Contact lenses are the number one choice for many people with vision correction needs. For many, contact lenses provide flexibility and convenience. There are many different lenses available for a variety of needs and preferences. Contact lenses can be used to correct a variety of vision disorders such as Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness), Astigmatism, and Presbyopia (poor focusing with reading material and other near vision tasks).

Important Contact Lens Care Tips

• Follow recommended wearing schedule.
• Do not substitute sterile saline solutions for multi-purpose solutions.
• Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
• Do not “top-off” the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the leftover contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
• Clean, rinse and air-dry your lens case each time lenses are removed.
• Do not expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water.
• Contact your eye care professional if you experience any symptoms of eye irritation or infection.

Who Uses Contact Lenses

• An estimated 45 million people in the U.S. wear contact lenses.
• Two-thirds of contact lens wearers are female.
• The average age of contact lens wearers worldwide is 31 years old.
• An estimated 8% of contact lens wearers are under 18 years old, 17% are between ages 18-24, and 75% of adults age 25 and older wear contacts.

Contact Lenses in the U.S.

• Contact lenses are medical devices and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
• Rigid, or hard, contact lenses made from plastic were first produced in the U.S. between 1938-1940.
• Soft contact lenses were first introduced to the U.S. in 1971.
• Ninety percent of contact lens wearers use soft contact lenses.

Benefits of Contact Lens Use

• People can use many different methods to improve their vision, and no single method is the best solution for everyone. Contact lenses are one of several effective options.
• Contact lenses can help people see better without affecting their appearance or interfering with many sports and activities.
• Some children and teens report feeling dramatically better about their appearance when wearing contact lenses.
• Compared to wearing glasses, children switching to contact lenses reported significant improvements in the areas of perceived appearance, participation in activities, and satisfaction with vision correction.
• Specially designed contact lenses can improve the ability to focus and temporarily reduce poor distance vision (near-sightedness) in certain contact lens wearers.

Complications & Risk Factors

• Serious eye infections that can lead to blindness affect up to 1 out of every 500 contact lens users per year.
• Not following proper contact lens care instructions has been linked to outbreaks of serious eye infections.
• Between 40%-90% of contact lens wearers do not properly follow the care instructions for their contact lenses.
• Approximately 99% of respondents reported at least one contact lens hygiene behavior previously associated with an increased risk of eye infection or inflammation.
• Improper cleaning and irregular replacement of contact lenses and contact lens cases—as well as other behaviors relating to contact lens hygiene and care—have been linked to a higher risk of complications.
• Keratitis—a painful eye infection often linked to improper contact lens use—leads to 1 million doctor and hospital visits annually, at a cost of $175 million to the US healthcare system.

Prevention

Keep your eyes healthy while wearing contact lenses by following these tips, and always be sure to carry a pair of glasses with you—just in case you have to take out your contact lenses.

What are contact lenses?

Contact lenses are thin lenses that sit on top of the cornea (the clear outer layer of the eye). They correct refractive errors to make your vision clearer — just like eyeglasses.

About 45 million Americans wear contact lenses. If you use them the right way, they can be a safe and effective alternative to eyeglasses.

If you have a refractive error, like being nearsighted or farsighted, your eye doctor can prescribe contact lenses to help you see clearly.

What are the different types of contact lenses?

When you’re choosing contact lenses, there are 3 main things to know: whether they’re soft or hard, how long you can wear them, and how often you need to replace them.

Soft or hard

• Soft contact lenses are much more common than hard lenses. Because they’re soft and flexible, they can be more comfortable and easier to get used to.
• Hard contact lenses can make your vision crisper than soft lenses, and they’re less likely to tear. But they may take longer to get used to, and they can be harder to clean and take care of than soft lenses.

Daily wear or extended wear

• You keep daily wear contact lenses in all day and take them out at night. You need to clean and disinfect daily lenses every night. It’s not safe to sleep in daily lenses — it can put you at risk for serious eye infections.
• You can leave extended wear contact lenses in overnight. Depending on the brand, you can wear them for as long as 30 days and nights before taking them out. Extended wear lenses can be convenient — but they may also make it more likely that you’ll get a serious eye infection.

Single use or reusable

• You wear single-use contact lenses for one day, then throw them away at night. The next day, you put in a brand new pair. You don’t need to clean or disinfect single-use lenses.
• You take reusable contact lenses out at night, clean them, and wear them again the next day. Depending on the brand, you’ll need to replace them with a new pair after 7 to 30 days.

