Contact Lens Care & Safety

Contact lenses offer clear vision and freedom from glasses, but because they sit directly on your eyes, proper care is essential.

At Socialite Vision in Palm Beach Gardens, Dr. Adam Ramsey and our team help contact lens wearers understand how to safely wear, clean and care for their lenses to protect their eye health and maintain comfortable vision.

Contact Lens Care: The Basics

Follow the wearing and replacement schedule recommended by your eye doctor and the instructions provided for your specific contact lenses.

A few important contact lens safety habits include:

• Wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling your contacts.
• Never share contact lenses with another person.
• Never wear a torn, damaged or expired contact lens.
• Replace your lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your eye doctor.
• Never use water or saliva to clean or store contact lenses.
• Use only contact lens solutions and eye drops recommended for your lenses.
• Keep your contact lens case clean and replace it regularly.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes while wearing contacts.

Can You Sleep in Contact Lenses?

Unless your specific lenses have been prescribed for overnight wear, remove your contact lenses before going to sleep.

Sleeping in lenses that aren't intended for overnight use can increase your risk of irritation, inflammation and eye infection.

If you accidentally fall asleep in your contacts and experience persistent redness, discomfort, light sensitivity or blurry vision afterward, contact your eye doctor.

Can You Swim or Shower With Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses should generally be kept away from water, including pools, hot tubs, lakes, oceans and shower water.

Water can expose your contacts and eyes to microorganisms that may lead to serious eye infections. Remove your contacts before swimming or using a hot tub and follow your eye doctor's recommendations regarding water exposure.

What Should I Do If My Contact Lenses Hurt?

Contact lenses should not cause significant pain.

If you experience eye pain, unusual redness, discharge, sudden blurry vision, significant light sensitivity or persistent discomfort, remove your contact lenses and contact an eye care professional.

Do not continue wearing a lens that is torn, damaged, dirty or causing discomfort.

Contact Lenses & Dry Eye

If your contacts become uncomfortable as the day goes on, frequently feel dry or cause your vision to fluctuate, dry eye may be contributing to your symptoms.

Instead of simply giving up on contacts, schedule an evaluation. Dr. Ramsey can assess your tear film, eye health, contact lens fit and current lens material to determine whether a different contact lens or dry eye treatment may improve your comfort.

Learn More About Dry Eye Treatment

Contact Lens Care FAQs

How often should I replace my contact lenses?

It depends on the type of contact lens prescribed. Some lenses are replaced daily, while others may follow a longer replacement schedule. Follow the schedule provided by your eye doctor rather than wearing lenses longer to extend the life of a box.

Can I use tap water to clean my contacts?

No. Contact lenses should not be cleaned or stored in tap water. Use the contact lens solution recommended for your specific lenses.

Can I sleep in my contacts?

Most contact lenses should be removed before sleeping unless your eye doctor has specifically prescribed lenses approved for overnight wear.

Why do my contacts get uncomfortable during the day?

Contact lens discomfort can have several causes, including dry eye, lens material, fit, deposits, environmental conditions or wearing lenses longer than recommended. A contact lens evaluation can help identify the cause.

How do I know if I have a contact lens-related eye infection?

Symptoms such as significant redness, pain, discharge, light sensitivity or sudden changes in vision should be evaluated promptly. Remove your contacts and contact an eye care professional if you experience concerning symptoms.

How often should contact lens wearers have an eye exam?

Contact lens wearers should follow the examination schedule recommended by their eye doctor. Regular exams allow your doctor to monitor your prescription, contact lens fit, corneal health and overall eye health.