Spring holidays are not holidays with contact lens care

SATURDAY, March 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) – Spring break means sun and fun for many college kids, but that does not mean they can forget about contact lens care, experts say.

Your risk of eye infections increases if you wear contacts and sleep in, take a shower or swim with them, and do not wash your hands before handling them – which is more likely to happen when you are busy enjoying your spring break.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Optometry and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer travelers the following tips on contact lens safety:

• Take a pair of spare glbades. Take out your contact lenses before jumping into the water at the beach or at the pool. Take your contact lenses out before going to bed, even if you get up late.
• Bring enough contact lens supplies during your trip. Do not complete by adding a new solution to the old one.
• Never wear contact lenses that have not been prescribed, especially decorative lenses sold in souvenir shops.
• Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contact lenses.
• Remove contact lenses and call an ophthalmologist immediately if you experience redness, pain, tearing, loss or swelling of the eyes, as well as increased sensitivity to light or blurred vision.

"Most people do not think that contact lenses are a medical device, but bad habits can prepare you for serious eye infections that can damage eyesight or even cause blindness," said Dr. Tim Steinemann, spokesperson. of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said in a press release from the academy.

About 40 million Americans use contact lenses. Approximately one out of every 500 contact lens wearers develops serious eye infections each year that can lead to blindness because they do not wear, clean, disinfect, or store their contact lenses as indicated, according to the CDC.

In addition, thousands of others develop less severe infections or inflammation that can be painful and affect their daily routine, or even ruin their holidays.

More information

The US Food and Drug Administration has more about contact lens care.