dr. Agarwal, the most important rule is to always follow the replacement schedule recommended by the ophthalmologist.
Dr. Jovi Boparai, an ophthalmologist and co-founder and CEO of Corneacare, said soft lenses are the most common contact lenses. He explained that the lenses “from disposable devices daily to once a week, biweekly or monthly.” But, “permeable contact lenses can last longer, ranging from months to year.” The lenses are made of hard plastic.
Although most contact lenses will last for the expected duration, certain factors may shorten their lifespan. For example, dust and smoke may stick to the lens, making them unusable. If you are in an area where there are wildfires or high allergen counts and your lenses are starting to feel uncomfortable, you may want to throw them out as early as possible.
How to know if your contact has expired
The fastest way to measure whether a contact is expired is to view the date on the box. Unopened contact lenses usually have a shelf life of one to four years from the date of manufacture, Dr. Boarpai said.
In addition to reviewing the expiration date, you should also pay attention to the appearance of the lens. According to Dr. Bhopalai, old lenses may show discoloration or damage. He also warned that expired contacts can develop deposits – meaning residues on the lenses accumulate.
On the other hand, your contacts may expire even if they look great. “These lenses look the same as the first day, but that doesn't mean they are still safe to use.” In short, you should delay the expiration date first, but if there is obvious damage or they can become painful, you should throw away the lens.
Symptoms of expired contact lenses
When life is busy, it is easy to lose the timeline to change the camera. If this happens, your footage may let you know that they have expired before you even have the chance to track the date on the box.
“Unext contact can lead to redness, pain or discomfort, irritation, blurred vision, excessive dryness and/or infection,” Dr. Agarwal warns. You should use these symptoms as red flags. Doctors advise: “If you experience any of these symptoms, remove the lens and consult your ophthalmologist.”
According to Dr. Bhopalai, other symptoms may include “burning, watery, photosensitive, emissions, foreign sensation and swelling of the eyelids”.
Signs that your contact is ready to change
It is worth noting that you won't always experience symptoms when your contact is ready for changes. It is crucial to stick to the proper schedule, even if you think your contact can last for a few weeks. As Dr. Agarwal explains: “Most of the time, when your lens is ready to change, you won’t experience any symptoms.”
However, the doctor reiterates that if you have been grinding for a long time, you may notice vision problems, painful symptoms or “a tear or damaged lens on the lens and/or deposits or debris build up on the lens”. This means it is absolutely time to switch to fresh.
How often should I change my contact lenses?
The easiest answer is to follow the recommended usage time. Dr. Boparai reiterated that you should change the lens based on the “lifetime of contact lenses recommended by the ophthalmologist.”
You may also want to consider how long you wear your lens every day. According to the Optometrist Network, about half of contact lens wearers do not follow the wear schedule recommended by their doctors. This can lead to something called contact lens coverage syndrome, which can happen when the lens blocks the eye's ability to absorb oxygen. Stay untreated and you may experience bloodshot eyes, infections or damage to your cornea.
Both of the doctors we spoke with both doctors insist that you should never sleep unless your doctor advises. This may help prevent coverage syndrome and reduce the risk of infection and ulcers. It also allows you to check the lenses every morning to make sure it's time to replace them.
How to take care of your contact lenses
Proper care for your connection will not only help maximize its lifetime, but also prevent eye infections. First, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), first, you should always handle contact lenses with clean hands. The organization also recommends using the “friction and flush” method every time the lens is used. This means you should first wipe the lens with clean fingers and then rinse with contact lens solution.
Dr. Boparai said contact lenses increase the risk of eye inflammation and infection. He added that proper contact lens hygiene involves rinsing the lens for 10-20 seconds before wearing it and ensuring that the cornea is not touched when the lens is brought in and out of the eyes. Dr. Boparai also recommends changing your contact lens solutions every day.
Dr. Meenal stressed the importance of “changing cases every three months when it is clean”. She warned that you should never use water or saliva to clean your contact lenses.
How to prevent eye infections related to contact lenses
The most common eye infection associated with contact lenses is keratitis, which mayonnaise clinic describes as inflammation of the cornea. Unfortunately, this infection occurs a lot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed lens-related infections between 2005 and 2015 and identified “keratitis of various causes, including contact lens wear, visits 1 million clinics and emergency departments each year.”
Wearing extended wear lenses, sleeping on the lens and keeping the dirty lens box can make you vulnerable to this infection, AAO says. The Mayo Clinic warns that poorer contact lens hygiene allows the growth of bacteria, fungi and parasites that can infect the cornea.
Dr. Agarwal added this advice and explained that contact lens wearers should never share or reuse the lens. She also warns you that you should “avoid wearing contacts in the pool, hot tub or shower” to remove the lens with the first sign of discomfort. And don't use saliva to clean the lenses, as Dr. Bhopalai warns that makes you more susceptible to infection.
What about the connection between color and clothing?
Beauty contact, especially over-the-counter clothing lenses, is dangerous to your eyes, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology warns not to wear any contact lenses prescribed by any medical professional. In fact, it is illegal to sell unprescription contact lenses in the United States due to the risk of eye infection or good-coordinated or poorly manufactured lenses, which can damage the wearer's eyes.
There are prescription cosmetic lenses on the market that are mainly used to hide birth eye problems, but these issues need to be made specifically for the wearer's eyes, and they will be guided by your ophthalmologist to see how long you should wear them and when you need to change them.
When to contact an ophthalmologist if you wear contact lenses
Unless doctors recommend more frequent tests, patients at least every two years to 64 years old, at risk of eye disease should undergo eye examinations at least every two years, the AAO said. After the age of 65, annual ophthalmic examination is the standard.
But even if your risk is not high, you should see an ophthalmologist “If you experience eye pain, persistent redness or swelling, intolerance or discomfort with the lens, sudden blurred vision, abnormal emissions, excessive tear, tear and/or sensitivity to light.” This is according to Dr. Agarwal, who added that you should remove the lenses until your doctor gives you approval, please do not wear them again.
Dr. Boparai said the vision change also requires another visit to the ophthalmologist. He stressed that if you suffer from uncomfortable symptoms or vision loss, “your ophthalmologist will help management keep their eyes comfortable and clear.”
Bottom line
If you have any questions, please do not exaggerate the contact lenses. You should throw them out immediately after they expire and start hurting your eyes or appearing damaged. Discomfort in the lens is not only uncomfortable – it can also lead to severe infection. If something goes wrong, don't be afraid to call your ophthalmologist.
