Contact Lens Safety: Hygiene, Solutions, and Wear Time

Every year, about 1 in 1,000 contact lens wearers in the U.S. ends up with a serious eye infection. Most of these cases aren’t random accidents. They’re the result of simple, avoidable mistakes - like sleeping in lenses, rinsing them with tap water, or skipping handwashing. If you wear contacts, your eyes are one bad habit away from a corneal ulcer, permanent vision damage, or a $7,500 medical bill. The good news? You don’t need to be an expert to stay safe. Just follow the basics - and do them every single time.

Hand Hygiene: The First and Most Important Step

Your hands are the main bridge between germs and your eyes. Studies show only 53% to 77% of contact lens wearers wash their hands properly before touching their lenses. That means nearly half of users are risking infection every time they insert or remove their lenses.

It’s not enough to just rinse your hands. You need soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 to 30 seconds. That’s about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Focus on your fingertips, under your nails, and between your fingers - where bacteria hide. Dry with a lint-free towel. Paper towels are better than cloth ones, which can shed fibers and carry germs.

Don’t use hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes. They might feel clean, but alcohol can damage your lenses and sting your eyes. Even a tiny drop left on your fingers can cause irritation or blur your vision. And never touch your lenses after using hand cream, lotion, or sunscreen. Those products leave oily films that stick to lenses and attract bacteria.

Never Use Water - Not Even a Little

Tap water, bottled water, distilled water, rainwater - none of it is safe for contact lenses. Water carries microbes like Acanthamoeba, a tough parasite that can burrow into your cornea and cause a rare but devastating infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Once it takes hold, treatment is long, painful, and expensive - averaging $7,500 per case. In some cases, patients lose vision permanently.

Here’s what you must avoid:

• Showering or swimming while wearing contacts
• Rinsing lenses or cases with water
• Using water to clean your case
• Topping off old solution with new solution

If your lenses get wet - even from sweat or a splash - remove them immediately. Clean them thoroughly with fresh disinfecting solution, or throw them out if they’re daily disposables. The FDA says swimming with contacts increases your infection risk by 10 to 15 times. That’s not a small risk. That’s a red flag.

Choosing the Right Solution - And Using It Right

Not all contact lens solutions are the same. Your eye doctor recommends a specific brand because it’s designed to work with your lens material. Using the wrong solution can cause protein buildup, lens damage, or even chemical burns.

Saline solution and rewetting drops are not disinfectants. They’re for comfort only. If you use them to clean or store lenses, you’re putting your eyes at risk. Only use multipurpose disinfecting solutions or hydrogen peroxide systems - and always follow the instructions.

Hydrogen peroxide systems are powerful. They kill more germs than multipurpose solutions, but they’re not foolproof. You must let the lenses sit in the solution for 4 to 6 hours - no shortcuts. And never rinse your lenses with hydrogen peroxide right before putting them in. The solution needs to be neutralized first. Most systems come with a special case that does this automatically. Don’t skip that step.

Replace Your Case - Every 3 Months, Minimum

Your lens case is a germ factory. Even if you rinse it out daily, biofilm builds up over time. That slimy layer protects bacteria from disinfectants. Studies show that cases older than three months are far more likely to harbor harmful microbes.

Here’s how to keep your case clean:

• Empty it after every use
• Rinse it with fresh solution - never water
• Let it air dry upside down with the cap off
• Replace it every 3 months, even if it looks clean

Some people replace their case monthly. That’s even better. If you’ve had an eye infection before, replace your case right away - and get a new pair of lenses too. Don’t reuse the old ones. They’re contaminated.

Wear Time: When to Take Them Out

Most contact lenses are meant for daily wear. That means they go in when you wake up and come out before you sleep. Even if you feel fine, sleeping in lenses not designed for overnight use increases your risk of infection by 6 to 8 times.

Only 10% to 15% of contact lenses are FDA-approved for extended wear. If your lenses aren’t labeled for overnight use, don’t sleep in them. Period. No exceptions. Not even for a nap.

And don’t wear them longer than the replacement schedule says. Daily disposables? Throw them out after one day. Two-week lenses? Replace them every 14 days, no matter how good they feel. Overwearing causes oxygen deprivation, protein buildup, and inflammation. It’s a slow burn - you won’t feel pain until it’s too late.

Young adults (ages 18-24) are the most likely to overwear lenses. The FDA reports 85% of complications happen in this group. That’s not because they’re careless - it’s because they think they’re invincible. You’re not. Your cornea doesn’t have nerves to tell you when it’s being starved of oxygen. By the time you feel discomfort, damage may already be done.

Daily Disposables: The Easiest Way to Stay Safe

If you want to cut your risk of infection in half, switch to daily disposable lenses. They’re the most popular choice in the U.S. now - making up 65% of the market. Why? Because they eliminate storage, cleaning, and case hygiene entirely.

Each morning, you open a fresh pair. At night, you toss them. No solution. No case. No risk of contamination from old lenses or dirty hands. Studies show daily disposables reduce infection rates by 50% compared to reusable lenses.

They cost a bit more per lens, but you save money on solutions and cases. More importantly, you save your vision. If you’ve ever had an irritated eye, a red spot, or blurry vision after wearing lenses - daily disposables might be your best move.

What to Do If Something Feels Off

Your eyes shouldn’t hurt. If you feel:

• Redness that doesn’t go away
• Pain or burning
• Blurred vision that doesn’t clear after blinking
• Sensitivity to light
• A gritty or foreign body sensation

Take your lenses out. Don’t put them back in. Don’t wait to see if it gets better. Call your eye doctor. Don’t go to the ER unless you’re in severe pain or losing vision. Most eye clinics can see you the same day.

Don’t use over-the-counter eye drops to “fix” it. Many contain vasoconstrictors that mask redness but don’t treat infection. They can make things worse.

And never try to clean a contaminated lens with home remedies - vinegar, salt water, tea tree oil. None of it works. Only FDA-approved solutions do.

The Bottom Line: Safety Is Simple - But Not Optional

Contact lens safety isn’t complicated. It’s not about expensive gear or complicated routines. It’s about doing the basics - every time.

Wash your hands. Use the right solution. Replace your case. Never sleep in lenses unless they’re approved for it. Don’t expose them to water. Replace them on schedule.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. One slip-up can cost you your vision. But if you follow these steps, you’ll likely wear contacts for decades without a single problem.

Every day, millions of people wear contacts safely. They’re not smarter or more disciplined than you. They just follow the rules. You can too.