eye care support

Safe Contact Lens Wear

Contact lenses are a convenient and effective way to correct vision, but they must be used and cared for properly to keep your eyes healthy.

The following guidelines apply to most types of lenses, including soft, rigid gas-permeable (RGP), daily wear, extended wear and disposable lenses.Use only the lens-care solutions recommended by your optometrist, and do not change brands without professional advice.

Always follow the product instructions, ensuring reusable lenses are cleaned, rinsed and disinfected each time they are removed, noting that enzyme cleaners remove protein deposits but do not replace disinfection, and lenses stored for more than 12 hours may need to be cleaned and disinfected again according to the product instructions.

lens-gallery-003

Lense-care product awareness

Cleaning solutions

Remove dirt, mucus and debris

Disinfecting solutions

Kill bacteria and other microorganisms

Rinsing solutions

Remove cleaning agents and prepare lenses for wear

Enzyme cleaners

Remove protein deposits

lens-gallery-001

Don't forget, rewetting drops improve comfort during wear too.

Contact Lense FAQs

  • Never wear lenses longer than prescribed
  • Do not sleep in lenses unless specifically advised by your optometrist
  • Always wash, rinse and dry your hands before handling lenses
  • Never use saliva to wet lenses or place lenses in your mouth
  • Use only approved solutions for cleaning, rinsing and lubricating lenses
  • Always use fresh solution in your lens case—never “top up”
  • Ask your optometrist about wearing lenses during swimming or sports
  • Keep all follow-up appointments
  • Never use home-made saline; it has been linked to serious infections
  • Clean and air-dry your lens case daily, and replace it regularly
  • If your eyes become red, irritated, painful or your vision changes, remove your lenses and seek optometric advice
  • Insert lenses before applying makeup and remove them before removing makeup
  • Water-based cosmetics are less likely to damage lenses
  • Have regular eye examinations as recommended by your optometrist
  • Replace lenses according to the schedule prescribed—disposable lenses must be discarded at the correct interval
  • Never use unpreserved saline from large multi-use containers
  • If unpreserved saline is required, use single-use vials or aerosol formats
  • Some solutions perform multiple functions—check the label
  • Keep solution bottles closed, upright and stored in a clean, cool, dry place
  • Discard solutions according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
  • Avoid touching the bottle tip to any surface, including your fingers

Optometrists are trained and registered to:

  • Examine eyes for vision disorders
  • Detect and diagnose signs of eye disease
  • Prescribe, supply and repair spectacles
  • Fit and prescribe contact lenses
  • Assess eye-coordination problems
  • Provide specialised optical aids
  • Support people with low vision
  • Advise on lighting and visual ergonomics

They can also advise on:

  • Sports vision
  • Vision-related learning difficulties
  • Eye safety for home and workplace