A daily care routine is an essential part of owning Acuvue Oasys contact lenses. There are a few basic care needs that one should be aware before using these contact lenses. If you are unable to follow a routine, unable to insert and remove the lenses, or have another person insert and remove the lenses, then it would be wise to rethink the need or desire for contact lenses. If you are great at a routine then there are a few basics you will need to follow.
Before you go home for the first time with contact lenses, make sure you insert and remove them while you are still at the Optometrist or eye care specialists office as this will help clear up any questions. Before handling the lenses make sure your hands are washed and dried thoroughly. A common mistake that can be made is putting the lens in your mouth to lubricate or moisten it, or using tap water to clean or moisten the lens. Unfortunately, this could lead to accidentally swallowing the lens or dropping it into the sink drain. Also, tap water contains impurities that can contaminate the lens or could lead to eye infections, possibly even injuring the eye.
The first time you purchase a pair of lenses, be sure to get a recommended cleaning and disinfection routine as well as instructions about care, handling, and cleaning. The eye care specialist will be able to teach you about proper care procedures and will suggest the best products to use for the type of lenses you have. When you remove your lenses, they must be cleaned and disinfected before you put them back in your eyes.
In order to continue safe and comfortable wear of the lenses, it is important that you first clean, rinse, and disinfect your lenses after each removal. Be sure to do this by using the lens care products and procedures that have been originally recommended by your eye care specialist. Ideally, it is best to form the habit of cleaning of the lenses as soon as they are removed from your eyes. Cleaning and rinsing are needed to remove mucus, secretions, films and protein deposits that may have built up on your lenses during wear.
Always follow the set routine and use the recommended products to avoid any serious eye problems. If you wish to change products for some reason, it is highly recommended to consult with your eye care specialist about the product before doing so. There may be many reasons why you should not or cannot safely use the new product. Also, keep track of expiry dates on lenses and all the lens care products. Do not mix lens care systems with other products because not all products will be compatible with others.
Basic Cleaning Rules
- Always clean the same lens first to avoid mix-ups when the time comes to insert them again. – Always follow the instructions provided on the cleaning solution label and from the eye care specialist. – After the cleaning is completed, rinse the lens with the recommended rinsing solution to remove the cleaning solution as well as any mucus and film from the lens surface. – Once the process is completed, put the lens into the correct chamber of your lens storage case.
Disinfecting
- After the cleaning is completed, disinfect the lenses using the system recommended by your eye care specialist, following the instructions given and /or written on the product label. – When using hydrogen peroxide lens care systems, the lenses must first be neutralized before wearing. – Be sure to thoroughly rinse the lenses with a fresh solution before inserting and wearing your lenses. Take caution with lenses that are chemically disinfected, as they could absorb ingredients found in the solution. These chemicals could irritate the eye, so to avoid this, thoroughly rinse the lenses in a fresh and sterile saline solution just before inserting the lens in the eye.
Proper care of your Acuvue Oasys contact lens is a necessary responsibility. Cleaning is an important part of lens care. Improper cleaning can eventually ruin the lenses. To maintain fresh lenses, they must be cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected daily.
