Latest news with #eyehealth
Health Line
2 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
What You Need to Know About Conjunctivitis
Key takeaways Conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, involves inflammation of the membrane that covers the eye, leading to redness, discomfort, and discharge in the affected eye. Pink eye can result from infections (bacterial or viral), allergies, or irritants. Contagious types can spread easily through contact. Treatment varies depending on the cause, ranging from rinsing for chemical irritations to antibiotics for bacterial infections, antihistamines for allergies, or supportive care for viral cases. When you have pink eye, blood vessels in your conjunctiva become inflamed. This gives your eye the red or pink color that's commonly associated with conjunctivitis. There are a few different types of pink eye that come with varying symptoms and treatments. Pink eye symptoms Different types of pink eye can come with slightly different symptoms, but in general, it's important to talk with a doctor if you start to experience: pink or red-toned eyes a gritty feeling in your eyes watery or thick discharge that builds up on your eyes at night itchiness in your eyes abnormal amount of tears Types and causes In general, there are three main categories of pink eye: infectious allergic chemical Infectious conjunctivitis Infectious pink eye comes in a few different types, including: bacterial viral Bacterial pink eye is caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. It typically occurs due to things like touching your eyes with unclean hands, sharing makeup, or having physical contact with someone who may also have conjunctivitis. Viral pink eye is usually caused by common cold viruses. It can occur if someone with an upper respiratory infection coughs or sneezes close to you. It can also occur when you have a cold virus yourself and blow your nose too hard. This can push the infection from your respiratory system to your eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis Most people with allergic pink eye have seasonal allergies. They can get pink eye if they come in contact with a substance they're allergic to, like pollen. It's also possible to develop an allergic type of pink eye called giant papillary conjunctivitis if you wear hard contact lenses, or soft contact lenses that aren't replaced frequently enough. Chemical conjunctivitis You can get pink eye from irritants such as: How contagious is pink eye? Bacterial and viral pink eye are very contagious. Pink eye is very easily spread from person to person. For instance, if someone with viral pink eye touches their eye and then touches your hand, and you touch your eyes, there's a chance you could get pink eye as well. Pink eye is typically contagious for as long as the person is having symptoms. Images of pink eye How is pink eye diagnosed? It's typically not difficult for a healthcare professional to diagnose pink eye. They will usually be able to tell if you have pink eye simply by asking you a few questions and looking at your eyes. For example, a healthcare professional might ask you if your eyes are itchy and whether you have watery or thick discharge. They might also ask if you're experiencing symptoms of a common cold, hay fever, or asthma. They may also perform a few tests, including: a vision test to see whether your vision has been affected external eye tissue examination, including the conjunctiva, using bright light and magnification examination of the inner eye to make sure no other tissues have been affected conjunctival tissue smear, which is typically done when a person is dealing with chronic pink eye, or the condition is not improving with treatment Treatment for pink eye Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on what's causing it. Chemical conjunctivitis Rinsing your eye with saline is one way to help ease symptoms if you're dealing with chemical pink eye. Topical steroids may also be prescribed if the case is severe enough. Bacterial conjunctivitis For a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the most common method of treatment. Adults usually prefer eye drops. For children, ointment might be a better choice because it's easier to apply. With the use of antibiotic medication, your symptoms will probably start to disappear in just a few days — but it's important to finish your entire prescription to lessen the risk of pink eye coming back. Viral conjunctivitis Most of the time, viral conjunctivitis is caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold. These cold viruses don't currently have any treatments, but symptoms are usually mild and resolve on their own in 7 to 10 days. In rare cases, other viruses like the herpes simplex or varicella-zoster virus can be involved, which can cause more serious infections. These viruses do have antiviral treatments, but these treatments can only be used for these specific types of viral infections. In the meantime, using a warm compress, or a cloth moistened with warm water, can help soothe your symptoms. Allergic conjunctivitis To treat pink eye caused by an allergen, your healthcare professional will probably prescribe an antihistamine to stop