Avoid Eye Infections: When to Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses

TTDeye strives to provide you with useful information on how to take care of your eyes and get the most out of your contact lenses.

While wearing contact lenses can be a great way to correct your vision, it’s important to be aware of situations where it might not be a good idea to wear them. Looking at the picture below, can you give the answer to this question? You can choose more than one!

OK! Here comes the answer. Actually, all four options A, B, C, D, E, and F are not suitable for wearing contact lenses. Did you get all of them? Let’s see the detailed reasons for each situation.

A. Under The Weather

If you’re feeling under the weather, it’s best to take a break from wearing your contact lenses. When you’re sick, your body is already working hard to fight off an infection,  and you can carry a lot of viruses or bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms on your hands, which can easily attack the eye tissue when you take off your contact lenses, resulting in an eye infection.

In addition, some cold medicines contain ingredients that inhibit tear secretion, which can lead to dry eyes and other symptoms, and reduce the comfort of wearing contact lenses.

B. During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can cause changes in your body, including changes in your eyes. Please use with caution and consult your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant in the near future.

Women’s endocrine system will change during pregnancy, hormone levels will change, and some pregnant people will have dry eyes, which will cause uncomfortable when wearing the lenses. In addition, there are limited medications available in case of eye inflection or injury during pregnancy, so you should choose to wear contact lenses during pregnancy with caution.

C. Swimming And Bathing

The requirements for wearing contact lenses are more stringent in terms of sanitary conditions. Whether it is a swimming pool or a seawater bath, there is no guarantee that the eyes are in clean hygienic conditions. There are many pathogenic microorganisms in pool water, seawater, river water, tap water, etc. Contact lenses have adsorption, and pathogenic microorganisms in the water can easily be deposited on the lenses, thus leading to eye infections. It’s best to avoid wearing contact lenses while swimming or taking a bath to reduce your risk of infection.             

D. Smoggy Days

When you are in smoggy weather for a long time, airborne pollutants and fine particles will come in contact with the eye surface, which can usually be washed away by physiological or reflexive transients (i.e. blinking) and secretion of tears. However, when wearing contact lenses, tear exchange is reduced and cannot effectively flush out airborne pollutants or particles, especially fine particles adhering to the lens surface, which will not only contaminate the lens in the long run but also easily cause eye allergy and infection. Therefore, when wearing contact lenses in smoggy weather, it is important to reduce the frequency of wearing contacts and pay attention to cleaning them.

Monthly or yearly contact lenses should be cleaned and cared for in a timely manner when entering indoors.

E. During Menstruation

During menstruation, conjunctival congestion such as eye redness may occur, which should be worn depending on the situation, and some people may experience eye discomfort after wearing the lenses, which is not recommended. In addition, women's immunity decreases during menstruation, making them more prone to conjunctivitis and other eye inflammation problems, so you should pay attention to good eye hygiene, wash your hands regularly and avoid rubbing your eyes during your period.

F. On The Airplane

Airplane cabins are known to be dry, which can cause your contact lenses to become uncomfortable to wear. At the same time, when in the air, the body will be in a different environment from the ground, and the relative position between the corneal curve and the base curve of the contact lens may change slightly which may make you feel that the contact lenses don’t fit well. Therefore, it is recommended not to wear corneal contact lenses when traveling by air.

Final Words

At TTDeye, we believe that taking care of your eyes should always be a top priority. By being aware of situations where it’s best not to wear contact lenses, you can reduce your risk of eye infections and discomfort. We hope that the information in this blog has been helpful in guiding you on when to skip your contacts.

As your go-to source for all things related to contact lenses, TTDeye will continue to provide you with tips and information on how to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear. To stay up-to-date on the latest news and advice, be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter. Let’s work together to ensure that your eyes always receive the care and attention they deserve!

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