What are the top 10 mistakes people make with contact lenses according to Chat GPT? Let’s see:
As we continue to delve into proper contact lens hygiene and the do’s and dont’s of contact lens wear, I decided to ask Chat GPT what it thought the top 10 mistakes were so we could discuss them.
1. Not washing hands properly:
Failing to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling contact lenses can introduce bacteria to the eyes, leading to infections.
Not washing hands is for sure an issue and a mistake. This is why most contact lens wearers end up keeping their contacts in the bathroom — so that it’s easy to ensure hands are squeaky clean prior to handling lenses.
The CDC says the proper way to wash your hands is:
A. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
B. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
C. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
D. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
E. Dry your hands using a clean towel or an air dryer.
So, if you haven’t done that, don’t touch your eye or anything going into your eye.
2. Sleeping with contacts:
Sleeping while wearing contact lenses, especially those not designed for extended wear, can deprive the corneas of oxygen and increase the risk of infection and other complications.
This is one that people don’t seem to really understand from a medical perspective. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the cornea causes Corneal Neovascularization. The cornea has no blood supply of its own, so it gets oxygen only from tears and directly from the atmosphere. When you wear a contact lens while you are sleeping, you are cutting off pretty much all avenues of oxygen from your eye. If you are prone to getting into bed with them in and tend to not get back up to take them out, consider purchasing a bedside trash can to dispose of used contacts in.
3. Wearing lenses past their expiration date:
Using contact lenses beyond their recommended duration can cause discomfort, increase the risk of eye infections, and compromise vision.
This is most common in Bi-Weekly contact lens wearers because it is more difficult to remember when two weeks is up as opposed to a month or a day. If you struggle to remember, consider purchasing one of our whiteboards to put in your bathroom and write the replacement date (and any other reminders) on. Daily is the easiest to adhere too because they only go in your eye once. Whatever your recommended duration, it’s there for a reason. Not adhering to it releases the manufacturer of any liability if your vision becomes compromised.
4. Not cleaning or disinfecting lenses properly:
Skipping proper cleaning and disinfection routines can lead to the buildup of protein deposits, bacteria, and other debris on the lenses, increasing the risk of eye infections.
5. Using tap water with lenses:
Rinsing or storing contact lenses in tap water can introduce harmful microorganisms, leading to severe eye infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis.
6. Not replacing lens cases regularly:
Failing to replace contact lens cases every few months can lead to bacterial contamination, reducing the effectiveness of disinfection solutions and increasing the risk of eye infections.
These 3 go hand in hand, honestly. If you aren’t properly cleaning your lenses & case, you are using tap water with its inherent microbial content, or you’re not replacing your equipment regularly, you are exposing your eyes to harmful buildups of bacteria and other contaminants. Check out our last blog for more details.
7. Ignoring discomfort or redness:
Disregarding signs of discomfort, redness, or irritation can indicate underlying issues such as dry eyes, allergies, or infections. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more severe complications.
If it’s different than usual, contact your doctor. Simple as that. Most doctors will take a message with the concern and let you know if it’s a concern worth coming in for. Generally, it's better safe than sorry. Your eyes are one of your five senses, it is important to care for them.
8. Sharing contact lenses:
Sharing contact lenses with others can transfer bacteria, viruses, or fungi between users, increasing the risk of eye infections and other complications.
Not to mention the prescription issues. If you put on the wrong prescription so many other things can go wrong as well.
9. Using expired or inappropriate solution:
Using expired or inappropriate contact lens solutions can fail to effectively disinfect lenses, leading to microbial contamination and potential eye infections.
I actually don’t know anyone that does this, but if you do, please stop.
10. Not following the recommended wearing schedule:
Not adhering to the prescribed wearing schedule, such as wearing daily lenses for longer than a day or extended wear lenses beyond their recommended duration, can increase the risk of eye infections and other complications.
This is kind of the same as number three, ChatGPT just doesn’t really understand the difference. This should really be number three and number three should be number ten, if the date on the box of lenses is in the past for some reason, get new ones and always follow the recommended wear schedule for your type of lens.
What do you think? Did ChatGPT get the top 10 mistakes right? Do you make any of them? Let us know!
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