DALLAS – Nov. 03, 2022 – A recent viral video showing a California ophthalmologist removing 23 contact lenses from an elderly patient’s eye has drawn attention to the importance of properly using disposable lenses to ensure the health of your eyes.

Katrina Parker, O. D.

Katrina Parker, U. D. , an optometrist and Faculty Associate in the Department of Ophthalmology at UT  Southwestern Medical Center, said wearing contact lenses requires special daily treatment to keep them clean and avoid infection.

Contacts should be cleaned daily but never with tap water because of chemicals and bacteria that can irritate and infect the eyes. Only use cleaning/disinfecting solutions recommended by eye care professionals for the specific lens material and avoid expired products.

Dr. Parker said it’s important to follow manufacturers’ guidelines for appropriate disposal of contact lens. Studies show that patients have fewer complications when lenses are replaced more frequently, plus wearers are more compliant and experience fewer problems when using daily disposable lenses.

Although many people sleep in their contact lenses, Dr . Parker advises against it. Overnight contact lens wear can increase ocular wellness risks, she said.

Doctor Parker also offers these recommendations:

• Do not swim within contacts. Water can alter lenses’ shape, causing all of them to swell and adhere to the vision. This can scratch the eye surface, causing pain and infection.
• Usually do not share lenses. All contacts, even for cosmetic purposes, are usually considered medical devices and require an evaluation and prescription from an eye care professional.
• Before making use of prescribed or over-the-counter attention drops, consult a professional to determine if the lens need to be removed prior in order to insertion.
• The healthy contact lens-wearing encounter should not cause redness, pain, or even blurred vision. Contact a good eye care professional immediately if experiencing these symptoms.

About UT  Southwestern Medical Center

UT  Southwestern, one associated with the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical treatment and education. The institution’s faculty offers received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 24 members of the particular National Academy of Sciences, 18 users of the National Academy of Medicine, plus 14 Howard Hughes Healthcare Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty associated with more than 2, 900 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven study quickly to new clinical treatments. UT  Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties in order to more than 100, 000 hospitalized patients, a lot more than 360, 000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 4 million outpatient visits a year.