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Contacts

Contacts Wear and Care

Proper contacts care helps your contacts last, prevents infection and disease, and keeps your vision clear. Caring for contacts is easy when you know how. Check out our tips below:

General Comfort and Protection

  • Avoid rubbing your eyes when your contacts are in.
  • Lubricate your contacts with rewetting drops if needed.
  • Always keep a pair of eyeglasses on hand with your current prescription.
  • To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses with full UV protection.
  • Call your eye doctor immediately if you experience severe itching, redness, or chronic blurry vision.

(time 1:00) : Contact Lens: Application (Soft)

When applying your contact lens, the first step is to use the middle finger of your non- inserting hand to pull and hold your upper lid at the lid margin. This keeps your eye from closing. The lid margin is the edge of your eyelid where your eyelashes are located. STEP 2 is to pull down your lower eyelid by its lid margin, using the middle finger of your inserting hand. STEP 3 is to look forward and place the lens gently on the front part of your eye. STEP 4 is to look down and then to the right and left to center the lens on your eye and then slowly release your eyelid and close your eye for a moment. Blink several times to center the lens on your eye. Repeat steps 1-4 to insert your other lens.

(time 1:14) : Contact Lens: Removal (Soft)

When removing your contact lenses, the first step is to wash your hands with soap and water. STEP number 2 is to make sure that you dry your hands with a lint free towel. STEP 3 is to make sure that the lens is centered correctly on your eye. STEP 4 is to look up and pull down your lower eyelid by the lid margin with the middle finger of your removing hand. STEP 5 is to bring your index finger close to your eye until you touch the lower edge of the lens, making sure not to use your fingernail to touch the lens. STEP 6 is to slide the lens down to the lower white part of your eye. STEP 7 is to gently squeeze the lens between your thumb and index finger and remove it from your eye. Repeat steps 1-7 to remove your other lens. Once you have removed both lenses, follow the lens care procedures recommended by your eye care practitioner.

(time 1:30) : Contact Lens Compliance

Wearing contact lenses instead of glasses is a great way to achieve clearer vision, but wearing contacts comes with some important considerations. Since contact lenses are in direct contact with your eyes, they need special care that differs from the experience of wearing eyeglasses. Wearing contacts the right way and keeping them clean, are important for keeping your vision clear and avoiding complications that can damage your eyesight. When your eye care professional fit you for contacts, he or she took measurements of your eyes and prescribed lenses that were ideal for your specific needs.

Your eye care professional also selected a cleaning system for your contacts, to keep them free of germs and protein buildup. Your eye care professional recommended products for you that are designed to work together the best. There are a lot of different contact lenses and cleaning solutions on the market that look alike, but not all of these products are compatible with each other, or with your eyes. Before switching contact lenses or solutions for another type or brand, consult your eye care professional to make sure the new products won't cause complications like blurry vision or discomfort. To get the most out of your contacts, make sure that you carefully follow the instructions provided by your eye care professional.

Caring for Contacts—Dos and Don'ts

Follow these contacts care tips to protect your eyes and keep your contacts clean and comfortable.

DO DON'T
  • Get a proper contact lens fitting* and adhere to the wearing schedule determined by your doctor.
  • Wash and dry your hands before touching your contacts.
  • Clean your lenses as directed. For best performance, gently rub contacts with solution.
  • Only use sterile, commercially prepared and approved contact lens care products. Ask your doctor for a solution recommendation based on your prescribed contact lenses.
  • Use contact lens care products formulated for the type of lenses you wear.
  • Store your contacts as directed.
  • Replace your contact lens case every three to six months.
  • Wear torn or scratched contacts. This can cause serious corneal damage.
  • Moisten your contacts with saliva.
  • "Top off" the old solution in the case when you disinfect the lenses. Always throw it out.
  • Let anyone else wear your contacts. You could end up passing or acquiring a disease.
  • Use solution that appears discolored. It could be out of date or contaminated.
  • Wear contact lenses that bother you. Get them checked or try a new set.

Contacts Makeup Tips

  • Take out your contacts before removing your makeup.
  • Put your contacts in first, and then apply your makeup.
  • To minimize eye irritation, choose water-based, hypoallergenic makeup.
  • Replace mascara and eyeliner every three to four months. These products build up bacteria easily.
  • Don't use waterproof mascara. It's difficult to remove and could stain soft contacts.

* Eye exams and contact lens fittings are available by Independent Doctors of Optometry at or next to Pearle Vision, Inc. in most states. Doctors in some states are employed by Pearle Vision, Inc.
 
* Eye exams available by Independent Doctors of Optometry at or next to Pearle Vision, Inc. in most states.
Doctors in some states are employed by Pearle Vision, Inc.

Frame selection varies by store.
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