Some less common types of contact lenses fix specific vision problems or treat eye conditions.

Keep contacts away from water

Water — even the tap water you drink — has germs in it that can harm your eyes. To keep your eyes safe:

• Never use water to clean or store contact lenses
• Take out your contacts before you shower, swim, or go in a bath or hot tub
• If water gets on your contacts, throw them away or disinfect them overnight in contact lens solution

What are the benefits of contact lenses?

Some people prefer to wear contacts instead of eyeglasses.

Contacts stay in place and improve peripheral (side) vision, so they can be easier to wear when being active or playing sports. They don’t fog up the way glasses do, so they may also be more convenient for people who work or spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather — or indoors in places that are very cold, like a walk-in refrigerator or freezer.

If you wear contacts, you can wear non-prescription sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. You can also wear contacts with UV protection built into the lenses.

What are the risks of contact lenses?

Contact lenses are not risk-free. If you don’t use them the right way, you can get serious eye conditions, including corneal ulcers (sores) and infections.

You can lower your risk by:

• Disinfecting and storing your contacts correctly — every time
• Only wearing your contacts for the amount of time your doctor recommends
• Taking out your contacts before you shower, swim, or go in a bath or hot tub

When to get help

Take out your contacts if you have any of these symptoms:

• Eye pain
• Red eyes
• Light sensitivity (when light hurts your eyes)
• Sudden blurry vision
• Unusually watery eyes
• Discharge (unusual fluid leaking out of your eyes)

If the symptoms don’t go away or they get worse, call your eye doctor.

How do I take care of my contact lenses?

Most people use multipurpose contact lens solution to clean, disinfect, and store their contact lenses. Follow these steps to keep your contacts — and your eyes — clean and safe.

Every time you take out your lenses:

• Rub and rinse them with contact lens solution
• Store them in fresh solution in your contact lens storage case

Every time you put your lenses in your eyes:

• Rub and rinse the case with fresh solution
• Dump out the solution and dry the case with a clean tissue
• Store the case upside down on a clean tissue — leave the case open with the caps off

Some people use different systems to take care of their contacts. Talk to your eye doctor about which lens care system is right for you.

Tips for taking care of contacts

• Wash and dry your hands before you touch your contacts
• Always use contact lens solution to clean, rinse, and store contacts — never use water or saliva
• Never “top off” solution in your lens case (mix old and new solution together) — use fresh solution each time
• Replace your lens case at least once every 3 months

How do I get contact lenses?

Your eye doctor can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses as part of a dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless. Your doctor will ask you to read letters that are up close and far away. Then, they’ll give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and check for other eye problems.

If you want to use contact lenses, your eye doctor will also put some trial lenses on your eyes to see how they fit and test your vision while wearing the lenses.

If you wear contacts, get an eye exam at least once a year — that way your eye doctor can make sure you’re still seeing clearly.

Being able to see well, for most, is essential to performing the activities of day to day life. Good vision contributes to overall well-being and independence for people of all ages. For those with imperfect but correctable vision, many options can help to improve sight. These options most commonly include glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery. Deciding which option is best for you depends on your eyes, lifestyle, and budget—and should be discussed with an eye doctor.

Wearing contact lenses has many potential benefits. To get the most out of your contact lens-wearing experience, be sure to always practice healthy habits and remember that all types of contact lenses—even cosmetic lenses that don’t correct vision but change the color or look of the eye—are medical devices that need to be prescribed by an eye doctor.

See Well

• Contact lenses correct most vision problems , including:
  • Near-sightedness (myopia): blurred vision far away
  • Far-sightedness (hyperopia): blurred vision close up
  • Astigmatism: blurred vision both far away and close up
  • Presbyopia: blurred vision close up in aging adults
• Contact lenses move with the eye for vision correction that can feel and look natural .
• Some studies have shown that specially fitted contact lenses may help slow the progression of near-sightedness in children and teens, although they are not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this purpose .

Feel Well

• The variety of contact lens materials and replacement schedules available allows eye doctors to select the best option for an individual’s eyes, lifestyle, and budget.
• Contact lenses allow individuals to maintain a natural appearance without glasses or, if they choose, to change the appearance of their eyes with colored contact lenses.
• Children, teens, and adults who wear contact lenses report feeling better about their physical appearance and ability to engage in sports and recreational activities compared to those who wear glasses .