the inflammation. Loratadine (Claritin) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are antihistamines that are available as over-the-counter medications. They may help clear your allergic symptoms, including allergic pink eye. Other treatments include antihistamine eye drops or anti-inflammatory eye drops. Home remedies In addition to using a warm compress, you can also purchase eye drops at your local drugstore that mimic your own tears. These may help relieve your pink eye symptoms. It's also a good idea to stop wearing contact lenses until your pink eye completely clears up. How can you prevent conjunctivitis? Practicing good hygiene is one of the best ways to avoid and stop the transmission of conjunctivitis: Avoid touching your eyes with unwashed hands whenever possible. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water. Only use clean tissues and towels to wipe your face and eyes. Try not to share cosmetics, especially eyeliner or mascara, with others. Wash pillowcases frequently. If your healthcare professional thinks your contact lenses are contributing to your pink eye, they may recommend switching to another type of contact lens or disinfectant solution. They may also suggest cleaning or replacing your contact lenses more frequently, or that you stop wearing contact lenses indefinitely (or at least until your eye heals). Avoiding poorly fitted contact lenses and decorative contact lenses may also decrease your risk for pink eye. Preventing the transmission of pink eye If you already have pink eye, you can help keep your friends and family safe by doing the following: Wash your hands regularly. Avoid sharing towels or washcloths. Change your towel and washcloth daily. Replace eye cosmetics after your infection clears. Follow your healthcare professional's advice on contact lens care. Take any medication your doctor has given you as prescribed.
CNET
4 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Do Contact Lenses Expire? Everything Eye Doctors Want You to Know About Replacing Your Contacts
If you wear contact lenses, you probably don't think much about them. But they're a relatively new invention -- in fact, the first disposable contact lens wasn't introduced until 1982. "We think of contact lenses as being so normal, but 100 years ago, nobody walked around with little pieces of plastic over their eyes," says ophthalmologist Dr. Robert Kinast, the vice chair of ophthalmology at Legacy Devers Eye Institute and co-founder of GentleDrop. "Contact lenses are foreign bodies and should be treated with respect," Kinast continues. In other words, it's important to take care of your contact lenses and replace them when they expire. To help, we consulted experts about contact lens expiration dates and eye health. How long do contacts last? The lifespan of your contact lenses depends on a few factors. Dr. Meenal Agarwal, optometrist and podcast host, explains, "Soft daily disposables are single-use, so you need to discard them after one day." At the other end of the spectrum, she says that "hard lenses can last one to two years with proper care." The most important rule, Agarwal says, is to always follow the replacement schedule recommended by your eye doctor. Soft lenses are the most commonly worn contact lenses, according to Dr. Jovi Boparai, ophthalmic surgeon and co-founder and CEO of CorneaCare. He explains that these lenses "range from daily disposables to weekly, biweekly or monthly." However, "Rigid gas permeable contact lenses can last much longer, ranging from months to a year." These lenses are made of hard plastic. While most contact lenses will last for the intended duration, some factors may shorten their lifespan. For instance, dust and smoke may cling to your lenses and make them unusable. If there is a wildfire in your area or a high allergen count and your lenses start to feel uncomfortable, you may want to toss them early. How to know if your contacts are expired The quickest way to gauge whether your contacts are expired is to look at the date on the box. Boarpai says that unopened contact lenses generally have a shelf life of one to four years from the date of manufacturing. Beyond reviewing the expiration date, you should pay attention to how your lenses look. According to Dr. Boparai, old lenses may show discoloration or damage. He also warns that expired contacts can develop deposits -- meaning a buildup of residue on the lenses. On the other hand, your contacts may still be expired, even if they look great. Agarwal warns, "The lenses may look the same as they did on the first day, but that doesn't mean they're still safe to use." In short, you should defer to the expiration date first, but also ditch your lenses if there is obvious damage or they become painful. Anna Gragert/CNET Expired contact lens symptoms It's easy to lose track of your lens-changing schedule when life gets busy. If that happens, your lenses may let you know they're expired before you even have a chance to track down the date on the box. "Wearing expired contacts can cause redness, pain or discomfort, irritation, blurry vision, excessive dryness and/or infections," Agarwal warns. You should take these symptoms as a red flag. The