Contact Lens Care: 7 Habits for Healthy Eyes

Contact lenses are safe and comfortable for the vast majority of wearers — but they do require some basic care to avoid irritation or infection. Here are the habits worth building into your routine.

1. Wash your hands first, every time

Always wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses. This sounds obvious, but it's the single most common way bacteria ends up on a lens.

2. Don't sleep in your lenses (unless approved)

Unless your optician has specifically fit you with extended-wear lenses approved for overnight use, sleeping in regular contacts significantly increases infection risk by reducing oxygen flow to the cornea.

3. Replace your lenses on schedule

Daily lenses are meant to be worn once and discarded. Bi-weekly and monthly lenses have a replacement schedule too — wearing lenses longer than intended is one of the top causes of complications.

4. Never use tap water or saliva

Tap water can carry microorganisms that cause serious corneal infections. Always use fresh contact lens solution — never water, and never saliva, even in a pinch.

5. Replace your lens case regularly

Lens cases should be replaced every one to three months, and rinsed with fresh solution (never water) after each use, left to air dry.

6. Keep a pair of backup glasses

Give your eyes a break from contacts when they feel irritated, and always have an up-to-date pair of glasses on hand for days your eyes need rest.

7. Don't skip your follow-up fittings

Contact lens prescriptions typically need to be reassessed annually, even if your vision hasn't changed — your optometrist is checking corneal health and lens fit, not just prescription strength.

Need a fitting or new supply?

Our licensed opticians handle contact lens fittings for every prescription, including astigmatism and multifocal designs, at our Ajax optical store — serving contact lens wearers across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and Durham Region. Learn more about our contact lens services or book a fitting today.