If you store your contact lenses in a contact lens case then you should replace the solution in the case every time you take the contact lenses out of your eyes.

Additionally you should be cleaning your contact lens case weekly by scrubbing it with a clean (unused) toothbrush and some contact lens cleaning solution and then letting it dry while open . Remember to replace your contact lens case monthly and you will significanly reduce the risk of infection from the case itself.

Firstly - It's very important that you replace your contact lenses according your eye care professionals instructions and or the instructions from the manufacturer. Don't try to wear your daily contact lenses for more than a day or your monthly contact lenses for more than a month!

If you are wear monthly or weekly lenses and are unable to remember when you first started using a particular pair of contact lenses then the usual indications that a contact lens is near the end of its life are deposits on the lens, lens discolouration, hazy or unclear vision and or discomfort. If any of these indications occur your should change your contact lenses immediately as any of these can lead to other complications such as infection.

If after changing your contact lens your vision is still hazy or you notice any redness or discomfort you should remove your contact lenses and contact your eye care professional immediately. Always better to treat problems early especially when it comes to keeping your eyes safe and healthy.

With the state of the art of contact lenses as it is today, most people find contact lens wear is completely safe and trouble free.

However there is always a slight chance of infection when using contact lenses when compared with not wearing contact lenses. Particularly sleeping with your lenses in is riskier than taking them out each night, although extended wear contact lenses made of the new highly gas permeable silicone hydrogel materials do have a lower risk than standard extended wear contact lenses. Studies show that daily contact lenses that are replaced on a daily basis carry the lowest risk of infection as they are discarded so frequently. It’s worth noting however - Never reuse daily contact lenses as they are unsuitable for repeat use and don’t lend themselves to normal cleaning methods.

If you use 2 weekly disposable contact lenses, monthly contact lenses or extended wear contact lenses its worth keeping in mind the following if you wish to avoid problems :

Most eye infections are caused by contact lens wearers not caring for their lenses properly.
It is essential to clean and disinfect your contact lenses after you have removed them from your eyes and before you put them back in their storage case. This helps prevent proteins and nasties building up on the lens. Cleaning and disinfection simply involves soaking your lenses with contact lens cleaning solution in their storage case for a specific amount of time. Your eye care professional may also recommend a particular cleaning regime depending on the contact lens type and brand you are using. Never top up or reuse contact lens cleaning solution that is inside the contact lens case, it should be replaced with fresh cleaning solution every time the contact lenses are stored. Lastly only use the contact lens cleaning solution recommended by your eye care professional as not all will suit your particular prescription or brand of contact lens.

Coming in a close second as a leading source of eye infections for contact lens wearers are contact lens cases, either not being cleaned properly or changed on a monthly basis - yes you should be using a new one each month!
Rinse your storage case in contact lens cleaning solution then leave it to dry out completely every day ensuring that it is open at the time. Clean your contact lens storage case with a clean toothbrush (one that you have never actually used on your teeth!) and contact lens cleaning solution on a weekly basis. Remember to replace the entire case monthly even if it still looks good. A storage case is not the sort of thing to develop a sentimental attachment to. Dirty contact lens storage cases are a major source of eye infections.

Common situations to avoid:

• Never use saliva to wet your contact lenses – your mouth is full of bacteria you really don’t want in your eyes.
• Never let tap water come in contact with your contact lenses – there is chlorine in tap water that will do them no good at all.
• Never wear your contact lenses while swimming or showering – again you are best to avoid chlorine getting in your eyes.
• Never go to sleep with a painful red eye - seek medical advice immediately as infections can develop rapidly.
• Lastly a little reminder of the checklists your eye care professional probably already gave you when you first started wearing contact lenses

Every day ask yourself:

1. Can I see properly?
2. Do my eyes look good?
3. Do my eyes feel good?

If you answer “no” to any of the above or you have any concerns at all, take out you contact lenses immediately and go and see your eye care professional.

Having just seen a patient who managed to get hair spray on her contact lenses this morning, I thought I'd give you some tips on how to avoid getting makeup in your eyes.

Getting makeup in your eye can be quite painful and certainly slows you down in the morning. But it's even worse with contact lenses, this is because it often sticks to the lens instead of being blinked away.

