According
to the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) there
are more than 41 million contact lens wearer above 18 years of age and the
majority engage in behaviors that put them at risk for serious eye infections.
Further, there are more than 3.5 million adolescents 12-17 of age of which 85%
admit to at least one behavior that exposes them to increased risk of a contact
lens related eye infection. The clearly
risky behaviors include sleeping in lenses, exposing lenses to water,
not adhering to replacement schedules, and reusing disinfecting solution. Contact lens related eye
infections, which can lead to serious outcomes, including blindness, are
preventable with good hygiene and wearing habits such as replacing the storage
case regularly, not sleeping or even napping in lenses, not swimming in lenses
and especially not exposing them to lake or pond water and preferably not even
tap water.
If you or someone you know is a contact lens
wearer please make sure they use the necessary behaviors and care of their
lenses to prevent risking an eye infection. To learn more call us at Alabama Eye &
Cataract Center, P.C. in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye &
Cataract Center,
Google or www.facebook.com/alabamaeyeandcataractcenter.
Michelson Laser Vision, Inc. and Alabama Eye
& Cataract Center, P.C. are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located
at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and
staffed by UAB Medicine eye doctors and eye specialists.
