Do you replace your contact lenses often enough? Here is what happens when its validity ends

In an era in which eye care can be reached, it is easy to take Contact lenses It is rejected by it, especially in an era where laser correction surgery is widely available. However, these transparent plastic tablets that they slide in every eye every morning are still a relatively new invention – and still carry risks if you do not deal with them properly and replace them when needed.

Not Until approximately 1950 The first modern plastic resonance lens was served, and the contact lenses available on the market will not reach until the 1980s. As Dr. Robert Kinast says, “We think about contact lenses as very natural, but 100 years ago, no one wandered with small plastic pieces on their eyes.”

Kinast, Vice President of Ophthalmology at the Old Al -Ayoun Institute and co -founder of GentLedropHe says: “Contact lenses are foreign bodies and must be treated with respect.” To this end, we talked with eye experts to know how to care for contact lenses and when they are replaced.

How long does contacts continue?

The age of contact lenses depends on some factors. Dr. Minal Agharwal“Soft daily uses are one use, so you need to ignore them after one day.” At the other end of the spectrum, she says, “Difficult lenses can last for two to two years with appropriate care.” Aguardus says the most important rule is to follow the replacement schedule always recommended by the ophthalmologist.

The soft lenses are the most common contact lenses, according to Dr. Jofi Poplari, Laayoune surgeon, co -founder and executive director of cornea. He explains that these lenses “range from daily to weekly, every weekly or monthly.” However, “contact lenses can continue solid gas for a longer period, starting from months to year.” These lenses are made of solid plastic.

Although most contact lenses will continue for the intended period, some factors may shorten their life. For example, dust and smoke may cling to the lenses and make it unusable. If there is a Forest fires in your area Or the number of high allergens and your lenses begin to feel uncomfortable, you may want to throw them early.

How do you know if your contacts are over

The fastest way to measure whether your expired contacts are to look at history in the box. Boarpai says that the non -open contact lenses are generally older than one to four years from the date of manufacturing.

In addition to reviewing the expiration date, you should pay attention to how your lenses appear. According to Dr. Poparay, old lenses may appear telty or damage. It also warns that the contacts that have expired can develop deposits – this means the accumulation of remnants on the lenses.

On the other hand, your contacts may still be expired, even if they look great. Agarawal warns, “The lenses may look as they were on the first day, but this does not mean that they are still safe to use.” In short, you should postpone the expiration date first, but also get rid of your lenses if there is clear or painful damage.

Exploited lens symptoms

It is easy to lose the course of the timeline to change the lens when life is busy. If this happens, your lenses may tell you that they are expired before you have an opportunity to track history in the box.

Agarawal warns, “Wearing the ending contacts can cause redness, pain, discomfort, irritation, blurry vision, excessive dryness and/or infection.” These symptoms should be taken as a red flag. The doctor advises, “If you encounter any of these symptoms, remove the lenses and consult an ophthalmologist.”

According to Poparay, additional symptoms may include “burning, water eyes, light sensitivity, discharge, sensation of the strange body and swelling of the eyelid.”

Signs that your contacts are ready to replace them

It should be noted that you will not always experience symptoms when your contacts are ready for change. Adherence to the appropriate timeline is vital, even if you think your contacts may last a few other weeks. Agarawal explains, “Most of the time, you will not have any symptoms when your lenses are ready to replace them,” Agarawal explains.

However, the doctor repeats that if you outperform communications for a long time, you may notice vision problems, painful symptoms, or “torn or damaged lens and/or accumulate deposits or debris on lenses.” This means that the time has come for sure Switch to a new pair.

How many times should I change my contact lenses?

The simplest answer is to follow the recommended use period. Boparai repeats that you should change the lenses based on “the age of contact lenses as recommended by the ophthalmologist.”

You may also want to think about the time you wear your lenses daily. according to Optical specialists networkNearly half of all contact lenses do not correspond to the erosion schedule recommended by their doctors. This can lead to something called contact lens syndrome on the Overwear fan, which occurs when the lenses hinder your eyes’s ability to absorb oxygen. She was left without treatment, you may face blood, infection, or cornea damaged.

Both doctors we talked about insisted that you should Never sleep in contacts What the doctor did not recommend. This may help prevent OverWear syndrome and reduce the risk of infections and ulcers. It also gives you an incentive to check your lenses every morning to make sure it is not the time to change them.

How to care about your contact lenses

The appropriate care for your contacts only helps to increase their lives, but may also prevent eye infections. First of all, you must always handle contact lenses with clean hands, according to The American Academy for Eye Therapy. The institution also recommends the use of “Rub and Chinse” method every time the lenses are used. This means that you must first rub the lens with clean fingers, then rinse it with an contact lens solution.

Poplari says contact lenses have an increasing risk of eye inflammation and infection. He adds that the hygiene of appropriate contact lenses includes rinsing lenses for 10 to 20 seconds before corrosion and ensuring that the cornea does not touch or remove the lenses. Boparai also recommends changing contact lens solution every day.

Menal stresses the importance of storing your lenses “in a clean condition and replacing the case every three months.” Beware that you should not use water or saliva to clean your contact lenses.

How to prevent eye infections associated with lenses

The most common infection of the eye associated with contact lenses is corneal inflammation, which is what May clinic It is described as corneal inflammation. This infection occurs a lot. The United States decomposes from the centers of disease control and prevention of infection related to contact lenses between 2005 and 2015 and decided that “corneal inflammation of all reasons, including wearing contact lenses, Almost one million clinics and emergency department annually.”

the AAO says Wearing extended lenses, Sleep in your lenses Maintaining a dirty lens tray can all make you vulnerable to this type of infection. Mayo Clinic warns that the health of bad contact lenses allows the growth of bacteria, fungi and parasites that can affect the cornea.

Agarwal adds to this advice, explaining that the contact lenses should not participate or reuse the lenses. It also warns that you should “avoid wearing contacts in swimming pools, hot ponds or bathroom”, and remove your lenses in the first sign of discomfort. And do not use saliva to clean your lenses, as Boparai warns of this that makes you more vulnerable to infection.

What about colored contacts and fashion contacts?

Cosmetic communications, especially unwanted fashion lenses, are dangerous to your eyes The American Academy for Eye Therapy It warns against wearing any adhesive lenses that are not determined by a medical specialist. In fact, it is against the law Selling contact lenses without a prescription In the United States due to the risk of eye infections or permanent eye damage from the inappropriate or poorly weak lenses, which can harm the eyes of its wearer.

There are cosmetics lenses in the market, and are often used to hide the eye problems that exist from birth, but you need to make specifically for the eyes of their wearer, and will come with instructions from your ophthalmologist about the time you must wear and when they will need to be replaced.

When do you contact an eye doctor if you are wearing contact lenses?

AAO says that patients at risk of eye disease should get an eye examination At least every two years Until the age of 64, unless their doctor recommends more frequent exams. After the age of 65, the annual eye checks are the standard.

However, even if you are not a great danger, you should see your ophthalmologist “as soon as possible if you suffer from eye pain, redness, swelling, intolerance, discomfort from your lenses, sudden blurry vision, unusual secretions, excessive tear and/or light sensitivity,”

Poplari says the vision changes also call for another visit to the ophthalmologist. And it confirms that if you have uncomfortable symptoms or visual loss, “your ophthalmologist will help direct the administration to keep your eyes comfortable and clear.”

The bottom line

When you are in doubt, do not prepare your contact lenses. You should expel it as soon as it expires, or begins to harm your eyes or appear damage. Wearing incorrect lenses is not only uncomfortable – it can also lead to serious infections. Don’t be afraid to contact the ophthalmologist if something is wrong.