Health and Safety

Novelty contact lenses are great fun and can create the perfect new look have been hoping for, they do not correct vision, they are purely a fashion accessory. One of the first concerns especially with first time users is if you would find them comfortable, the best way to ensure comfort is to go to an optician and get their recommendation on the size of contacts you should purchase. There are many guidelines for general use of contacts and one that will be heard again and again is never to borrow them from friends or lend them out.

The most important thing to remember when putting your contacts in is to make sure your hands are generally hygienic, if you put contacts in with dirty fingers or with nails that are too long, you can run the risks of infection. Infections can also be caught when contacts are borrowed off friends. This maybe stating the obvious, but there are still many people (normally teenagers) that lend their contacts to friends.

Contacts often last around 30 days and then should be replaced; within that time frame you can wear them as often as you like, so long as they are kept well with a suited solution. When the contacts are worn out, eyes may become dry, as soon as this happens, take them out, this will help prevent any infection. It is best not to sleep in them as they can dry out your eyes and create irritation. If there are any other queries it is best to consult an optician or doctor.

For first use it is recommended not to wear them any longer than a few hours, so if you have an event you wish to wear them for, wear them a few times for a couple of hours previous to the event so eyes can adjust. To keep your contacts looking fresh it is advised to change the solution regularly, (every day is ideal) it will also extend the expected life of them.

If you wear make-up it is best to apply it after putting your contacts in and to remove them before taking your make-up off. It is very important not to put make-up on the lenses as this can invite bacteria and cause infection. It is also advisable to use oil-free moisturiser, and when using hairspray to shield your eyes as hairspray can impair vision if there is contact.