Contact Lens Safety: Hygiene, Solutions, and Wear Time

Every year, about 1 in 1,000 contact lens wearers in the U.S. ends up with an eye infection serious enough to require medical care. Many of these cases aren’t accidents-they’re preventable. The problem isn’t the lenses themselves. It’s how they’re handled. Poor hygiene, wrong solutions, and ignoring wear time rules turn a simple vision correction tool into a risk to your sight. You don’t need to be an expert to keep your eyes safe. You just need to know the basics-and stick to them.

Hand Hygiene: The First Line of Defense

Your hands touch everything: doorknobs, phones, money, your face. Then you reach for your contact lenses. That’s how bacteria, fungi, and even parasites get to your eyes. The CDC and the National Institutes of Health agree: washing your hands before handling lenses is the single most important step in preventing infection.

Don’t just rinse. Don’t use hand sanitizer. Use plain soap and water. Scrub for 20 to 30 seconds-long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Pay attention to your fingertips, under your nails, and between your fingers. Dry with a clean, lint-free towel. Paper towels work better than cloth ones because they don’t shed fibers that can stick to your lenses.

Why not hand sanitizer? Alcohol and fragrances in sanitizers can damage soft lenses and irritate your eyes. Even a tiny residue left on your fingers can cause burning or redness. A 2018 NIH study found that only 53% to 77% of users wash their hands properly. That means nearly half of all lens wearers are skipping this critical step.

Choosing the Right Solution

Not all contact lens solutions are the same. What works for one brand or type of lens might ruin another. Your eye care professional recommends a solution for a reason. Don’t switch brands just because it’s on sale or your friend swears by it.

Saline solution and rewetting drops? They’re for comfort only. They do NOT clean or disinfect. Using them to store your lenses is like putting a dirty dish in the dishwasher without detergent-nothing gets sanitized.

Hydrogen peroxide systems are popular because they kill more microbes than multipurpose solutions. But they’re tricky. If you don’t let the solution neutralize completely (usually 4 to 6 hours), you risk a chemical burn to your cornea. Always follow the timer on the case. Never rinse lenses with hydrogen peroxide before putting them in. Let the case do its job.

And never, ever use tap water. Not to rinse your lenses. Not to clean your case. Not even to rinse your eyes after swimming. Tap water contains Acanthamoeba-a microscopic organism that burrows into the cornea and causes a rare but devastating infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Treatment can cost up to $7,500 per case. Some people lose vision permanently.

Case Care: The Hidden Danger

Your lens case is a breeding ground. Even if you clean your lenses perfectly, a dirty case can recontaminate them. The American Optometric Association says replace your case every three months. But here’s the truth: if you’re not cleaning it right, even a new case won’t help.

After each use, empty the case. Rinse it with fresh disinfecting solution-not water. Don’t just wipe it out. Swirl the solution around for 5 seconds. Then leave it open, upside down, on a clean tissue. Air drying prevents moisture buildup, which bacteria love. Don’t cap it tightly after rinsing. That traps moisture and turns your case into a microbe hotel.

Some people think they can get away with cleaning the case once a week. That’s not enough. Daily rinsing and weekly replacement of solution aren’t optional-they’re medical necessities. One Reddit user shared: "Since I started replacing my case every month and never topping off solution, I’ve had zero infections in two years." That’s not luck. That’s discipline.

Wear Time: When to Take Them Out

Your lenses have a schedule. Daily, biweekly, monthly. Stick to it. Don’t stretch them. Don’t "just wear them one more day." Even if they feel fine, the material breaks down. Protein and lipid buildup builds up. Your eyes get oxygen-starved. That’s when ulcers and infections start.

Sleeping in lenses? Only if your eye doctor specifically prescribed extended-wear lenses. Even then, it’s risky. About 40% to 50% of users admit to sleeping in lenses not meant for overnight use. That’s a major red flag. Your cornea needs oxygen. When you close your eyes, airflow drops. Lenses block what little oxygen gets through. Combine that with bacteria from your pillow or eyelashes, and you’ve created the perfect storm.

Water exposure? Remove lenses before showering, swimming, or even splashing your face. The FDA says swimming with contacts increases infection risk by 10 to 15 times. If you accidentally get water on your lenses, take them out immediately. Clean and disinfect them. If they’re daily disposables, toss them. No exceptions.

What About Daily Disposables?

Daily disposables are the safest option. No case. No solution. No cleaning. You put them in the morning, throw them out at night. No chance of contamination from storage. They’ve gone from 45% of the U.S. market in 2018 to 65% today-and for good reason.

They’re not cheaper upfront. But they save you money long-term. No solution bottles. No cases. Fewer doctor visits for infections. One study found users of daily disposables had 70% fewer eye infections than those using monthly lenses.

If you’ve been using monthly lenses and want to switch, talk to your eye care provider. They can help you transition without wasting lenses. Many insurance plans now cover daily disposables because they reduce overall healthcare costs.

Who’s at Highest Risk?

The FDA reports that 85% of contact lens complications happen in people aged 18 to 24. Why? Young adults are more likely to skip hygiene steps, sleep in lenses, and ignore warnings. They think it won’t happen to them. Or they’re in a hurry. Or they don’t have a parent or guardian reminding them.

But age isn’t the only factor. People with dry eyes, allergies, or those who work in dusty or smoky environments are more vulnerable. If your eyes feel gritty, red, or sore after wearing lenses-even for a few hours-don’t push through it. See your eye doctor. Early signs of infection include: pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and excessive tearing.

What to Do If Something Feels Off

If your eye feels painful, unusually red, or you suddenly see spots or halos around lights, take your lenses out. Don’t put them back in. Don’t wait to see if it gets better. Call your eye care provider immediately. Don’t go to the ER unless it’s an emergency. Most eye infections can be treated quickly if caught early.

Don’t use over-the-counter eye drops for redness unless your doctor says so. Some drops contain vasoconstrictors that mask symptoms but make the real problem worse.

Keep a log: when you wore lenses, when you cleaned them, when you replaced your case. If you get an infection, this record helps your doctor figure out what went wrong.

Final Reality Check

Contact lenses are amazing. They give freedom from glasses. They help with sports, appearance, confidence. But they’re medical devices. Not fashion accessories. Not toys. Not something you can treat casually.

The science is clear. Follow the rules, and your risk of infection is extremely low. Ignore them, and you’re gambling with your vision. One mistake-one night of sleeping in lenses, one rinse with tap water, one old case-can change your life forever.

You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be consistent. Wash your hands. Use the right solution. Replace your case. Take them out on time. That’s it. Do those five things, and you’re doing better than most.