Contact lenses need to be carefully cleaned and stored. If you don’t follow these guidelines, you risk irritating your eyes and damaging the lens.

Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the sclera, the tough white part of the eye. They provide increased oxygen to the cornea and may prevent keratoconus progression.

They correct vision

Contact lenses are thin discs of plastic or glass that rest on the tear film layer on your eye's cornea. They correct vision problems caused by refractive errors, which cause light to refract and focus in the wrong place.

Today's contact lenses are made of transparent plastics, often called hydrogels. The hydrogel matrix is water absorbing and retains its shape when wet, which allows us to create the desired prescription power within the lens.

Most people who wear contact lenses do not experience any long-term complications if they follow their eye care practitioner's guidelines for use, cleaning, storage and replacement. However, many common care mistakes increase the risk of infection, including wearing contacts too long, sleeping in them and failing to clean them properly. Serious infections can lead to permanent damage and loss of vision. To minimize these risks, you should always follow the recommended care schedule and speak to your eye health practitioner if any discomfort or issues occur.

They are comfortable

Contact lenses are designed to fit on the cornea of your eye. This distributes the pressure of the lens across your entire eye rather than putting more pressure on a single point, making them more comfortable than glasses. However, it’s important to practice proper contact lens care in order to reduce the risk of discomfort and irritation.

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses. It’s also a good idea to use rewetting or eye drops that your doctor recommends, as this will help make your contact lenses more comfortable.

If your contact lenses feel uncomfortable, it may be because of a dirty or damaged lens. Try to examine the lens closely to see if it’s dirty or inside-out (as this will make it feel like something is stuck in your eye). If it is, remove it and inspect it again. If it still feels uncomfortable, talk to your eye care professional about getting a different type of contact lens.

They are easy to clean

Cleanliness is an important factor in preventing eye infections. Follow the schedule your doctor recommends and the directions on the lens cleaning solution you use. Using the right solution will keep your lenses clean and disinfected for storage or wear. Most solutions contain preservatives, such as benzalkonium chloride or benzyl alcohol. If you have allergies or sensitivities to those ingredients, ask about preservative-free contact lens solutions.

Rinse your hands thoroughly before touching your contact lenses. Wash and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel. Rinse the lens in a multipurpose cleaning solution. Gently rub and rinse it again with fresh multipurpose solution.

Some lens care systems also include a sterile non-preserved saline solution for rinsing the contact lens. Saline does not clean or disinfect the lens, and it is important not to get saline into your eyes because it can cause serious eye infections.

They are convenient

Contact lenses are a convenient alternative to glasses for vision correction. They are easy to insert and remove, and are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. However, it is important to visit an eye care professional (ECP) before using contacts. An ECP will ensure you receive the best lens type for your vision and eye health needs.

There are two primary types of contact lenses: soft and hard (rigid gas permeable). Soft lenses are made from gel-like plastics with a high percentage of water, which makes them very thin and breathable. They cover the entire cornea of your eye and are usually not noticeable.

Some soft contact lenses are referred to as disposables, as they are discarded on a daily basis. It is recommended that you remove your daily contacts before sleeping, as sleep with lenses in can lead to serious eye infections. However, some brands of soft lenses allow for extended wear overnight, as long as they are removed before bedtime and properly cleaned and stored.