Millions of Americans wear contact lenses wrong

Next week is National Contact Lens Health Week, a campaign created by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase awareness of the proper usage of contact lenses. PRNewswire reports that just last year, almost one million emergency room or urgent doctor's visits and $175 million were attributed to keratitis, an eye infection caused by the improper use of contact lens.

NBC News reports that over 40 million Americans wear contact lenses. However, a large percentage of these people do not wear it properly, putting themselves at risk for infection. A recent survey by the CDC reports that nearly one-third of the surveyed contact lens users report having to go to a doctor due to red or painful eyes. At least 50 percent of participants slept or took a nap while wearing them, and 61 percent said they went swimming while wearing contacts.

Additionally, the CDC reported: "Approximately one third of contact lens wearers reported ever rinsing their lenses in tap water and 16.8 percent reported ever storing their lenses in tap water."

The Huffington Post reports that you should never reuse your solution because it can increase your risk for eye infection. Moreover, tap water isn't sterile enough.

"Even household tap water, although treated to be safe for drinking, is not sterile and contains microorganisms that can contaminate lens cases and contact lenses and cause eye infections," CDC reported. Additionally, contact lenses have the ability to absorb water. Andrea Thau, O.D., an associate clinical professor at the SUNY College of Optometry and a spokesperson for the American Optometric Association told the Huffington Post: "If your lens swells, it changes how the lens fits on your eye and it will often make the lens tighten on the eye."

Contact lens should be replaced regularly, as well as its cleaning solution. "Solution can over time break down, especially if exposed to sun or heat. So the lens, when the solution expires, can cause infection and become very uncomfortable because of the pH [level] change," said Thau. 

According to the CDC, "Contact lens wearers represent a significant proportion of the U.S. population, and their contact lens hygiene habits put them at risk for painful, costly eye infections that could lead to vision problems."

The Huffington Post also has a tip for women: Put on your makeup before wearing your contact lenses to avoid getting powder and makeup into your lenses and eyes. Likewise, remove your lenses before removing your makeup at the end of the day. However, make sure that your hands are free of lotions or any products before handling your contact lenses.