Play Well

• Well-fitting contact lenses stay in place on the eyes and improve peripheral (side) vision during sports and activities.
• Contact lenses do not fog up like glasses when outdoors, in low temperature work environments, or playing sports.
• Contact lens wearers can use non-prescription UV-blocking sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun. Some types of contact lenses can provide extra UV protection—although they are not a substitute for sunglasses .

There are two general categories of contact lenses – soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP). All contact lenses require a valid prescription.

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than rigid gas permeable lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eye while you wear your lenses.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPs) are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and less likely to tear. However, they are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing RGPs, compared to several days for soft contacts.

Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Extended wear contact lenses are available for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days. Extended wear contact lenses are usually soft contact lenses. They are made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. There are also a very few rigid gas permeable lenses that are designed and approved for overnight wear. Length of continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s important for the eyes to have a rest without lenses for at least one night following each scheduled removal.

Disposable (Replacement Schedule) Contact Lenses

The majority of soft contact lens wearers are prescribed some type of frequent replacement schedule. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used once and discarded. With a true daily wear disposable schedule, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day.

Some soft contact lenses are referred to as “disposable” by contact lens sellers, but actually, they are for frequent/planned replacement. With extended wear lenses, the lenses may be worn continuously for the prescribed wearing period (for example, 7 days to 30 days) and then thrown away. When you remove your lenses, make sure to clean and disinfect them properly before reinserting.

Specialized Uses of Contact lenses

Conventional contact lenses correct vision in the same way that glasses do, only they are in contact with the eye. Two types of lenses that serve a different purpose are orthokeratology lenses and decorative (plano) lenses.

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, is a lens fitting procedure that uses specially designed rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses to change the curvature of the cornea to temporarily improve the eye’s ability to focus on objects. This procedure is primarily used for the correction of myopia (nearsightedness).

Overnight Ortho-K lenses are the most common type of Ortho-K. There are some Ortho-K lenses that are prescribed only for daytime wear. Overnight Ortho-K lenses are commonly prescribed to be worn while sleeping for at least eight hours each night. They are removed upon awakening and not worn during the day. Some people can go all day without their glasses or contact lenses. Others will find that their vision correction will wear off during the day.

The vision correction effect is temporary. If Ortho-K is discontinued, the corneas will return to their original curvature and the eye to its original amount of nearsightedness. Ortho-K lenses must continue to be worn every night or on some other prescribed maintenance schedule in order to maintain the treatment effect. Your eye care professional will determine the best maintenance schedule for you.

Currently, FDA requires that eye care professionals be trained and certified before using overnight Ortho-K lenses in their practice. You should ask your eye care professional about what lenses he or she is certified to fit if you are considering this procedure.

Decorative (Plano) Contact Lenses

Decorative contacts (also called “costume,” colored,” “fashion,” or “plano” contacts). The FDA has often warned people about the serious risks (including eye infection and blindness) associated with wearing these lenses without a prescription and the appropriate professional involvement. These lenses often don’t correct vision problems, in which case they are intended solely to change the appearance of the eye. If you want to wear these contacts, get a valid prescription (see the section below). You need a prescription even if you have perfect vision.

You may want to look like your favorite movie star or singer, or have the perfect look for Halloween, but choosing to change the look of your eyes with contact lenses could cause a lot of damage to your eyesight if you get them without the input of your eye care professional. Decorative contact lenses are sometimes called, among other names:

• fashion contact lenses
• Halloween contact lenses
• colored contact lenses
• cosmetic contact lenses
• theatre contact lenses

Decorative contact lenses just change the look of your eyes. They do not correct your vision. They can temporarily change your brown eyes to blue or make your eyes look like cat eyes or vampire eyes for Halloween.

Did you know that these decorative contact lenses are actually medical devices? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees their safety and effectiveness, just like contact lenses that correct your vision.

Just like corrective contact lenses you should never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store—and you should always have a prescription.

Before stepping out with your new look, here's what you need to know.

Know the Risks

Wearing decorative contact lenses can be risky, just like the contact lenses that correct your vision.

Wearing any kind of contact lenses, including decorative ones, can cause serious damage to your eyes if the lenses are obtained without a prescription or not used correctly.

