Contact lenses are thin lenses placed over the eye and are used by millions of people across the world. There are several reasons people choose to wear contact lenses. Many people requiring vision correction prefer them over glasses for cosmetic reasons. Others prefer them for functional reasons, mainly that contact lenses allow for improved peripheral vision. And yet others have specific eye conditions such as keratoconus that are actually treated better with contact lenses compared to glasses.

Regardless of the reason for wearing contacts, it is very important to maintain contact lens hygiene. If not used correctly, contact lenses can damage the eye. Poor lens care can result in infection of the eye, called a corneal ulcer, or something called a corneal abrasion, essentially a painful scratching of the thin outer layer of the eye. It is important to remember that despite being very common, contact lenses and their solutions are medical devices and as such as regulated by the FDA. Regular appointments with an eye doctor can help reduce the complications and ensure proper contact lens hygiene. There are a number of good resources that patients can use if they want to read about proper hygiene.

The following articles detail how to make sure a patient uses contact lenses correctly:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care

https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/contact-lenses/what-you-need-to-know-about-contact-lens-hygiene-and-compliance