Tips to Avoid Tearing Contact Lenses

Americans love their contact lenses. Around 30 million Americans currently wear contacts, and the vast majority of them choose the soft contacts. Those of us who wore the hard contacts of yesteryear remember the discomfort in putting on the contacts and taking them out. Worse, hard contacts do not allow air to get to the cornea. The combination of the discomfort in applying them, and the tired, dry, and itchy eyes we experienced after a few hours of wear made the thought of contacts much less appealing. Now we have wonderful soft lenses that are comfortable, easy to apply and remove, and that allow air to reach the sensitive eye. However, there is a tradeoff for the level of comfort we receive; soft contact lenses are easily torn. Once they are torn, they must be discarded. Wearing a contact lens with even a minor tear around the edge can cause damage to the eye. So, how can you avoid tearing your contact lenses?

Tips to Avoid Contact Lens Tears

Use good quality contact lens solution and keep your contact lens cups clean and filled with solution. Partially filled cups could cause a contact lens to adhere to the side of the cup. Removing it will often tear it.

If you find your contact lens has folded in half in the solution cup, make sure it is submerged in solution and gently rub it apart. Trying to unfold it out of the solution almost always tears the lens.

Keep your contact lenses moist. Dry lenses tear very easily. If you find your case has leaked and you have a dry lens, fill the cup with clean solution and allow the contact to soak until it is restored to its normal condition. The contact lens should soak in the clean solution for around four hours.

Use solution in the eye before removing the contact lenses. Some patients struggle with dry eyes whether they wear contacts or glasses. For these patients, put a few drops of solution in the eye before removing the contact lens. This moistens it and keeps it from sticking to the dry eye or tearing in the friction of removal.

If you have a problem with dry eyes, do not sleep in your contact lenses. Remove them every night and soak them in solution, and use drops to moisten the eye. Your eye doctor will advise you on the best type for your eye.

Avoid rubbing the contact lenses while you are wearing them. Rubbing the eyes while wearing contact lenses could cause rips and tears. If the eyes are itchy, remove the contact lenses and apply eye drops or use eye drops made for contact lens wearers.

Should Children Wear Contacts?

Children have special needs and requirements for vision correction. Children’s eyeglasses are often available in many different frames, styles, and designs to allow the child to see better while maintaining their eye health. Of course, when children mature enough, they can wear and care for contact lenses. Some doctors will suggest a specific age (for example 13-years old) that is appropriate. However, wearing contact lenses is a responsibility. When a child is mature enough to take care of the contact lenses properly so that they can be worn effectively and without damage they can be introduced to contact lenses.

If you’re looking for a place to get eye exams in San Marcos, Texas, contact Blue Moon Optical for additional information or to make an appointment.

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