No matter what kind of contact lenses you use, hard or soft, they all require maintenance. The important thing is the liquid you use to clean them. ‘In all cases, avoid tap water. Rinsing your lenses with tap water can make you blind,’ says Charles Bruninx of the Belgian Association of Opticians.
Unfortunately, you cannot clean contact lenses with a cloth as you can with glasses. Lenses are more delicate and therefore require more delicate maintenance. Charles Bruninx from the opticians’ association provides a number of useful tips.
Never use tap water!
A quick rinse of your contact lenses using tap water is the very worst thing you can do! ‘That water can contain bacteria that can infiltrate your eye and even make you go blind,’ explains Bruninx. ‘The chance is 1 in 10 million, but it is there!’
Also, never rinse your lens container with tap water. Clean it with lens solution and let the container dry, so the moisture can evaporate. ‘This is necessary to ensure that bacteria cannot grow. Never close the container while it is still damp.’ It is best not to store your container in the bathroom, but somewhere dry. ‘Also remember not to use your container longer than three months and to replace it with a new one after this period.’
Bruninx also recommends never swimming while wearing contact lenses. If you do, bacteria can enter your eye via the water. ‘If you do go swimming with contact lenses, it is best to wear swimming goggles or to make sure no water gets into your eyes.’ If that does happen, remove your lenses immediately and throw them away. ‘It's better to throw away a set of contact lenses than to have to throw away your sight,’ he says.
Choose an antibacterial lens solution
What kind of solution should you use to clean and store your contacts? ‘Use a lens solution that is antibacterial,’ Bruninx advises. ‘There are many differences between the various liquids that are available. Quality too differs. My advice is to test different liquids and choose the one that is most comfortable for your eyes.’
‘Besides having an antibacterial effect, it is also best to choose a lens solution that makes your lens softer and moister. If you have sensitive eyes, you will have to choose a good quality solution.’
There is a big difference between hard and soft lenses. ‘With soft lenses, soaking them in your container with lens solution overnight is often enough. You can also use an effervescent solution that fizzes away all the bacteria overnight. That sometimes works better than lens solution. With a hard lens, it is best always to use your hand. Put the lens on your palm, put some lens solution on it and then rub the lens to clean it,’ Bruninx advises.
What’s best for your wallet is not always best for your eyes
Quality, antibacterial lens solution can be expensive. What is the best solution for your wallet? ‘Buy a good quality liquid that you can use all year. That will lead to fewer complaints and you will save out in the long run.’
Is that also the best solution for your eyes? ‘For your eyes, the very best solution is to use day lenses. That is the most expensive, as you pay about 1 euro per lens per day. For a whole year, that's about 730 euros. The big advantage is that it does the least harm to your eyes in the long run because you can throw away the used lenses every day.’
Hard, soft or hybrid lenses: what's the difference?
You have 3 types of contact lenses and each has its purpose and advantage or disadvantage. Charles Bruninx explains the difference.
Hard lenses: ‘This is the original invention in lens technology. They were developed first. The advantage is that they can be good for people with difficult eye shapes or strengths. The disadvantage is that you really have to get used to the feeling. The first few days or hours it can be really feel uncomfortable.’
Soft lenses: ‘These are much more comfortable, and are therefore better suited for most people. Soft lenses sit better on your eyes and you don't feel any discomfort or have to get used to the feeling.’
Hybrid lenses: ‘They are a combination of hard and soft lenses, but are only needed if you have a condition, such as an eyeball that is very pointed.’