doctor advises, "If you experience any of these symptoms, remove the lenses and consult your eye doctor." According to Boparai, additional symptoms may include "burning, watery eyes, light sensitivity, discharge, foreign body sensation and eyelid swelling." Signs that your contacts are ready to be replaced It's worth noting that you won't always experience symptoms when your contacts are ready to be changed. Sticking to the appropriate schedule is vital, even if you think your contacts could last a few more weeks. As Agarwal explains, "Most of the time, you will not have any symptoms when your lenses are ready to be replaced." However, the doctor reiterates that if you've overworn contacts for a long time, you may notice vision problems, painful symptoms or "a torn or damaged lens and/or a buildup of deposits or debris on the lenses." This means it's definitely time to switch to a fresh pair. How often should I change my contact lenses? The simplest answer is to follow the recommended duration of use. Boparai reiterates that you should change lenses based on "the lifespan of the contact lenses as recommended by your eye doctor." You may also want to consider the length of time you're wearing your lenses per day. According to Optometrists Network, about half of all contact lens wearers don't comply with the wear schedule recommended by their doctors. This can lead to something called contact lens overwear syndrome, which occurs when your lenses obstruct your eyes' ability to absorb oxygen. Left untreated, you may experience bloodshot eyes, infection or a damaged cornea. Both doctors we spoke to insisted that you should never sleep in contacts unless it's recommended by a doctor. This may help prevent overwear syndrome and lower your risk of infections and ulcers. It also gives you an incentive to check your lenses each morning to make sure it's not time to change them to care for your contact lenses Proper care for your contacts not only helps maximize their lifetime but may also prevent eye infections. First and foremost, you should always handle your contact lenses with clean hands, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The organization also recommends using a "rub and rinse" method each time you use your lenses. This means you should first rub your lens with clean fingers and then rinse it with a contact lens solution. Contact lenses carry an increased risk of eye inflammation and infection, Boparai says. He adds that proper contact lens hygiene includes rinsing the lenses for 10 to 20 seconds before wear and making sure you don't touch your cornea when adding or removing the lenses. Boparai also recommends changing your contact lens solution every day. Meenal emphasizes the importance of storing your lenses "in a clean case and replacing the case every three months." She warns that you should never use water or saliva to clean your contact lenses. How to prevent contact lens-related eye infections The most common eye infection associated with contact lenses is keratitis, which the Mayo Clinic describes as an inflammation of the cornea. And this infection happens a lot. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed contact lens-related infections between 2005 and 2015 and determined that "keratitis from all causes, including contact lens wear, results in approximately 1 million clinic and emergency department visits annually." The AAO says that wearing extended-wear lenses, sleeping in your lenses and keeping a dirty lens case can all make you vulnerable to this type of infection. The Mayo Clinic warns that poor contact lens hygiene allows for the growth of bacteria, fungi and parasites that can infect your cornea. Agarwal adds to this advice, explaining that contact lens wearers should never share or reuse lenses. She also warns that you should "avoid wearing contacts in pools, hot tubs or the shower," removing your lenses at the first sign of discomfort. And don't use saliva to clean your lenses, as Boparai warns this makes you more vulnerable to infection. What about colored contacts and costume contacts? Cosmetic contacts, especially non-prescription costume lenses, are dangerous to your eyes and the American Academy of Ophthalmology warns against wearing any contact lenses not prescribed to you by a medical professional. In fact, it's against the law to sell contact lenses without a prescription in the United States because of the risk of eye infections or permanent eye damage from poorly fitting or poorly manufactured lenses, which can damage wearers' eyes. There are prescription cosmetic lenses on the market, mostly used to hide eye problems present from birth, but those need to be made specifically for the wearer's eyes, and they'll come with guidance from your eye doctor as to how long you should wear them and when they'll need replacing. When to contact an eye doctor if you wear contact lenses The AAO says that patients who are at low risk for ocular disease should get an eye exam at least every two years until the age of 64, unless their doctor recommends more frequent exams. After the age of 65, annual eye exams are the standard. However, even if you're not high risk, you should see your eye doctor "as soon as