These risks include:

• A cut or scratch on the top layer of your eyeball (Corneal Abrasion)
• Allergic reactions like itchy, watery red eyes
• Decreased vision
• Infection
• Blindness

When wearing any type of contact lenses, be aware of signs of possible eye infection, which include:

• Redness
• Pain in the eye(s) that doesn't go away after a short period of time
• Decreased vision

If you have any of these signs, you need to see a licensed eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) right away! An eye infection could become serious and cause you to become blind if it is not treated.

You can avoid some of these risks by getting any type of contact lenses from your doctor. Be sure to follow the directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses that your doctor gives you. If your doctor doesn't give you any directions — ask for them!

Dos and Don'ts

Do get an eye exam! A licensed eye doctor will examine your eyes to make sure the contact lenses fit properly. The fit of your contact lenses is very important. A wrong fit can cause damage to your eyes. Be sure to always go for follow-up eye exams.

Do get a prescription! Your eye doctor will write you a prescription for all contact lenses, including decorative lenses. The prescription should include the brand name, correct lens measurements and expiration date.

Do follow the contact lens care instructions! Follow the instructions for wearing, cleaning and disinfecting your contact lenses that come with your contact lenses. If you do not receive instructions, ask an eye doctor for them.

Do seek medical attention right away and remove your contact lenses if your eyes are red, have ongoing pain or discharge! Redness, pain and discharge from the eyes are signs of an eye infection. If you think you have an eye infection from your contact lenses, remove them and see an eye doctor right away.

Don't share your contact lenses with anyone else! You wouldn't share your toothbrush would you? All eyes are not the same size and shape and your contact lenses are fitted just for you.

Don't buy any contact lenses without a prescription! If you don't see an eye doctor and get a prescription, then the contact lenses you get may not fit properly and may not work well. They could even damage your eyes. Sometimes wearing contact lenses can damage the top layer of your eyeball (cornea). Even if you aren't having any problems now, the lenses still could be causing damage to your eyes. By having regular checkups and buying contact lenses with a prescription, you will reduce the chances of any undetected damage to your eyes.

Buying Decorative Contact Lenses

You can buy contact lenses, including decorative contact lenses, from your eye doctor, on the Internet or from a mail-order company. It's very important that you only buy contact lenses from a company that sells FDA-cleared or approved contact lenses and requires you to provide a prescription.

Anyone selling you contact lenses must get your prescription and verify it with your doctor. They should request not only the prescription, but the name of your doctor and their phone number. If they don't ask for this information they are breaking federal law and could be selling you illegal contact lenses.

Remember — Buying contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous!

Right now there are a lot of products that you can buy without a prescription but they may not be safe or legal. Never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store.

It's your job to make sure you protect your eyes by having an eye exam, getting a prescription and buying contact lenses from a legal source.

When you get an eye exam, the prescriber is required to give you a copy of your contact lens prescription when the fitting is complete, even if you don’t ask for it. You can use this prescription at another vendor or to order contact lenses on the Internet, over the phone, or by mail.

As defined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the contact lens rule, a prescription should contain sufficient information for a seller to completely and accurately fill the prescription. This includes the following items:

• Patient's name
• Examination date
• Date patient receives prescription after a contact lens fitting (issue date) and expiration date of prescription
• Name, address, phone number and fax number of prescriber
• Power of the prescribed contact lenses
• Material and/or manufacturer of the prescribed contact lens
• Base curve or appropriate designation of the prescribed contact lens
• Diameter, when appropriate, of the prescribed contact lens
• For a private label contact lens, the name of the manufacturer, trade name of the private label brand, and if applicable, trade name of equivalent brand name

FTC and The Contact Lens Rule

After giving you a copy of your prescription, prescribers who sell lenses or have a direct or indirect financial interest in the sale of contact lenses are required to ask you to sign a confirmation that you received the prescription. The prescriber must keep the signed confirmation for at least three years. Sellers must take steps to verify the contact lens prescription, as described in the FTC’s rule.

Contact lens sales are regulated by both the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Before you buy any contact lenses from someone other than your eye care professional, the FDA wants you to be a wise consumer. With a valid contact lens prescription, it is possible to purchase your contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone or by mail. The following questions and answers should help you take simple precautions to make your purchase safe and effective.

What do I need to consider when buying contact lenses?

