Disposable contacts have become a mainstay in the contact lens world.  They are convenient and, for the most part, much healthier for our eyes.  If you are a contact lens wearer you know how great that fresh pair of contacts feels, but do you really need to change as frequently as we recommend?

In short, YES!

Although comfortable lenses are important, changing your lenses out regularly is imperative for health reasons. Consider the contact lens like a filter with air travelling through it to supply the front of the eye with oxygen.  When lenses are worn for a prolonged period of time, protein, calcium, bacteria and oils accumulate on the lens. These substances clog the filter of the lenses thus decreasing the oxygen supply to the cornea (front of eye). Although the lens may feel comfortable, decreased oxygen leads to inflammation and infection of the cornea. It may also lead to a patient no longer being able to wear contact lens. No one wants that!

If you have trouble remembering to change out your lenses on a regular basis Acuvue® has a great tool called the ACUMINDER® that will send you alerts to remind you not only when to do it, but how to do it properly, as well. Setting up an account is easy and you can do it right from the  Acuvue website .  If you prefer to use your smart phone OPTI-FREE® has a free app that will not only help you manage when to toss out your lenses, but provide you with information to keep your eyes safe, track how your lenses feel over time, and store your doctor’s contact information, just in case you need us! 

Disposable contacts are a great way to keep our eyes happy and healthy, but contact lens wearers need to make sure they are keeping up their end of the bargain by cleaning and disposing of them on a regular basis. If you have any questions about when to dispose of or how to take care of your lenses just contact me anytime!