Teen Contact Lens Safety

I wrote this review while participating in an Influencer campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and received a promotional item from Mom Central to thank me for participating.

Halloween is almost here, and as everyone starts to plan their super-creepy costumes Johnson & Johnson wants to remind everyone, especially teens, of eye care and safety.

Remember: Always be sure to purchase prescription contacts.  They are made specifically to the dimensions of your eyes.  OTC "cosmetic" contacts can cause serious eye damage.

I started wearing contacts when I was in the 7th grade.  My eye doctor gave me the full lecture about what not to do with them, and I didn't really listen.  I slept in them, didn't let them soak for very long when I did take them out, and if one popped out onto the floor I would just rinse it off with water and put it back in.  I am so lucky I still have eyes!  That's not to say I didn't end up with some pretty nasty eye infections along the way.

Now my niece, who's 13, is trying out contacts for the first time.  She's pretty gung ho about being able to see without the inconvenience of wearing glasses all the time, and I heard her talking about trying out cool colors for Halloween.  As someone who learned their lesson, I want to make sure she doesn't make the same mistakes that I made.

The Do's and Don'ts of Eye Care Safety

Follow these tips to make sure that you are wearing and caring for your contact lenses safely and effectively.

Do:

• Wash and rinse your hands thoroughly with a mild soap and dry with a lint-free towel before handling your lenses.
• Put in your contacts before you put on your makeup or any costume paint. 
• Remove lenses immediately if you experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, and redness of the eye or other problems and promptly contact your eye care professional
• Always remove, clean and disinfect your lenses according to the schedule recommended by your eye doctor.

Don't:

• Wear another person’s lenses
• Wear lenses longer than the time frame recommended by your eye doctor
• Rinse your lenses in water from the tap or expose them to any water—such as swimming or showering—while wearing them
• Use anything aside from recommended solution by your eye doctor, such as saliva, to lubricate your lenses

The Importance of Year-Round Eye Care Hygiene: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.,
manufacturer of ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses reminds us – especially teens – how
important it is to practice safe contact lens wear and care – from obtaining contact lenses via
a prescription from a licensed eye care professional, to practicing good hygiene habits when
inserting/removing contact lenses as well as the importance of following wearing and
replacement schedules, proper lens care, and disinfecting routines as directed by your eye
care professional.

Visit Healthy Vision & Contact Lenses, a resource with more information about keeping your eyes healthy and safe.