Contact Lenses Care at AMS Ophthalmic Opticians

Lens Care Guide

This guide has been designed to provide information on the basic principles of lens care and improve lens care knowledge and also for understanding within the our practice to help you to recognise the best lens care products to match all lens types for ultimate comfort, vision and your eye health.

Understanding of the information contained in this guide should prove useful to those who interact with contact lens patients on a regular basis and will help to improve the service cycle that can be offered to the patient.

Why is contact lens care important?

Like all synthetic materials, contact lenses are subject to deposits. Soft contact lenses, due to their spongy structure, can also absorb components from the tear film.

If not removed, these deposits and absorbed materials can build up on the lens surface which over time may result in the reduction of comfort and vision as well as an increased risk of contamination.

This is why lenses need to be cared for on a regular basis using various types of solutions, which are not only compatible with the lens materials but also with the eye itself.

Why can't water be used for rinsing contact lenses?

Tap water contains chlorine, minerals and metal particles, which can damage both the lenses and the eye.

Among other things, water contains organisms, which can lead to serious infections of the eye through microbial contamination.

Home made saline, purified or distilled water does not disinfect contact lenses and should not be used for rinsing the lenses.

The 5 steps of lens care: 

• Cleaning: Removal of deposits. There is a difference between manual surface cleaning and protein removal.
• Disinfection: A very important step - kills bacteria responsible for eye infections.
• Storage: Contact lenses must be stored in liquid, under conditions that are virtually sterile.
• Rinsing: After removing, after cleaning, and before inserting the lenses, using the proper solution, usually a sterile saline solution. Never water!!
• Re-wetting: To be used as needed. Not an actual lens care step. To alleviate symptoms of dryness and for extra in-eye comfort.

Important Notes for contact lenses:

• The lens case itself must also be cleaned and replaced regularly. After inserting lenses, rinse out lens case with saline solution, leave open to dry. 
• The effects of deposits on contact. 
• New contact lens. 
• Bio film.
• Protein and other surface deposits. 
• Changes in the fit, oxygen permeability, surfaces and edge.
• Quality of the contact lens.
• Lens fitting is too tight.
• Interferes with transport function of tear film. 
• Formation of a medium for harmful.
• micro-organisms. 
• Feeling of dryness, burning, itching, feeling of foreign body, decreased comfort and visual acuity.
• Decreased wearing time. 
• Drop out of contact lenses

Useful information for handling contact lenses and lens care products: 

• Hands should be washed, rinsed and dried thoroughly before handling the lenses
• Bottles should be closed after use
• Tip of bottle should not be touched or placed on the lens
• Manufacturer's instructions should be followed carefully when using solutions
• Components of different lens care systems should not be mixed
• The manufacturers recommended lens case for the solutions should be used at all times
• Lens case solution should never be re-used
• Lens cases should be replaced on a regular basis
• Lens care products should not be exposed to direct sunlight
• Medicated eye drops often have preservatives, which can penetrate the lens structure. Lenses should always be removed before inserting drops, unless they are designed for contact lenses. Certain medications transform the tear film both qualitatively and quantitatively. This can lead to temporary or even permanent incompatibility of the lenses. 
• Antihistamines (for hay fever), high blood pressure medications, laxatives, hormone preparations (pills), sedatives, sleeping pills, acne and rheumatism preparations, and pregnancy can alter the tear film structure. 
• Nicotine can tint the lenses; alcohol leads to dry eye.

For more information about our wide range of contacts please ask an Optical Advisor at your local AMS Ophthalmic Practice.

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