Guidelines for Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, Eye Care Medication and Prescriptions

These are some simple guidelines to follow for wearing corrective lenses or taking medicine prescribed by your eye healthcare provider.

Eyeglasses

• Always store in a clean, dry place away from potential impact.
• Clean your glasses with water and a non-lint cloth, as necessary, to keep them spot-free and prevent distorted vision.
• See your doctor annually to check your prescription.

Contact Lenses

• Always store your contact lenses in a clean case in fresh solution as recommended by your doctor.
• If you wear disposable contacts and you develop an eye infection, you should throw away your current pair and discontinue use until you talk with your doctor. Wearing a contaminated pair of contact lenses will invite the infection to remain.
• Never wear another person’s contacts, especially if they have been worn before. Using them may be a hazard if they are a different prescription but it will also spread any infection or particles from their eyes to yours.
• As with eyeglasses, see your doctor annually to check your prescription.

How to Give Yourself Eye Drops or Ointment

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
• Dry them with a clean towel.
• If you are putting in your own eye medicine, lie down or use a mirror. Ask someone to check that you are getting the medicine in your eye.
• Look up to the ceiling with both eyes.
• Pull the lower lid of your eye down with one hand. Hold the medicine bottle or tube in your other hand (rest part of your hand on your forehead if necessary to keep it steady.)
• Place a drop of medicine or a small amount of ointment inside your lower lid. The tip of the medicine bottle or tube should not touch your eye.
• Close your eyes for a minute after putting in the medicine.
• If you are prescribed both eye drops and eye ointment, use the eye drops first.
• If you have more than one eye medicine to put in your eyes, wait about 5 minutes after the first medicine before putting in the second medicine.

Pregnancy Precautions

In general, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding and will be taking prescription or nonprescription medications, consult your doctor first. Small amounts of medication can pass from mother to child.