Q: Exactly how often should I be changing my contact lenses?
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A: Ignoring the replacement schedule of your contact lenses can cause serious problems. From minor irritation to permanent damage, it’s important to know the lifespan of your lenses and change them accordingly.
Most contacts in the market today are soft lenses, which range in duration for length of wear:
Anytime you over wear or sleep in your contact lenses, you put your eyes at risk. These risks can be minor such as discomfort or red eye, or they can cause more serious concerns like corneal hypoxia that can lead to a corneal ulcer. This is a condition in which your contact lenses starve your eye of oxygen which can lead to a corneal infection and possible blindness.
Even if you don’t wear your contacts every day, you still need to follow the replacement schedule. As soon as you take the lenses out of the sterile package, they start to degrade ― no matter how many times you do or don’t wear them.
The bottom line? When it comes to contact lenses, know your replacement schedule for your type of lenses and be adamant about following it. If you aren’t wearing dailies, use fresh contact solution every single night and replace your contact case every three months.
– Optometrist, Wes Immler, OD
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