• Is your contact lens prescription current? You should always have a current, valid prescription when you order contact lenses.
• If you have not had a check-up in the last one to two years, you may have problems with your eyes that you are not aware of, or your contact lenses may not correct your vision well.
• The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state. Some require a one-year renewal, some a two-year renewal. If your state has not set a minimum expiration date, Federal regulation sets a one year date unless your eye care professional determines that there’s a medical reason for less than one year.
• To be sure that your eyes remain healthy you should not order lenses with a prescription that has expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire. It’s safer to be re-checked by your eye care professional.

What does a valid contact lens prescription include?

As defined by FTC regulations, a prescription should contain sufficient information for a seller to completely and accurately fill the prescription. This includes the following items:

• Patient’s name
• Examination date
• Date patient receives prescription after a contact lens fitting (issue date) and expiration date of prescription
• Name, address, phone number and fax number of prescriber
• Power
• Material and/or manufacturer of the prescribed contact lens
• Base curve or appropriate designation of the prescribed contact lens
• Diameter, when appropriate, of the prescribed contact lens
• For a private label contact lens, the name of the manufacturer, trade name of the private label brand, and if applicable, trade name of equivalent brand name

Will I get in legal trouble if I buy contact lenses without a copy of my prescription?

• You won’t break any laws, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device. In legal terms, this misbrands the device. The company is also violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription.

What can I do to avoid serious problems when buying my contact lenses?

• Order your contact lenses from a supplier you are familiar with and know is reliable. Contact lenses are often more complex than they appear.
• Request the manufacturer’s written patient information for your contact lenses. It will give you important risk/benefit information as well as instructions for use.
• Beware of attempts to substitute a different brand than you presently have. While this may be acceptable in some situations, there are differences in the water content and shape between different brands. The correct choice of which lens is right for you should be based only on an examination by your eye care professional, not over the phone.
• Carefully check to make sure the company gives you the
  • exact brand
  • lens name
  • power
    • sphere
    • cylinder, if any
    • axis, if any
  • diameter
  • base curve
  • peripheral curves, if any

If you think you have received an incorrect lens, check with your eye care professional. Don’t accept a substitution unless your eye care professional approves it.

Wearing contact lenses puts you at risk of several serious conditions including eye infections and corneal ulcers. These conditions can develop very quickly and can be very serious. In rare cases, these conditions can cause blindness.

You can not determine the seriousness of a problem that develops when you are wearing contact lenses. You have to get help from an eye care professional to determine your problem.

If you experience any symptoms of eye irritation or infection,

• remove your lenses immediately and do not put them back in your eyes.
• contact your eye care professional right way.
• don't throw away your lenses. Store them in your case and take them to your eye care professional. He or she may want to use them to determine the cause of your symptoms.
• report serious eye problems associated with your lenses to the FDA’s MedWatch reporting program.

Symptoms of Eye Irritation or Infection

• discomfort
• excess tearing or other discharge
• unusual sensitivity to light
• itching, burning, or gritty feelings
• unusual redness
• blurred vision
• swelling
• pain

Serious Hazards of Contact Lenses

Symptoms of eye irritation can indicate a more serious condition. Some of the possible serious hazards of wearing contact lenses are corneal ulcers, eye infections, and even blindness.

Corneal ulcers are open sores in the outer layer of the cornea. They are usually caused by infections. To reduce your chances of infection, you should:

• Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
• Clean and disinfect your lenses properly according to the labeling instructions.
• Do not “top-off” the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the left over contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
• Do not expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water. Never use non-sterile water (distilled water, tap water or any homemade saline solution). Tap and distilled water have been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.
• Remove your contact lenses before swimming. There is a risk of eye infection from bacteria in swimming pool water, hot tubs, lakes and the ocean
• Replace your contact lens storage case every 3 months or as directed by your eye care professional.

Other Risks of Contact Lenses

Other risks of contact lenses include

• pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• corneal abrasions
• eye irritation

There are a variety of solutions that can be used for the various types of contact lenses. But these solutions can also cause serious problems if not used correctly. Incorrect care of contact lens solutions can increase your risk of eye infections and corneal ulcers. These conditions can develop very quickly and can be very serious. In rare cases, these conditions can cause blindness.

