Oct 3

How to Avoid Ripping Your Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses provide more comfort and breathe better than the older hard contact lenses from back in the day. But this means that they cannot be as durable as the softer material can be ripped or torn just by handling them and usage. 

Here we look at ways to help keep your contact lenses intact in order to get the top amount of time out of each and every pair.

1. Watch those nails: If your nails are longer, be mindful of how you are removing your lenses from your eyes. Do your best to employ the pads of your fingers when you are using your thumb and forefinger to break the suction and slide your contact out. The same when you are removing them from your case. Do not use the very tips, so your nails will not get in the way.
2. Uncurling: Soft lenses are pliable and can fold onto themselves while you are handling them in your hands. If your lens becomes folded, do not try to pull it apart with your fingers, but instead massage it out with your lens in lots of solution to avoid tearing it.
3. No dryness: If your eyes are dry from the weather or allergies, make sure that you squirt in some rewetting solution before trying to remove them from your eyes. Dry lenses tend to be able to tear more easily as the material becomes more brittle. 
4. Full case: Do not skimp on the solution that is in your case when you store your contact lenses overnight. If you do not keep each side full, then your lenses can stick to the top of the lid and get dried out or become dry if they are not fully submerged in solution.
5. Important reminder: Never, ever wear a torn or damaged contact lens. Even if you think there is just a small nick in it, the damaged lens can cause scratches to your cornea and be super uncomfortable. It is not worth it to stretch out your pairs of lenses to hurt your eyes and cause damage and problems down the road.

Our Team Will Provide the Proper Fit

At Trumansburg Optical, we will review your contact lens needs and make sure that you have the best lenses for your eyes and prescription. If you find that tears are becoming a problem, we will work with you to figure out what is going on. Different brands are available for use as daily, bi-weekly or monthly contacts. You may be better off with daily contacts to ensure that you always have a fresh pair to wear every morning. We may also be able to give you tips if you are finding that tears are occurring more than they should be. If it is time to see us for an appointment, reach out today through our online form.