Contact Lens User

Acanthamoeba Keratitis is increasing amongst contact lens users.

Contact lenses are medical devices so extra care is necessary to ensure you can enjoy your contact lenses and have happy, healthy eyes. 

AK is caused by a free-living amoeba (parasite) that is typically found in soil, bodies of water and tap water; so, showering, bathing, swimming in pools, lakes, ponds, oceans, bathtubs, and even rinsing contact lenses or cases with tap water can put you at risk

Educate yourself – it is your right – on what you can and cannot do with your contact lenses from your trusted eye doctor. 

Always have your routine eye exams and use official products.

 

Symptoms vary, so as we always recommend, if you are a contact lens user and have been in contact with water and your eye is feeling “different”, then:

  • take your contact lenses out!
  • get your eye checked by an eye professional as soon as possible!
  • don’t forget to tell them that you are a contact lens user and have been in contact with water.

If available, advocate for an early confocal scan! Time is of essence.

Symptoms:

  • A Foreign body sensation – feeling like something is in the eye
  • Mild to extreme light sensitivity also called photophobia
  • Inability to wear contact lens
  • Irritation or grittiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Partial or total vision loss
  • Red eye
  • Watery eyes
  • Aching to excruciating eye pain
  • Headache

Contact Lens User’s Do not

  • Do not let water come in contact with your contact lenses or the case.
  • Do not shower while wearing your contact lenses.
  • Do not swim or do any other water sport activity with your contact lenses, if you have to please wear tight fitting goggles, which will reduce, but not eliminate, the infection risk. You can always order prescribed goggles.
  • Do not sleep with your contact lenses in, unless you have been specifically told it is allowed.
  • Do not touch your contact lenses or case with wet hands (water).
  • Do not over wear your contact lenses – only wear them as your Contact Lens Practitioner has recommended.
  • Do not use saliva, tap water or any other solution to clean your contact lenses.
  • Do not let the tip of any bottle touch any surface, including your skin, lashes or fingers; this can cause contamination of the solution.
  • Do not let anyone touch your contact lenses nor wear them.

 

Contact Lens User Do

  • Wash, rinse and completely dry your hands before you handle your contact lenses.
  • Clean, rinse and disinfect your contact lenses with the specific recommended solutions each time you take them out.
  • After removing your lenses from their case always empty and rinse it with a specific recommended solution (not water) and allow it to completely air dry.
  • Use new fresh specific recommended solution to store your lenses in, do not ‘top-up’ existing solution that may be in the case.
  • Always use the specific solutions and eye drops to care for your eye care and contact lenses recommended by your Contact Lens Practitioner
  • Change your contact lens cases every 3 months.
  • Always take your recommended solutions and a contact lenses case when you travel.
  • Keep track when you need to replace your contact lenses. (Put a reminder in your diary)
  • Take your contact lenses out and contact your Contact Lens Practitioner if your eye become red, irritated, have pain or your vision changes. Better be safe than sorry.
  • If you want to wear makeup – put contact lenses in before applying makeup and take them out before removing makeup.