possible if you experience eye pain, persistent redness or swelling, intolerance or discomfort with your lenses, sudden blurry vision, unusual discharge, excessive tearing and/or sensitivity to light," Agarwal said, adding that you should remove your lenses and not wear them again until your doctor gives you the go-ahead. Vision changes also call for another visit to the eye doctor, says Boparai. He emphasizes that if you have uncomfortable symptoms or vision loss, "Your eye doctor will help guide management to keep your eyes comfortable and clear." The bottom line When in doubt, don't overwear your contact lenses. You should throw them out as soon as they expire, start to hurt your eyes or appear damaged. Wearing lenses improperly isn't just uncomfortable -- it can also lead to serious infections. Don't be afraid to call your eye doctor if something seems wrong.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
An Ophthalmologist Is Warning Against The Common Activity That Could Permanently Scar Your Vision
The human eye is a wondrous thing. It is considered the body's most complex organ after the brain and contains over 2 million working parts. About 80% of all learning happens through vision. So how can we keep our eyes in tip-top condition? And what should we never do if we want them to stay as healthy as possible? That's what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of HuffPost's 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' podcast — asked Dr. Amanda Redfern, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University's Casey Eye Institute, when she recently dropped by our studio. ″[Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes] is bad. It's real bad. Don't do it,' Redfern told us, adding that this even applies to naps. 'It's like a game of Russian roulette.' Related: Related: That's because you can get a corneal ulcer, which is an infection on part of the eye that a contact covers. 'It's not going to happen every time, but when it happens, it's terrible,' Redfern said. 'It can be so bad you could, in really terrible cases, lose your eyeball.' In less severe situations, Redfern said you could end up with a scar on your cornea. 'If that scar is in the center of your vision, that could affect your vision permanently, unless you get a corneal transplant,' she said. Redfern also warned us not to engage in any activity that could cause lenses to become compromised or contaminated, including swimming in a pool or lake while wearing contacts or even showering with them. 'The problem with contact lenses is that it will sandwich bacteria between the lens and your cornea, and you can get infected and then have all the complications we talked about,' she said. 'In general, we frown upon anything where your eye is going to expose to something nonsterile.' That includes using tap water to rinse or store lenses. When asked what she would suggest if someone were on vacation and forgot to bring contact lens solution, pushing them to choose between sleeping while wearing contacts or using tap water to store them, Redfern refused to pick either choice. 'Both of those are awful options,' she said. 'I'd rather you [throw the contacts out] and just walk around a little bit blurry for the weekend.' One thing Redfern does want us to do to keep our eyes healthy? Use eye protection more regularly. 'I always wear eye protection if I'm doing a house project where I'm hammering, sawing — anything where something can fly at my eye,' she said. 'Always wear eye protection, because I actually spend half my time seeing hospital consults and the trauma that you see is just crazy.' If you end up getting something lodged in your eye, don't try to remove it yourself. Instead, tape a paper cup over your eye and immediately see a medical professional. 'Pulling it out in an uncontrolled fashion [could cause] the inner contents of the eye to come out with it,' Redfern said. She also busted some myths about other activities that may be harmful or beneficial for the eyes (spoiler alert — reading in the dark isn't going to ruin your vision), why we get floaters (and when we should see a doctor about them), and lots more. Listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts. And for more from Redfern, check out her Instagram page. Need some help with something you've been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@ and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Solve the daily Crossword
CNET
6 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Follow These 10 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy As You Age
