Five golden rules for safe contact lens use

Wearing contact lenses while swimming or doing water sports increases your risk of eye infection, as both swimming pools and beaches are full of bugs, chemicals and other harmful substances - so be sure to remove them before taking part in these activities. Also, avoid wearing contact lenses in the shower, bath, hot tub, steam room or sauna.

Sleeping without first removing contact lenses increases the risk of infection and can lead to serious eye problems. This habit can cause ulcers to form on the front part of the eye, as it reduces the amount of oxygen and tear flow to the cornea, which in turn increases the risk of developing an infection. This can occur with all types of contact lenses, so it is important to avoid sleeping in your lenses.

Contact lens solutions, as advised by your eye care practitioner, should always be used for cleaning and disinfecting your lenses if you use reusable soft lenses such as bi‑weekly or monthly disposables, or hard (rigid gas permeable) lenses. Tap water may be safe to drink, but it is not sterile and therefore not suitable for cleaning or storing your contact lenses - so it is important not to expose your lenses to tap water. Note that sterile saline should not be used as a disinfecting or long‑term storage solution, as it will not prevent bacterial growth. If you need to remove a lens unexpectedly because of dust or irritation, avoid using saliva to clean it, as this exposes the eye to bacteria found in saliva. If you wear daily disposable soft lenses, it is important to dispose of the lenses every day and not reuse them.

Always follow the advice on contact lens wear recommended by your eye care practitioner. Wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods may cause your eyes to become red, sore and more prone to infection.

If you experience blurred vision, painful, red eyes, or sensitivity to light, you should see an eye doctor straight away. A white or yellow spot visible in the coloured part of the eye should also be checked immediately, as this is often an early sign of infection. Seek medical advice if your lenses look or feel wrong. It is important to attend regular contact lens check‑ups with your eye care practitioner, even if you are not experiencing any problems.