Contact lens hygiene in a humid country: 8 habits that protect your eyes

Contact lenses are convenient, but they sit directly on your eye, so hygiene is not optional. In the Philippines, heat, humidity, sweat, and long days out add extra ways for bacteria to reach your lenses. Good habits keep you comfortable and lower your risk of eye infections. Here are eight worth building into your routine.

1. Wash and dry your hands first, every time

Before you touch a lens, wash your hands with soap and dry them on a clean, lint-free towel. Wet hands transfer tap water and whatever is in it onto the lens. This one step prevents a large share of contact-related problems.

2. Never use tap water or saliva on lenses

Only use fresh contact lens solution to rinse and store lenses, never tap water, distilled water, or your own saliva. Water can carry microorganisms that cause serious eye infections. This is the rule optometrists repeat most, because it matters most.

3. Replace the solution, do not top it up

Empty your case and fill it with fresh solution every time. Adding new solution on top of old, called topping off, dilutes the disinfecting power and lets bacteria build up. Fresh solution, every storage.

4. Look after the case

Your case can harbor bacteria if neglected. After each use, rinse it with solution, not water, wipe it, and let it air-dry face down on a clean tissue. Replace the case every three months, or sooner if it looks worn. A clean lens in a dirty case is still a dirty lens.

5. Respect the replacement schedule

Dailies are for one day, then thrown away. Two-week and monthly lenses have limits for a reason. Stretching a lens past its schedule to save money lets deposits and bacteria accumulate, which is where irritation and infection start. In our climate, that build-up happens faster.

6. Do not sleep or shower in them

Unless your optometrist has fitted you with lenses made for overnight wear, take them out before sleeping. Closed eyes starve the cornea of oxygen and raise infection risk. Keep lenses away from water too, so remove them before showering or swimming, or wear sealed goggles.

7. Give your eyes a break

Long, hot days and air-conditioned offices dry your eyes, and dryness makes lenses uncomfortable. Follow the wear time your optometrist advised, switch to glasses when your eyes feel tired, and use lubricating drops approved for contact lens wear if you need them. If your eyes are red or sore, take the lenses out.

8. Know the warning signs

Remove your lenses and have your eyes checked promptly if you notice:

• Redness that does not settle
• Pain, or a gritty feeling that will not go away
• Blurred vision, light sensitivity, or unusual discharge

These can be early signs of an eye infection, which is treatable when caught early and dangerous when ignored. Do not push through it.

Start with the right fit

Comfort and safety begin with lenses fitted to your eyes and a prescription that is current. Ill-fitting or expired-prescription lenses cause many of the problems above on their own.

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store. The seven-step exam confirms your grade and checks the health of your eye surface, which is exactly where contact lens trouble shows up first.

Then ask for a contact lens fitting at the counter. Your optometrist measures the curve and size of your eye so the lens sits properly and lets your cornea breathe, and sets a wear time and replacement schedule that holds up in this heat.

Ask for the Essilor Blue Light Single Vision as your glasses pair. Nobody should be in contacts every waking hour. Having a good pair waiting makes it easy to take the lenses out when your eyes feel dry or sore, and it keeps you sharp and comfortable through long screen hours.

Clear single vision glasses are ready in 30 minutes. Every pair comes with free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning and free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment.