Contact Lens Care: Safety Tips and Best Practices
Why Contact Lens Hygiene Matters
About 1 million U.S. healthcare visits occur each year for keratitis (corneal infection) or contact lens complications, at an estimated cost of $175 million per year (CDC, 2016). Most of these infections are preventable with proper lens care. Your eyes are at risk every time you skip a hygiene step.
Microbial keratitis (a corneal infection caused by bacteria, fungi, or parasites) can scar your cornea and reduce your vision permanently. Severe cases may require a corneal transplant. Taking a few minutes each day to handle your lenses correctly protects you from these outcomes.
A 2014 CDC survey found that 50% of contact lens wearers reported having slept in their lenses at least once. A 2024 study confirmed that despite widespread clinician counseling, patient adherence to care guidelines remains poor (PMC, 2024). If you cut corners with your lenses, you are not alone, but you are taking a real risk each time.
The most common shortcuts, sleeping in lenses, topping off old solution, and exposing lenses to water, are also the most dangerous. Each of these habits creates conditions for bacteria and parasites to multiply on your lens and infect your cornea.
Remove your lenses immediately and seek same-day care if you notice eye redness, pain, discharge, blurred vision, or light sensitivity. These are warning signs of contact-lens-related infection, according to the AAO. Waiting even a day can allow the infection to worsen and cause lasting damage.
Do not re-insert your lenses until your eye doctor clears you to do so. Bring the lenses and case to your appointment so your doctor can test them for the organism causing the infection.
Daily Lens Care Routine
The AAO recommends rubbing your lenses with contact lens solution even when using a ''no-rub'' multipurpose solution. Place the lens in your palm, add a few drops of solution, and rub gently with your fingertip for about 10 seconds per side. This mechanical action removes protein deposits and microorganisms that soaking alone does not eliminate.
After rubbing, rinse the lens with fresh solution before placing it in the case. Never skip the rub-and-rinse step. It is the most effective cleaning action you can take between wearing periods.
Never top off old solution in your lens case. Dump out all the old solution, rinse the case with fresh contact lens solution (not water), and fill it with fresh solution before placing your lenses inside. Topping off dilutes the disinfecting power and allows bacteria to build up in the case.
Replace your lens case at least every one to three months. Old cases harbor biofilm, a layer of bacteria that clings to surfaces and resists disinfection. Your solution manufacturer often includes a new case in each box.
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your lenses. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel. Wet hands can transfer tap water organisms to your lenses. Start with the same eye each time so you do not mix up the left and right lenses.
Put your lenses in before applying makeup and remove them before washing makeup off. Cosmetic particles can stick to lens surfaces and irritate your eyes. Replace lenses that develop visible deposits or feel uncomfortable despite cleaning.
Habits That Cause Serious Problems
Sleeping in contact lenses, even occasionally, increases your risk of corneal infection by six- to eightfold compared to removing them daily (CDC, 2018). Overnight wear reduces oxygen flow to your cornea, creates a warm, moist environment that bacteria thrive in, and traps organisms between the lens and your eye.
If your eye doctor has not prescribed extended-wear lenses specifically for overnight use, remove your lenses before bed every night. If you fall asleep in your lenses by accident, remove them as soon as you wake up and give your eyes several hours without lenses before reinserting.
The FDA warns that contact lenses must never touch any water: tap water, pool water, lake water, shower water, or hot tub water. Water contains Acanthamoeba, a parasite that causes Acanthamoeba keratitis, a painful and difficult-to-treat corneal infection that can result in vision loss.
Remove your lenses before swimming, showering, or using a hot tub. If you swim with contacts, wear watertight swim goggles over your lenses and discard the lenses immediately after swimming. Daily disposable lenses are the safest option for swimmers because you throw them away after each use.
Use only the contact lens solution your eye doctor recommends. Never substitute tap water, saliva, or other liquids for contact lens solution. These alternatives do not disinfect your lenses and introduce dangerous organisms directly onto the lens surface.
Do not switch solution brands without asking your eye doctor. Some solutions are not compatible with all lens types. Using an incompatible solution can cause chemical irritation or reduce the effectiveness of disinfection.