To reduce your risk of infections:

• Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses to reduce the chance of getting an infection.
• Remove the lenses immediately and consult your eye care professional if your eyes become red, irritated, or your vision changes.
• Always follow the directions of your eye care professional and all labeling instruction for proper use of contact lenses and lens care products.
• Use contact lens products and solutions recommended by your eye care professional.
• Do not use contact lens solutions that have gone beyond the expiration or discard date.
• Only use sterile saline solutions for rinsing. Do not use them for cleaning and disinfecting your lenses.
• Rub and rinse your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
• Clean and disinfect your lenses properly following all labeling instructions provided with your lens care products
• Do not “top-off” the solutions in your case. Always discard all of the left over contact lens solution after each use. Never reuse any lens solution.
• Do not expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water. Never use non-sterile water (distilled water, tap water or any homemade saline solution). Exposure of contact lenses to water has been associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.
• Do not put your lenses in your mouth to wet them. Saliva is not a sterile solution.
• Using clean fingers, rub clean and rinse with fresh multi-purpose solution and air-dry your lens case each time lenses are removed. You should flip your lens case over and shake out any excess solution, then dry with a fresh, clean cloth or air dry. Contact lens cases can be a source of bacterial growth.
• Replace your contact lens storage case every 3 months or as directed by your eye care professional.
• Do not transfer contact lens solutions into smaller travel size containers. This can effect the sterility of the solution which can lead to an eye infection. Transferring solutions into smaller size containers may also leave consumers open to accidentally using a solution not intended for the eyes.

If you wear contact lenses, the way you clean them can affect your vision and health.

Following instructions and taking note of product warnings is especially important if you use a solution that contains hydrogen peroxide.

Background

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates contact lenses and certain contact lens care products as medical devices. Contact lenses require a prescription, and all products, including those relating to contact lenses, marketed to consumers must be determined to be safe and effective. (Even if you have perfect vision, and your contact lenses are just “decorative” or “colored,” a contact lens prescription is required by federal law.)

Before you choose a contact lens solution, talk to your eye-care provider about the best cleaning and disinfecting method for you. For instance, contact lens multipurpose solutions clean, disinfect, and condition contact lenses. Other lens cleaning products contain hydrogen peroxide, which requires special care for safe use.

Contact lens solutions are sold over the counter, which means that you don’t need a prescription. “But over-the-counter products are not all the same,” says Bernard P. Lepri, O.D., M.S., M.Ed., an FDA optometrist in the agency’s Contact Lens and Retinal Devices Branch.

Incorrect care of contacts can increase your risk of eye infections and injury—and can cause blindness in rare cases, Lepri adds.

Like multipurpose solutions, when hydrogen peroxide is used in certain contact lens solutions, it helps to clean and disinfect contact lenses by breaking up and removing trapped debris, protein, and fatty deposits.

Hydrogen peroxide solutions are preservative-free, which makes them a good option for those who are allergic or sensitive to preservatives in multipurpose solutions. But they are not risk-free.

The Required Disinfecting Process

Before you use solution with hydrogen peroxide, read all warning labels (which often appear as red boxes on products) and read all instructions. Also note that the tip of the bottle is red. The red coloring is a reminder that these products require special handling.

“You should never put hydrogen peroxide directly into your eyes or on your contact lenses,” Lepri says. That’s because this kind of solution can cause stinging, burning, and damage—specifically to your cornea (the clear surface that covers your eye).

If you use a solution that has hydrogen peroxide you absolutely must follow the disinfecting process with a “neutralizer.” A neutralizer is always sold as part of your hydrogen peroxide cleaning solution kit. It turns the peroxide into water and oxygen, making it safe to put lenses into your eyes.

Neutralization can be either a one-step or two-step process. The one-step process neutralizes your lenses during the disinfecting stage, while the two-step process neutralizes your lenses after the disinfecting stage.

Some storage cases have a neutralizer built in, making it a one-step process. With others, you must add a neutralizing tablet that comes with the hydrogen peroxide solution. This is the two-step process.

About Adverse Events

The FDA encourages healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and consumers to submit voluntary reports of problems with medical products to MedWatch, FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

The FDA’s Medical Device Reporting (MDR) regulation provides mandatory requirements for manufacturers, importers, and device user facilities to report certain device-related adverse events and product problems to FDA.

When it comes to solutions with hydrogen peroxide, the FDA has received reports of adverse events (unwanted experiences) like burning and stinging of the eyes.

