Eye Contact: taking care of your contact lenses

As a cornea specialist, I see a fair amount of corneal ulcers, contact lens overwear, and allergic reactions to contact lenses or solutions.  I have always believed first time contact lens wearers should take an exam, much like the driver's ed test.  If only patients would obtain a license to wear contacts, corneas around the world would be healthier, and eyeballs will breath a sigh of relief.  But the FDA has so far ignored my fringe opinions on the subject.  So, here are my top ten tips for good contact lens care:

10. Never sleep with your contacts in.  No ifs ands or buts!
9. Always clean your lenses at night.  The best types of cleaning solutions to minimize allergic reactions and infections are Clear Care or Aeosept.  These solutions are hydrogen peroxide based -- this acid kills most living organisms and bubbles out into water by morning (virtually preservative-free). Please read the instructions carefully before using the product!  You cannot put the solution directly in your eye before it is neutralized into water.
8. Limit contact lens wear to 8 hours a day or fewer.
7. If you are too lazy to clean your contacts at night, consider daily wear contacts that you may carelessly fling out of your eyes at night.
6. For those whose corneas show signs of choking out (we call it "neovascularization" or "neo" for you Matrix fans), I recommend lenses with high oxygen diffusion such as O2 Optix from Ciba.
5. For the dry eye folks who have a hard time tolerating contacts, try Acuvue Oasis, which will help keep the eyes better lubricated.
4.  Use preservative-free artificial tears if you are wearing contacts and need a "spot" of lubrication.
3. Never wear contacts that were not fitted for your eyes by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, because damage can occur.
2.  Do not use expired lenses, solutions, or old cases.  Would you drink expired milk?  Why do this to your eyes?
1.  If your contacts irritate your eyes, take them out and see your eye doc!