Eye Society

How to clean your contact lenses

Nov 4, 2024

You wash your hands, take frequent showers, and brush your teeth. Or, at least, we hope you do those things.

So, isn't it strange not to give your eyes the same level of cleanliness and attention? When you wear contacts, you're literally sticking a foreign object into your eyes.

Contact lens cleaning is critical to maintaining eye health and lens performance. Some risks associated with dirty contact lenses are eye infections, discomfort, and even blindness. 

“How To Clean Your Contact Lenses” is the third video in a three part series aimed to help you learn the ins and outs of contact lens wear. Don’t forget to also check out “How To Put In Your Contact Lenses” and “How to Take Out Your Contact Lenses.”

Essential steps to clean contact lenses 

The good news is cleaning your contacts isn't like the 20-step skincare routines you see from celebrities. Cleaning your contact lenses is relatively straightforward if you know what you're doing. 

Daily cleaning routine 

After living through a pandemic, it should be no surprise that the first step is to wash and dry your hands thoroughly.

Take your contact lens case and fill it with a fresh cleaning solution.

Now, place your contact lens in your hand. Cup your hand and pour the solution over the lens. Rub the lens gently in circles with one finger for about 15 seconds in the solution.

Those circles may loosen some debris from your lens. Put more contact solution over it for a final rinse.

Put the clean lens in your contact lens case.

Repeat the process for the second lens.

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Can dirty contacts cause floaters?

We promise that taking the time to clean your dirty contacts is definitely worth it. Here's why:

Impact of dirty lenses on eye health

Accumulated deposits on dirty contact lenses can lead to several eye issues, including:

Floaters: Dirt on your contacts can lead to eye inflammation, which can cause floaters.

Infection: Your eye isn't going to cope well with dirt. Shocking, right? If your contacts are dirty, it can potentially cause an eye infection.

Discomfort: Dirty contacts might have debris on them, making them uncomfortable to wear.

Blindness: It might be rare, but dirty contacts can even lead to blindness in some cases.

Recognizing signs of dirty contacts 

At this point, you might be worried because you wear contacts almost daily and have no idea if they're clean or dirty. Luckily, you've come to the right place for answers. 

Visual indicators of lens contamination 

Some of the signs that your lenses are dirty are:

You experience blurry vision when wearing your contact lenses (even though your prescription is up-to-date).

Your contacts feel uncomfortable.

There’s visible debris or marks on your lenses.

What to do if your contacts are dirty 

If your contacts are dirty, don't default to throwing them out. After all, contacts are an investment. Instead, do the following:

Properly clean your contacts as outlined in the cleaning steps above. Ideally, you want your contact lenses to sit in the solution for 6-8 hours.

If you clean your lenses and still find them dirty the next day, it's time to part ways with this pair.

Regularly clean your contacts.

Long-term care for contact lenses 

Here are some basic tips to get you started for healthier contact lens hygiene:

Practice proper storage to avoid contamination and damage.

Always store your contacts in a lens case.

Only use a proper cleaning solution.

Clean your lens case daily and replace it if it's cracked or damaged.

We've all heard that food expiration dates are more of a suggestion. Well, that's certainly not true for contacts. Consider it a hard line. Your monthly contact lenses are only good for one month — don't push it. 

Your new daily habit

Hopefully, by now, you should see your contacts need to be part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth or having your morning cup of coffee.

Maintaining clean contact lenses helps them last longer and perform better — it also spares you from eye issues. 

If you're sticking to the recommended cleaning routines but still having issues with your contacts, speak to an eye care professional. You may need to renew your prescription or try a different contact lens.

Ready to replace those dirty, worn-down contacts? 1-800 Contacts makes it easy to refill your favorite brand of lenses (and view your vision insurance benefits) online. 

FAQs

If you still have unanswered questions, review the frequently asked questions below.

How often should I clean my contact lenses? 

You should clean your contact lenses every day. 

What are the risks of wearing dirty contact lenses? 

Dirty contact lenses can have many risks, including poor lens performance and eye hygiene issues, such as infections. 

Original published: 6/19/2020
Updated: 11/4/2024