To reduce the risk of adverse events, remember to take note of the warnings that appear in red boxes on these products—and follow all detailed directions for use. Also remember that the tips of product bottles are red to remind you to use special care.

Contact your eye-care provider if you have questions or concerns at any time. And, if you have any adverse reactions or problems with these products, report them to FDA’s MedWatch Program.

Checklist for Solutions With Hydrogen Peroxide

• Talk to your eye-care provider before deciding on the best cleaning and disinfecting method for your contact lenses. Never change your lens-care system before consulting your provider.
• Before you use a new solution, read all instructions on the box and bottle and follow them carefully. If you have questions, stop and contact your eye-care provider.
• Never share solution that contains hydrogen peroxide. Other people might confuse your solution with multipurpose solution and not follow instructions. This could result in damage to their eyes.
• Always use the special contact lens case that comes with each new bottle of solution. Never use a case other than the one that comes with each new bottle. (An old case would not neutralize the peroxide, which would cause burning, stinging and irritation when you put contacts in your eyes.)
• Leave contacts in the solution for at least 6 hours to allow the neutralizing process to finish.
• Never rinse your contact lenses with hydrogen peroxide solutions or put these solutions in your eyes.
• Report any eye problems with your contacts or solution to the FDA’s MedWatch voluntary reporting program.

Many people who wear contact lenses do not know that contact lenses and water are a bad combination—even when showering, swimming, or using a hot tub.

Water can cause soft contact lenses to change shape, swell, and stick to the eye. This is uncomfortable, and can scratch the cornea (the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye), which makes it easier for germs to enter the eye and cause infection.

Most water is not germ-free. There are many different kinds of germs in water that can cause eye infections, but a particularly dangerous germ—an ameba called Acanthamoeba—is commonly found in tap water, lake water, well water, and other water sources. This germ can cause a very severe type of eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is often very painful and difficult to treat—sometimes requiring a year or more of treatment. Although rare, this type of infection can result in the need for a corneal transplant, or blindness.

Keep Contact Lenses Away from All Water

For contact lens wearers, it is best to remove lenses before showering, swimming, or using a hot tub—and contact lenses should never be rinsed or stored in water. It is also important to wash and dry hands well before handling lenses, and to clean contact lens cases with solution rather than water to avoid contaminating the lenses with germs found in water.

For those who are actively involved in swimming or other water sports and concerned about being able to see well enough without wearing lenses, prescription goggles may be a good option—or possibly even a different form of vision correction, such as laser eye surgery.

Throw Away or Disinfect Contact Lenses that Touch Water

If water touches contact lenses for any reason, take them out as soon as possible. Throw them away, or clean and disinfect them overnight before wearing them again. This may help to reduce the risk of infection, but these recommendations are not based on scientific testing. The safest option is to keep contact lenses away from all water.

Here are some safety tips you should follow if you wear contact lenses.

Make sure to:

• Get regular eye exams to assure the continued health of your eyes.
• Always have a back-up pair of glasses with a current prescription in the event that you have problems with your contact lenses.
• Always ask your eye care professional before using any medicine or using topical eye products, even those you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may affect your vision or irritate your eyes.
• Ask your eye care professional about wearing glasses or contact lenses during sports activities to minimize your chance of injury.
• Apply cosmetics after inserting lenses and remove your lenses before removing makeup.
• Apply any aerosol products (hairspray, cologne, and deodorant) before inserting lenses.
• Always inform your employer if you wear contact lenses. Some jobs may require the use of eye protection equipment or may require that you not wear lenses.
• Follow and save the directions that come with your lenses. If you didn’t get a patient information booklet, request one from your eye care professional or look for one on the manufacturer’s website.
• Replace contacts as recommended by your eye care professional. Throw away disposable lenses after recommended wearing period.

Do Not:

• Sleep in daily wear lenses because it may increase your chance of infection or irritation.
• Purchase contact lenses from gas stations, video stores, record shops, or any other vendor not authorized by law to dispense contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription.
• Swap contact lens with another person. Swapping provides a way to transfer germs between people. Contact lenses are individually fitted. Incorrectly fitted lenses may cause permanent eye injury, infection and may potentially lead to blindness.
• Smoke. Studies show that smokers who wear contact lenses have a higher rate of problems (adverse reactions) than nonsmokers.
• Swim while wearing contact lenses. There is a risk of eye infection from bacteria in swimming pool water, hot tubs, lakes and the ocean