Summer has arrived, bringing sunny days and a higher danger from UV rays than at any other time of year. You might be used to slathering on sunscreen to protect your skin, but have you also been protecting your eyes? We only get one pair of eyes, but protecting them isn't always top of mind for many of us. From overuse to UV rays, our eyes are at risk of damage every day. Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to keep them healthy. 1. Wear sunglasses to block UV light Exposing your eyes to ultraviolet rays may cause damage over time. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, wearing sunglasses can block harmful UV light, lowering your risk of eye diseases like cataracts, sunburn, eye cancer and growths around the eye. Polarized glasses with smoke or gray lenses may offer the best protection against the sun's rays and reduce glare. Read more: Best Prescription Sunglasses 2. Take screen breaks every 20 minutes Prolonged screen time can cause dry eyes, pain in the neck and shoulders, blurred vision, headaches and digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome. The American Optometric Association recommends using the 20-20-20 rule to prevent computer vision syndrome. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 3. Take book breaks, too Screen time isn't the only way to strain your eyes. You probably hold a book up close for long periods when you read it. Both activities can lead to nearsightedness, or myopia, which means faraway objects are blurry, while up-close objects are clear. Just like you should use the 20-20-20 rule to take screen breaks, you should also use this rule for book breaks. If you find yourself engrossed in what you're reading or doing on the computer, set an alarm so you don't miss your breaks.4. Move your body for both overall and eye health Regular exercise can provide eye health benefits, such as promoting healthy blood vessels and lowering your risk of developing glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, plus two days of strength training for your muscles. You can also practice eye exercises to reduce tension and eye strain while sitting at your desk. Read more: 7 Fitness Hacks to Sneak in Exercise Painlessly Every Day 5. Get outside as much as possible Children and adults need to get outside often, even if they get their recommended exercise indoors. Research shows that children who spend time outdoors have a lower risk of developing nearsightedness in adolescence and as adults. Playing with your kids at the local playground, walking through the woods or even playing in the backyard can help the whole family stay healthy and active. Be sure to use your sunglasses. 6. Quit smoking It's well known that smoking is bad for your health. It can also increase your risk of developing eye diseases like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Smokers have a two- or three-times higher chance of developing cataracts and up to four times higher risk for AMD. Future research may determine if smoking cigarettes can also cause glaucoma, Graves' eye disease, thyroid eye disease and encourage diabetic retinopathy onset or progression. To improve your health, build a quit plan. Getty Images 7. Eat balanced meals rich in vitamins The foods you eat every day can improve your eye health. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc can help cellular growth, lower eye tissue inflammation and limit free radicals that can damage your eyes. To get the right nutrients for your eyes, eat balanced meals by including some of these foods in your regular diet, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Vitamin C: Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Vitamin E: Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Omega-3: Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Zinc: Lima beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lean red meats, oysters, fortified cereals, poultry Read more: Best Vitamins and Supplements for Eye Health 8. Avoid rubbing your eyes Habitually rubbing your eyes could cause eye damage or infections. Dry eyes and eye strain can make you want to rub your eyes, and some may rub them too much or too hard. This can lead to issues such as reduced or blurry vision, headaches, inflammation and eye and light sensitivity. Another reason to avoid eye rubbing is that bacteria or viruses on your fingers or hands could lead to conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye. Instead of rubbing your eyes, use eye drops or saline to clean your eyes and keep them moist. Resist the urge and find something else to keep your hands busy until you undo the habit. 9. Wash your hands before touching your face or eyes You should always wash your hands before touching your face or eyes and handling contact lenses. Almost 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, and around one in three wearers develop complications, with one in five infections from contact lenses causing corneal damage. Plus, there's no telling what germs might have already contaminated an object you've touched. The CDC reports that washing your hands regularly can lower your risk of respiratory illness by up to 20% and diarrheal illness by up to 30%. 10. Take off your makeup at the end of the day After a long day, the last thing you might think about is removing your eye makeup before you get into bed. Doing so benefits your eye health and can lower your risk of blepharitis or eyelid inflammation, according to the Optometrists Network. You should also adopt good makeup practices that can save your skin and eyes, such as only using products made for eyes, replacing your makeup often (especially after an eye infection), not applying eye makeup in the inner lids and never sharing eye makeup. If you use brushes or sponges to apply eye makeup, wash them regularly.
