Contact Lens Comfort and Care -- What We Tell Our Patients

The basics that prevent most problems

Most serious contact lens complications are preventable. The habits below are not complicated, but they matter more than most patients realize.

Do not sleep in your lenses

This is the single highest-risk habit in contact lens wear. Sleeping in lenses – even ones approved for overnight use – reduces oxygen supply to the cornea and creates conditions for bacterial growth. The result can be a corneal ulcer: painful, potentially sight-threatening, and entirely avoidable.

We know it happens. If you fall asleep in your lenses occasionally, remove them as soon as you wake up and give your eyes a few hours without lenses before reinserting. If it happens regularly, tell us. We would rather adjust your lens type or wearing schedule to fit your real life than have you feel bad about it.

Replace lenses on schedule

Daily lenses are single-use. Biweekly lenses last two weeks from the day you open them, not two weeks of actual wear. Monthly lenses last one month from opening, regardless of how many days you wore them.

Stretching lenses past their replacement date is one of the most common things patients do and one of the most common causes of discomfort and complications. The lens material degrades, deposits build up, and oxygen transmission drops. If the replacement schedule does not fit your budget or lifestyle, we can find a lens that does.

Keep water away from your lenses

Tap water, shower water, pool water, hot tubs, lakes, and oceans all pose a risk. Water can carry Acanthamoeba – a microorganism that causes a rare but serious corneal infection that is extremely difficult to treat. Saliva is not a safe substitute either.

Use fresh contact lens solution for rinsing, cleaning, and storing. If you swim, use prescription swim goggles or daily disposable lenses that you discard immediately after.

Replace your case every three months

Your lens case develops biofilm – a layer of bacteria that clings to the surface and resists normal cleaning. Replace the case at least every three months. Between replacements:

• Rinse with fresh solution after each use (never water)
• Wipe the inside with a clean finger
• Leave it open and upside down to air dry
• Use the new case that comes with each bottle of solution

Use fresh solution every time

Never top off old solution in the case. Dump it out, rinse with fresh solution, and refill. Topping off dilutes the disinfecting agent and allows bacteria to survive. This is a small habit that makes a real difference.

Why lenses get uncomfortable

If your contacts feel fine in the morning but uncomfortable by mid-afternoon, you are not alone. End-of-day discomfort is the most common reason patients reduce wear time or stop wearing contacts altogether.

The usual causes:

• Wearing lenses too long – most soft lenses are designed for 10 to 14 hours, not 16
• Lenses past their replacement date – deposits build up even if the lens looks clear
• Screen time – your blink rate drops by as much as half during concentrated screen work, which dries out the lens surface
• Dry environment – low indoor humidity during heating season, air conditioning, or sitting near vents
• Underlying dry eye – contact lens discomfort can be the first sign of dry eye disease that has not been diagnosed yet
• Wrong lens material or fit – some eyes do better with a different material, water content, or base curve

Things that often help:

• Switch to daily disposable lenses – a fresh lens every day eliminates deposit buildup
• Use preservative-free rewetting drops during the day (not regular eye drops, which can coat the lens)
• Take lenses out earlier if your eyes are telling you to – pushing through discomfort increases corneal stress
• Follow the replacement schedule honestly
• Take screen breaks – the same 5 to 10 minute break every 30 minutes that helps with digital eye strain also helps with lens comfort

If you have tried these and your lenses are still uncomfortable, a contact lens assessment can determine whether the issue is the lens, the fit, or your tear film.

Showering and swimming

We get asked about this a lot and the answer is straightforward: keep water away from your lenses whenever possible.

• Showering: close your eyes or remove your lenses first. If water splashes on your lenses, it is low risk but not zero risk.
• Swimming in pools or hot tubs: remove lenses or wear watertight goggles. Chlorine does not eliminate all microorganisms.
• Open water (lakes, oceans): same advice. If you must wear lenses, use daily disposables and discard them immediately after.
• Prescription swim goggles are the safest option if you need vision correction in the water.

When something is wrong

Contact lens discomfort is common. Contact lens emergencies are not, but they require prompt attention.

Remove your lenses and call us if you have:

• Pain that does not go away after removing lenses
• A red eye that is getting worse, not better
• Sensitivity to light
• A white or grey spot on the coloured part of your eye
• Discharge, crusting, or a stuck feeling when you wake up
• Sudden blurred vision that does not clear with blinking

These can be signs of a corneal infection, ulcer, or inflammation. Early treatment matters – do not wait to see if it improves on its own.

At Spadina Optometry in downtown Toronto, we see urgent eye problems and contact lens complications. Call us at 416-703-2797 if you are unsure whether your symptoms need immediate attention.

When to come in for a check-up

Even if your lenses feel fine, an annual contact lens assessment is important. We check:

• Corneal health under the lens – problems can develop without symptoms
• Whether your lens fit is still appropriate – your eyes and prescription can change
• Whether your current lens type is still the best option for your needs

If your lenses have become less comfortable over time, if you are thinking about switching to dailies, or if your wearing habits have changed, bring it up at your next visit. We are not here to judge – we are here to make your lenses work for your actual life.

Related

• Are contact lenses safe? – coloured lenses, sharing, buying online, and why contacts are regulated
• Contact lenses: fittings and complex prescriptions – toric, multifocal, and specialty options
• Dry eye disease – when discomfort goes beyond the lens
• Dry eye in winter – why lenses feel worse during heating season
• Digital eye strain – screen habits that affect lens comfort
• Fees and pricing – contact lens fitting costs