Contact Lens Safety Month: Protecting Your Vision in October

October is Contact Lens Safety Month, an important time to highlight best practices for safe and comfortable contact lens wear. At Pro Eye Care and Greenwich Eye Care, serving Greenwich, Darien, and Old Greenwich, CT, our specialists Dr. Inna Lazar, Dr. Danielle Polvanov, Dr. Sasha Patel, and Dr. Sarah Lechanski are dedicated to ensuring patients maintain optimal eye health while wearing contact lenses. 

Common Contact Lens Mistakes That Can Harm Your Eyes

Wearing contact lenses improperly can increase the risk of infections, dryness, and long-term damage to the eyes. Avoid these common mistakes to keep your eyes healthy:

Top Contact Lens Mistakes to Avoid:  

• Sleeping in Contacts: Increases the risk of eye infections by reducing oxygen flow to the cornea. 
• Reusing or Topping Off Solution: Always use fresh disinfecting solution to clean your lenses. 
• Wearing Lenses Past Their Expiration Date: Old lenses accumulate protein and bacteria, increasing infection risk. 
• Handling Lenses with Unwashed Hands: Always wash and dry hands before inserting or removing lenses. 
• Swimming or Showering with Contacts: Water can introduce harmful bacteria, leading to serious infections like Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Proper lens hygiene is essential to prevent eye discomfort and long-term complications. 

Are Daily Disposables Better for Dry Eyes?

Patients with dry eye disease often struggle with traditional contact lenses. Daily disposable contact lenses may be a better option for those experiencing discomfort and dryness.  

Benefits of Daily Disposable Contact Lenses:

• Increased Comfort: Fresh lenses every day reduce the buildup of allergens and deposits. 
• Lower Risk of Infection: No need for cleaning solutions or cases that can harbor bacteria. 
• More Hydrating Materials: Many daily lenses are made with moisture-retaining materials designed for dry eyes.  

If you suffer from dry eye symptoms, switching to daily disposables may provide relief. Our specialists can help determine if this option is right for you.

Hybrid & Scleral Lenses for Advanced Dry Eye Patients  

For patients with severe dry eye disease, keratoconus, or irregular corneas, traditional soft contact lenses may not provide adequate relief. Hybrid and scleral lenses offer advanced solutions:

Hybrid Contact Lenses:  

• Combine a rigid center for clear vision with a soft outer skirt for comfort. 
• deal for patients with mild to moderate dry eye or irregular corneas.

Scleral Contact Lenses:

• Vault over the cornea, creating a tear-filled reservoir that hydrates the eye. 
• Beneficial for severe dry eye, keratoconus, and post-surgical patients. 
• Reduce irritation by preventing direct contact with the corneal surface. 

Our specialists, Dr. Inna Lazar, Dr. Danielle Polvanov, Dr. Sasha Patel, and Dr. Sarah Lechanski, are experts in fitting specialty contact lenses for advanced dry eye management.

Prioritize Contact Lens Safety This October

Proper contact lens care is essential for maintaining healthy vision. Whether you need guidance on lens hygiene, dry eye-friendly contacts, or specialty lens fittings, our team is here to help.  

Schedule a contact lens consultation today: Here 

Visit us at: Greenwich | Darien | Old Greenwich, CT

Fun Fact! 

Daily disposable contact lenses are no longer more expensive than extended-wear contacts when factoring in the cost of cleaning solutions, which average over $250 per year. Plus, daily disposables are better for the environment since they eliminate the need for plastic storage cases and bottles of cleaning solutions.