Safe care of contact lens

How can I reduce my risk for getting Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) if I wear contact lenses?

Contact lens use is very common among people who get AK. Although public health officials do not yet know what risk factors are involved in this apparent increase, all contact lens users should follow these recommendations to help reduce their risk for AK and other eye infections:

• Visit your eye care provider for regular eye examinations.
• Wear and replace contact lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye care provider.
• Remove contact lenses before any activity involving contact with water, including showering, using a hot tub, or swimming.
• Wash hands with soap and water and dry before handling contact lenses.
• Clean contact lenses according to the manufacturer's guidelines and instructions from your eye care provider.
  1. Use fresh cleaning or disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored. Never reuse or top off old solution.
  2. Never use saline solution or rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither solution is an effective or approved disinfectant.
• Store reusable lenses in the proper storage case.
  1. Storage cases should be rinsed with sterile contact lens solution (never use tap water) and left open to dry after each use.
  2. Replace storage cases at least once every three months.

Contact lens users with questions regarding which solutions are best for them should consult their eye care providers. They should also consult their eye care providers if they have any of the following symptoms: eye pain or redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, sensation of something in the eye, or excessive tearing.

Information from CDC web site