Follow these handy tips to keep your eyes looking and feeling good and of course your contact lenses in good condition.

• Firstly, always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your contact lenses.
• Put in your contact lenses BEFORE applying your makeup.
• Only use non-allergenic makeup. This will reduce the likelihood of you rubbing your eyes and will help to keep you feeling comfortable.
• Choose water-based moisturisers rather than oil-based ones.
• Liquid or cream eye shadow is less likely to get in your eye than powder. However, creams may also irritate your eyes more if they do make it into your eyes.
• If you must use powder, keep your eyes closed during application. Try to brush off any excess powder before opening your eye.
• Apply eyeliner only on the portion of your eye lashes that is well away from your eye.
• Before you remove you eye makeup, wash and dry your hands thoroughly . Then remove your contact lenses, being careful not to make contact with any makeup.
• Once you have removed your contact lenses you can now safely use your eye makeup remover.

Its worth noting that eye makeup itsself is a fairly common cause of eye infections. So be safe and replace your eye makeup frequently — at least every three months. Through away old eye makeup, because over time bacteria will get into the product and then into your eyes if you accidentally use it

One way to tell if your makeup is too old is if it smells funny. Also, don't share your eye makeup with others! same way you wouldn't share your toothbrush!

I spend quite a bit of time every day showing new patients how to remove their new contact lenses. So for everyone who is too far away for me to see me in person I thought I’d write up this little "How To Remove your Contact Lenses " post.

So to start with and I cannot stress this enough - Always, always wash your hands before touching your eyes or trying to remove your contact lenses! This will greatly reduce your chances of contracting an eye infection.

Before you begin, use a clean paper napkin or something similar to cover the plug hole if you are standing in front of the sink. It's really easy to drop them down the drain accidentally if you are new to contact lens fitting and removal.

To remove soft contact lenses, look sideways or up and then gently pull down on your lower eyelid. Using your finger tip, gently slide the lens onto the white part of your eye. Once it is on the white of your eye, you can very gently pinch the lens with thumb and index finger and it will quite easily lift off your eye. It's worth considering the condition of your fingernails especially while you are getting the hang of the technique so as to avoid accidentally scratching your eye or damaging your contact lens.

With rigid contact lenses its a little easier. They can be easily removed by bending over and then opening your eye wide. Make sure you are holding out your hand in front of your face to catch the lens and then with a finger from your other hand, pull on the skin of your eye's outer corner. Be sure to pull in the direction of your ear and with your eye wide open, then blink and the rigid contact lens should pop right out and into your open hand.

There are tools for removing contact lenses known as "plungers". However I do not recommend these for lots of reasons - primarily it’s easier to hurt your eye if you do it wrong and also the plunger itself can become a source of infection.

I hope this helps and as always - if in doubt, go see your eye care professional

In writing this how-to apply contact lenses post I shall try not to sound too much like your mum, but there are some important steps.

Firstly - always, always wash your hands properly before applying contact lenses. Always avoid using products containing lanolin and don't use oily or overly scented soaps as they can also damage your contact lens.

I advice my patients to have a routine for applying their contact lenses so that they get used to it and it becomes habit. So I shall say the same to you: Always start with the same eye, it does not matter if your prefer right or left as long as you always start with the same one. This can help it to become automatic and will also help you not to mix them up.

Once you have cleaned your hands and have chosen the eye to start with, follow the steps below

• Whether you are using daily contact lenses or monthly contact lenses, give your contact lens container a little shake, this will help to loosen the contact lens if it has become stuck to it. If you have to pull the lens out with your finger you are likely to damage it
• Squirt some contact lens cleaning solution into the palm of your hand (clean yes?) and then slide the lens out of its case and into it. Rinse your contact lens thoroughly with your contact lens cleaning solution.
• Place the contact lens on the tip of your index finger, which should be fairly moist.
• With the thumb and fingers of your other hand, pull down on your lower eyelid and up on your upper eyelid.
• You can now apply your contact lens by placing it on the white of the eye closest to your ear or alternatively you could position the contact lens on your eye while looking upward - whichever you find to be easier.
• Roll your eyes in a big circle to get the lens to settle and then blink once or twice.

You should now find that your contact lens is comfortable and you are able to see clearly if a little watery at first.