Be Careful, This Is What Happens When Using an Expired Contact Lens

Contents:

Medical Video: Contact Lens Basics : How to Remove a Contact Lens Lost in the Eye

Are you among those who like to use contact lenses? Contact lenses can support your appearance and can help your vision (for those who have eye problems). However, have you used contact lenses correctly? Be careful, pay attention to the expiration date of contact lenses before you wear them. Using expired contact lenses may harm your eyes.

Expiration date on contact lenses

Contact lenses must be used with care, this is not an ordinary cosmetic device. Why? Because contact lenses come in direct contact with your eyes. The use and storage must be considered properly.

Contact lenses must be placed in an airtight container and in a sterile salt solution. The airtight container keeps contact lenses from being contaminated with air containing dust, germs or other small particles. Meanwhile, sterile salt solutions can keep contact lenses hydrated so they don't dry out. Contact lenses that are somewhat dry may make your eyes hurt or irritated when using them.

To maintain the safety of the use of contact lenses usually also listed the expiration date in each packaging of contact lenses. The expiration date is the safe limit until when these contact lenses can be used without endangering your eyes. If the contact lens you have is past the expiration date, it should be discarded and not used again.

Why is there an expiration date? Even though contact lenses are stored in good condition, long storage may make sterile salt solutions contaminated and damage contact lenses. To prevent this from happening, each contact lens must have an expiration date.

Usually the expiration of contact lenses since being produced and packaged is for 1 year and can reach a maximum of 4 years. The expiration date on contact lenses is usually listed in the format of the month and year.

What happens if using a contact lens expires?

Expired contact lenses allow bacterial and fungal contamination in sterile salt solutions. This makes contact lenses that you will use in your eyes coated with various dust or other small particles. As a result, contact lenses become uncomfortable and can cause severe infections in the eyes.

Research published by The South African Optometrist in 2008 found that contact lenses were out of date experiencing contamination. This research is reinforced by research from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association. This study states that expired contact lenses can become more acidic or more alkaline. This occurs because of the change in pH in the sterile salt solution. As a result, contact lenses are uncomfortable when worn, can cause eye irritation, even cause eye damage.

Tips for staying safe using contact lenses

  • Read the rules of use and important information on contact lens packaging
  • Don't share contact lenses with other people
  • Use eye drops recommended by your ophthalmologist
  • If your eyes are red, you should not use contact lenses at that time. Instead, you can use glasses.
  • Never rub your eyes when you use contact lenses
  • Remove contact lenses from your eyes before swimming or before taking a hot shower.
  • Do not use contact lenses in the wrong eye because the power of the lens between contact lenses may be different for each eye.
  • Use contact lenses before using makeup. And, remove contact lenses slowly before you remove makeup.
  • Wash your hands with soap and dry them before you use or remove contact lenses from your eyes.
  • If the contact lens is damaged or torn, it's best to discard and not use it.
  • Never dry your contact lenses. If your contact lens dries, you should discard it and do not use it.
  • Don't use expired contact lenses.
Be Careful, This Is What Happens When Using an Expired Contact Lens
Rated 5/5 based on 1361 reviews
💖 show ads