http://www.christopherreynoldsod.org Christopher Reynolds OD is an optometrist with years of experience and innovative optometry tools and techniques for the essential vision care you need.

1. Christopher Reynolds Optometrist Dr. Christopher Reynolds, OD

2. The Truth about Contacts Tired of wearing glasses everyday? Follow these guidelines for good contact lens care to extend the life of your contact lenses, and protect the safety and health of your eyes.

3. Caring for your Contact Lenses Acquire contacts by going to an eye doctor, having your eyes checked, and ordering contacts of the correct prescription. Try out a few different samples of contact solution to find out if you are allergic to any and which work the best. Buy any other materials. Make sure that your hands are clean before handling the lenses. After you have washed your hands with soap and warm water, dry them using a clean towel. Remember – any residue from soaps, lotions, or chemicals may stick to your contact lenses and give rise to irritation, pain, or blurred vision. Learn how to properly, preferably from your doctor. Learn how to properly when removing and storing. Wear your contact lenses for the proper amount of time, as prescribed by your doctor (i.e. 2 weeks, 1 month, etc.). See your doctor annually to check your contact lens prescription. Use a re-wetting solution or plain saline solution to keep your eyes lubricated.

4. Tips for Contact Lenses *Be patient when you first start wearing contacts. It may take a couple days for your eyes to adjust. Make sure to take them out immediately after work or school so as to give your eyes a rest. *When traveling carry contacts solution, case, glasses, and eye drops- just in case. You never know if your eyes are going to bug you and it is expensive to throw away contacts. A case that screws on instead of snaps closed is less likely to leak in a bag. Airplanes may require that you carry only a small amount of solution, in a Ziploc bag. *If you accidentally nap while wearing contacts put in eye drops and, if needed, remove your contacts. *To avoid wearing contacts inside out place your contact lens on the tip of your finger so that it is forming a cup. Look at the contact lens from the side. If the cup looks like it is flaring out at the top and has a lip, your contact lens is inside out. If it looks like the letter "U", the contact lens is right side out. *If you think you will have trouble remembering when to change your contact lenses, ask your eye doctor if he or she has a chart that is handed out to patients. If your doctor does not have one, you may want to consider creating one on your own.

5. More Tips For Contact Lenses *If debris gets into the eye/contact lens, slide the contact over, look both ways, then roll your eyes. *Wear your contacts the length of time they are supposed to be worn-if your doctor says 2 weeks, wear them for only 2 weeks. Don't try and save money by wearing them longer, it's not worth your eyesight. *You should stick to the prescribed routine as suggested by your eye doctor and wear your contact lenses only for the recommended duration. Cleaning and storing your contact lenses as prescribed also form a vital part of your lens care routine. Since different types of contact lenses need special care and specific products, always use the eye care products that your eye doctor has recommended. If you try to experiment and use eye drops or eye products at your free will, you may end up choosing the ones that are not safe for you. *It is advisable to rinse your contact lenses using the recommended solutions and let them air dry. You should not use saliva or plain water directly on your lenses as microorganisms present in them may cause sight damage or infection. In case you feel the symptoms of an eye infection like a burning sensation, redness, or excessive tearing, you should remove your contact lenses and not use them until you have consulted your optometrist.

7. Warnings about Contact Lenses *If you experience irritation after dutifully caring for your contacts you may be allergic to your contact solution. Contact your eye doctor in order to find a different solution. *Wearing contact lenses may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunglasses with total UV protection and/or a wide brim hat when in the sun. *Never wear another person's contact lenses, especially if they have been worn before. Using other people's contact lenses can spread any infection or particles from their eyes to yours. *You should have glasses just in case something happens to your contacts. *Try to put your contacts in over a desk or counter so if you drop it, then it won't go on the floor and you can find it. Always rinse contacts after they have fallen. *'''Do not''' put any thing (such as tap water) on your contacts. Specially made contact solution and tear drops are okay. Microorganisms can live in even distilled water, causing infection or sight damage.

8. More Warnings *Always remove your contacts prior to sleeping unless you are prescribed extended wear contacts by your doctor. Sleeping with your contacts in may save time but it can cause a corneal ulcer on your eye! With sensitive eyes it will affect you immediately, causing pain and aversion to light the next day, but it will catch up to others in the end. If you must simply throw away your contacts before you go to sleep. If you have a sterile container and contact solution this is a good substitute for a case. If you forget you may have to wear sunglasses (keep a prescription pair handy) the next day. It may be difficult to wear your contacts the day after. *Don't let the tip of solution bottles touch other surfaces, including your fingers, eyes or contact lenses. The solution can become contaminated. *Visit your eye doctor immediately if you have any degree of sudden vision loss, blurred vision, light flashes, eye pain, infection, swelling, unusual redness, or irritation. *In brief, hygiene is the most important factor that you should take care of for having a pair of clean contact lenses. If you are not sure about the right steps of caring for your lenses, contact your eye doctor for advice.