INSERTION
After thoroughly washing and rinsing your hands, follow these steps to insert your soft contact lenses.
Check to see if the lens is inside-out or if it is correct.
Place the lens on the tip of the index finger of your right hand.
Pull up the upper eyelid with your left hand.
Pull the lower lid down using the middle finger of the right hand.
Look upwards, and place the lens on the white part of the eye. Release the upper lid and blink. The lens should center automatically.
Using the opposite hands place the other lens on the eye.
WEAR SCHEDULE Your eyes require an adaptation period to adjust to contact lens wear. Usually, the doctor will prescribe a wear schedule of 4 hours on the first day and increasing by 2 hours per day of wear (e.g. 4, 6, 8, etc. hrs). Do not wear your lenses more than 12 hours until you have had your first progress exam. At that time your doctor will let you know how long you should wear your lenses. Be sure to wear your contact lenses to your progress exams unless you are having problems wearing them continuously. Bring your glasses and contact lens case also.
REMOVAL OF LENS
Before removing your lenses, wash and rinse your hands thoroughly. Have your contact lens solutions and storage case opened and ready to receive the lens.
Look upwards and pull the lower lid down.
Using the right index finger, slide the lens onto the white part of the eye.
Press the lens gently between the thumb and index finger, and remove the lens from your eye.
Clean and rinse the lens and place it in the storage case.
CLEAN Daily cleaning of your lenses is necessary to remove tear residues, mucous films, lipid coatings and other foreign substances that accumulate on the lens surfaces. Clean your lenses every evening after you have removed your lenses for the final time.
Wash your hands before handling.
Place the lens in the palm of your hand and place 1 drop of the prescribed daily cleaner or multipurpose solution on the lens and 1 drop on your hand by the lens. Rub the lens with a small amount of pressure in a side-to-side and back-and-forth motion (do not go in a circular motion). Clean each side for 25 seconds in this manner, invert the lens and repeat for the other side. Instead of cleaning, disposable lens wearers should rub the lens with the multipurpose solution they are prescribed.
RINSE After the cleaning process, place the lens in your free hand and rinse the soapy hand with tap water.
Place the lens in the palm of your hand and squirt the prescribed saline or multipurpose solution to the lens for several seconds. Drain the excess solution and repeat 1 or 2 more times.
DISINFECTION The disinfection cycle keeps your lenses free from harmful bacteria and other germs. Disinfecting the lenses regularly reduces the possibility of contamination or eye infection. This procedure is performed in addition to your daily cleaning procedure.
After cleaning and rinsing your lenses fill the storage well with the prescribed disinfecting or multipurpose solution to the fill line. Place each lens in its appropriate well and close the cap. Allow the lenses to sit overnight. THE MINIMUM TIME FOR DISINFECTION IS SIX HOURS in most cases.
Rinse with the prescribed saline solution prior to lens insertion. Discard the remaining solution from the container and wash the case so it is clean for the next use.
NOTE: a) AOSEPT systems utilize a catalytic disk to neutralize the disinfection solution. These disks must be replaced each 3 months or 100 uses whichever comes first.
ENZYME The enzyme procedure is designed to remove the protein buildup from your contact lenses which the daily cleaning solution does not remove. Enzyme cleaning keeps your lenses cleaner, makes them more comfortable to wear and keeps the oxygen transmission at its highest level. This procedure is performed in addition to your daily cleaning procedure. Enzyme your lenses as recommended each week. This is done just after daily cleaning and before you disinfect for the night. Add one enzyme tablet to the contact lens solution in the appropriate container. Allow to sit up to 2 hours and then use the daily cleaner again for maximum cleaning effect.
CARE TIPS
Use only the solutions that have been prescribed for you. Other solutions may cause discomfort or damage your lenses.
Occasionally, contact lens wearers substitute sterile saline solution for the prescribed multipurpose solution thinking they are the same but cheaper. Multipurpose solutions disinfect, clean and act as a rinsing-storage solution. Sterile saline has no cleaning or disinfection properties. This can result in eye infections and serious damage to the eye. Always disinfect the lenses when stored overnight or longer.
Clean your lenses in the palm of your hand in the proper motion. Lenses can tear if they are cleaned in a circular motion or between your fingers.
Keep your lenses wet at all times. When you are not wearing your lenses, store them in your contact lens case with the prescribed saline solution. Should the lens dry out on a countertop, do not touch it. Wet the area with several drops of saline solution and wait 30 minutes before attempting to handle the lens. Clean and inspect the lenses for damage before wearing.
Follow the wear schedule which was prescribed to you. Do not sleep in your lenses unless your doctor approves the lenses for extended wear. (If you should accidentally take a short nap wearing your lenses; remove, wet, and re-insert them as long as no discomfort is involved.)
If your lens becomes uncomfortable when it is inserted, remove the lens immediately. Rinse the lens with saline solution and re-insert. If the discomfort persists, remove the lens and call our office.
Inspect and clean your contact lens case often.
Blink often to keep your lenses wet. Apply only prescribed wetting drops if dryness persists. Never apply any medication to the eye with contact lenses in place unless approved by the doctor.
When in doubt about procedures, solutions or symptoms, do not hesitate to call our office!
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