CNET
7 days ago
- CNET
Never Forget These 4 Travel Items if You Wear Contacts
As a person who needs contacts to navigate life, I've learned a couple of things to avoid doing if I want to enjoy my trip. The biggest offense I'm guilty of committing is accidentally sleeping in my contact lenses. This means I wake up with blurry vision, sticky lenses and dry eyes. Sleeping in lenses that aren't intended for overnight use raises the risk of an eye infection and could cause other issues down the line, such as corneal damage or even loss of vision. This can be a major problem when I'm traveling on a plane or in a car and trying to remove my contact lenses. Thankfully, one of my co-workers gave me important time-saving tips for removing my contacts safely and effortlessly. The trick is to do things in advance, before you get sleepy or busy. These tips are too good not to share, but you should know that these are for reusable contacts and not daily disposable lenses. Read more: An Optometrist Shares 13 Mistakes You're Making With Your Contact Lenses 4 items to travel with if you use contacts Grab some contact cases, hand sanitizer and contact solution. Katie Teague/CNET Contact lens case This is a must-have when you're traveling anywhere. When you're out, the last thing you want to risk happening is your contact lenses dry out or stay in your eyes too long. Contact lens solution Packing your solution is equally important. Contacts aren't cheap, and ruining them can be a huge hassle. Not to mention, you'll be wasting money as you replace things. Hand sanitizer bottle If you're in a pinch and can't wash your hands before removing your contacts, you can bring a bottle of hand sanitizer to clean your hands before pinching the contacts out of your eyes. Especially since you'll be touching surfaces on the plane or while stopping for a snack or gas on the road. Even after the sanitizer has dried, however, you still may have some residual alcohol on your fingers, so if you have the option to wash your hands with soap and water, I recommend doing that. A pair of eyeglasses "Airplanes have quite dry air and even the most comfortable of contact lenses can become dry and irritating, especially on those long-haul flights," Dr. Mika Moy, clinical professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of California Berkeley, told me. Instead, she said, "wear glasses on airplanes for better comfort and so you don't have to worry about napping with your lenses on." You can put your contacts back in when you've arrived at your destination. Read more: 10 Eye Protection Hacks You Need to Know Before Spring and Summer Trick for prepping contact lenses for travelBefore leaving for your trip, prep your contact lens case by cleaning it. Then fill each side about halfway with contact lens solution or the amount you normally use to fill up your case. Close the lids tightly to avoid any leaks, and store the case in a Ziploc bag inside a backpack or purse, where you'll have easy access. You can fill multiple contact cases so that you'll have a backup if anything goes wrong, and you won't have to pack a huge bottle of solution. When it's time to remove your contact lenses from your eyes, just grab your case and place your contacts inside. Make sure your hands are as clean as possible. This simple solution is clever because it saves time and will keep your eyes feeling fresh. Read more: Yes, You Can Save Money on Travel Despite Inflation Dos and don'ts for your contact lenses When it's time to remove your contacts, be careful. After all, you only have one set of eyes. Try these recommendations. ❌ Don't do this: Remove your contact lenses during turbulence on the airplane. Contact lens solution may spill, your contact could go flying and you might jab yourself in the pupil. ✅ Do this instead: Wait until the plane is steady to avoid poking your eye. Or better, instead of wearing contacts, wear your glasses during the flight to avoid your contacts drying out. ❌ Don't do this: Try to take out your contact lenses while driving or if the road is bumpy. ✅ Do this instead: Wait until you stop at a gas station to wash your hands and remove your contacts. ❌ Don't do this: Only bring one pair of contact lenses with you. Anything can happen when handling your contacts, including ripping a lens or dropping one onto the floor, which you want to avoid. ✅ Do this instead: Always bring an extra pair or two of contacts with you as backup. Or you can also consider bringing one-day disposable lenses. "If you wear one-day disposable contact lenses when traveling, you can avoid needing solutions or cases at all," Moy said. "One-day lenses are typically more comfortable and healthier for the eyes because they are only used once and do not need to be disinfected at all." ❌ Don't do this: Put contacts in when you have red eyes. ✅ Do this instead: Always bring a pair of glasses in case you develop an eye infection while traveling. ❌ Don't do this: Sleep in your contacts. Eye doctors will tell you it can cause an infection and even result in permanent vision loss. (I admit, I need to take this advice.) ✅ Do this instead: Place the case filled with solution next to your bed so you can easily remove your contacts without getting up -- whether you're traveling or at home tucked into bed. For more life tips, here's how to make distilled water for free, how to cut cake like a pro with floss and how to end junk mail for good.
