Summary: Eye infections can be painful, uncomfortable, and may damage the eye. Here’s what you need to know about eye infections so you can avoid them.

Whether you’re fairly new to wearing contact lenses, or have been wearing them for a long time, there are certain rules that you should be familiar with in terms of caring for and wearing these lenses. This article will discuss all the ways you can avoid an eye infection that can be severely detrimental to the health of your eye.

Practice Good Hygiene

While this seems fairly straightforward, keeping your contact lenses stored in a recommended solution should always done on a daily basis. You should never substitute your contact lens solution with tap water. Because tap water is normally unfiltered, bacteria and germs can roam around and stick to your contacts. Lens.com recommends that you purchase a solution based on your optometrist’s recommendations.

Avoid Touching Your Eyes

Some contacts are so comfortable that you’ll forget that they’re even in your eyes. While this sounds like a good thing, it can lead to involuntary actions like rubbing when they’re itchy. This can not only cause an immense amount of friction on the lens, but you can also damage your eye if you’re not careful. Not to mention, your contact lenses are delicate so enough pressure on them can rip them right in half.

Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Medical Attention if You Suspect an Infection

If you believe that your eye is infected, it is wise to seek medical attention from a hospital or doctor. Untreated bacterial infections can lead to permanent vision loss, discomfort, and pain. These infections are regularly caused by bad hygiene practices and other actions. Doctors will normally prescribe medicated eye drops or recommend a different type of solution in the future, so it may be beneficial to consult with a medical professional if you believe that you’re suffering from an infection of any kind.