Is it safe to wear my contact lenses during a pandemic?

With strict hygiene regimes being put in place during this time, it is no wonder that people begin to question everything they do - and whether it is safe. 

There can be a lot of myths and rumours about what we can and can’t do, however it is important that we listen to evidence based facts rather than what we see on our social media feeds, which can sometimes be difficult for all of us. 

So, many of you may be wondering - is it safe to use contacts lenses during the Covid19 Pandemic? - and the offical answer is YES! 

Contact lenses are completely safe to use during this time, as long as you follow the correct hygiene procedures before using your contacts, which should be the same as when there isn’t a pandemic!

Here are a few tips from us to make sure your wearing your contact lenses safely:

1. Thoroughly wash your hands before inserting AND removing contact lenses - this may go without saying during a time like this, however it is so important that you wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice). Then dry your hands with a fresh paper towel to avoid germ spreading. This is an extremely important regime both during a pandemic and during our daily norms.

2. If you wear monthly contact lenses: clean your contact lens properly with the correct disinfectants - whether you use Opti-Free, Renu, BioTrue or AOSept - it is important that you use these disinfectants correctly and following the instructions. It's also important not to get sentimental with your contact lens case; like your toothbrush, it needs to be replaced with a new one at least every 3 months. 

3. If you wear daily contacts: dispose of these every day - do not repeat wear your daily contact lenses, as this can increase the risk of serious eye infections.

4. Never sleep in your contact lenses - sleeping in contact lenses also significantly increases your chances of serious eye infections - some of which can cause irreversible vision loss! For those who wear contact lenses designed for sleeping in, and have their optometrists' okay to do so, it might be worth considering removing these at night, just during a pandemic and especially while in shutdown - just to be on the safe side.  

5. Stop wearing your contact lenses if you are sick  - If you do start to feel unwell or are suffering from an illness - get rid of your contacts and use your glasses, this is because with any illness the mucus and tears from your eyes carry the live virus.

Also, disinfect your spectacles regularly; as we take our spectacles on and off during the day, it is difficult to keep track of what our own hands have touched, it is important that like your hands, that you regularly clean your spectacles with a non-alcoholic disinfectant wipe (alcohol can damage the frames). 

If you do have any questions about your contact lens usage - please don’t hesitate to get in touch. During this time we are offering virtual appointments or phone call with one of our specialised optometrist. You can book here to make an appointment.

If you are needing an urgent supply of contact lenses please email us at hello@ocula.co.nz  - we can arrange to have these couriered straight to your door! 

Stay safe everyone & take care, 

We have got this. 

The Team @ OCULA