These Bad Contact Lens Habits Will Make You Cringe

These Bad Contact Lens Habits Will Make You Cringe

Published by Lance Kugler, MD on May 3, 2016

Why Risky Wear and Care Leads to Eye Infections

Nearly 41 million Americans currently wear contact lenses in the United States. It’s estimated that the majority of these 41 million people engage in at least one behavior that increases their risk of eye infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

From this national survey, it’s concluded that millions of Americans could be at risk for serious eye infections because of their poor contact lens hygiene. In fact, there are about 1 million health care visits for contact-related complications each year in the United States. Research has found that teenagers and young adults tend to be less careful with contact lenses and are at higher risk of eye inflammation and infection. It’s important for all contact wearers to not cut corners when it comes to the wear and care of contacts.

Kugler Vision in Omaha, NE finds the CDC’s results shocking. Nearly one third of contact lens wearers who participated in the national survey reported going to the doctor for a red or painful eye that was related to wearing contact lenses. Below are highlighted percentages of the survey results:

• More than 99% of the survey respondents reported at least one risky behavior
• 82.3% reported keeping contact lens cases for longer than recommended
• 55.1% said that they top off solution in the case. In other words, adding new solution to the existing solution instead of emptying the case out and cleaning before adding new solution
• 50.2% reported that they wore their contact lenses while sleeping

We can see the need for doctor visits because each of these individual behaviors raise eye infection risk by five times or more!

Learn Proper Wear and Care

We’d like to educate contact wearers on the proper wear and care in order to maintain healthy eyes. Good vision contributes to good overall health for everyone. We want to provide you proper care information, so you won’t have to deal with the infections and medical emergencies contact lenses can cause if not taken care of properly.

Prevent Eye Infections

There are many ways to prevent eye infections. Contact lens wearers should always:

• wash hands with soap and water and dry them before touching contact lenses
• take contacts out before sleeping, swimming, or showering
• rub and rinse contacts in disinfecting solution every time you remove them
• replace contact lens cases once every three months
• refrain from adding fresh solution to old solution
• carry a backup pair of glasses

What is Your Plan?

Millions of people wear contacts and perceive the risks as minor, but they are not! On the minor end dry eyes occur, on the severe end corneal ulcers occur. Corneal ulcers, when severe, can require a corneal transplant to treat! For more information on preventing eye infections and proper contact lens wear, contact us. If you currently have or dealing with a red or irritated eye, see our eye care professionals.

Are you Tired of Contacts?

If you’re tired of dealing with the hassles of contact lens wear,the risk of infection long term contact lens use brings, and throwing money away on contact lenses, call 402.558.2211 to schedule a consultation. We have vision correction solutions, like LASIK, that can get you out of your glasses and contacts so you can start living a life free from visual barriers.

Lance Kugler, MD

Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.