Choosing Safer Lens Types
Daily disposable lenses have the lowest infection rate among contact lens types. Wearers experience an infection rate of about 0.52 per 10,000 users compared to 2.52 per 10,000 users for extended-wear overnight lenses (PubMed, 2024). A fresh lens each day eliminates deposit buildup and the need for a storage case.
Daily disposables simplify your routine. You insert a sterile lens in the morning and throw it away at night. No cleaning, no storage case, no solution. If budget allows, they are the safest lens type for most wearers.
Extended-wear lenses are approved for overnight use for up to six or seven consecutive nights, but they carry higher infection risk. Your eye doctor may prescribe them if you have a specific reason for overnight wear, but they are not recommended for routine use if daily-removal options work for you.
If you wear extended-wear lenses, follow your eye doctor's schedule for removal and cleaning nights. Do not exceed the approved wearing period. Extended-wear does not mean unlimited wear.
Cosmetic contact lenses purchased without a prescription pose a serious risk. The AAO issued a clinical statement in 2025 reaffirming that non-prescription decorative lenses are a potential threat to vision health. Lenses sold without a fitting by an eye care provider may not match your eye's shape, causing corneal damage and infection.
All contact lenses, including decorative ones, require a prescription and a fitting exam. If you want colored or costume lenses, get them from a licensed eye care provider who fits them to your eyes.
When to See Your Eye Doctor
Your eye doctor evaluates your lenses, your corneal health, and your care habits at each annual exam. These visits catch early signs of problems that you may not notice on your own, such as corneal thinning, blood vessel growth toward your cornea, or microscopic deposits on your lenses.
Tell your eye doctor about your actual habits, including whether you sleep in your lenses or swim with them. Honest information helps your doctor recommend the safest lens type and wearing schedule for your lifestyle.
Seek same-day care if you experience any of these symptoms while wearing contacts:
- Eye redness that does not resolve after removing lenses
- Pain or a foreign body sensation that persists
- Discharge or unusual tearing
- Blurred vision that does not clear when you switch to glasses
- Increased light sensitivity
Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own. Early treatment of a lens-related infection prevents corneal scarring and protects your vision.
Follow your prescribed replacement schedule exactly. Do not stretch two-week lenses to three or four weeks. Older lenses accumulate deposits and lose their ability to maintain proper hydration and oxygen flow, increasing your infection risk with each extra day of wear.
If a lens tears, develops a chip, or feels uncomfortable despite cleaning, replace it immediately. Damaged lenses can scratch your cornea and create an entry point for infection.
Contact Lens Safety Questions
Even a short nap in contacts reduces oxygen to your cornea and increases infection risk. Remove your lenses before any planned nap. If you fall asleep unexpectedly, take out your lenses as soon as you wake up and let your eyes rest for several hours before reinserting.
No. Tap water contains organisms including Acanthamoeba that can cause vision-threatening infections. If you do not have solution available, throw away the lenses rather than rinsing them with water. For daily disposable wearers, carry an extra pair for situations like this.
Visible residue, cloudiness, or a slimy feel inside the case indicates biofilm contamination. Replace the case immediately. Even if the case looks clean, replace it every one to three months as a preventive measure.
Remove contacts before entering any water. If you must wear them while swimming, use watertight goggles to prevent water contact and discard the lenses immediately afterward. Daily disposable lenses are the safest option for occasional swimmers.
Colored contacts are safe when prescribed and fitted by a licensed eye care provider. Non-prescription decorative lenses sold at costume shops or online without a fitting can damage your cornea and cause infection. A prescription and proper fitting are required for any contact lens.
Remove your lenses immediately. If redness, pain, or blurred vision persists after removal, contact your eye doctor for same-day evaluation. Do not reinsert your lenses until your doctor confirms it is safe to do so.
Keep Your Eyes Safe With Proper Lens Care
Follow your eye doctor's care instructions and replacement schedule for your specific lens type. Schedule your annual contact lens exam and report any discomfort or vision changes between visits.