Recently, a nationwide scare involved a certain brand of contact lens solution being pulled off the shelves because it was said to have caused some contamination of contact lenses. Suddenly, light was shed on the possibility of contact lens wearers suffering eye infections caused by contamination, a topic once carelessly overlooked.

Because they are made of synthetic materials, contact lenses tend to be prone to the buildup of micro–organisms and protein deposits. If not properly removed, these deposits and absorbed materials build up on the surface of the lens. Over time, this causes the lens to feel uncomfortable, and vision to be impaired. But most dangerously, the lenses run the risk of contamination. There's also a perfectly sound explanation why lenses should never be rinsed with tap water. The chlorine, minerals and metal particles in tap water can sit on the surface of the lens, damaging both the eye and the lens. Water also contains organisms which can cause microbial contamination and lead to serious infections of the eye. Wearing lenses also increases your risk of corneal infection, simply because lenses reduce the supply of oxygen to the cornea and less oxygen means a higher chance of infection.

While it is possible for contact lens wearers to suffer from fungal contamination, arming yourself with the knowledge of fungal infections of the eye can reduce your risk.

It’s easy to spot signs and symptoms of a fungal infection and these include eye lesions, the clouding of the surface of the eye, significant eye inflammation, blurred vision or the loss of vision and light sensitivity. In addition, the eye feels highly irritated and suffers a discharge, swelling, some pain, tearing and redness.

Rather than seeking a cure after finding out about an eye contamination, aim to prevent it by following safe, hygienic practices when taking care of your eyes and handling your contact lenses. Here are some guidelines:

• Only handle your contact lenses with super clean hands and fingers. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free cloth before touching the lenses.
• Wear your lenses only for as long as prescribed, and replace them according to schedule.
• Keep your lens case spotlessly clean and replace it every month.
• If you experience any of the symptoms of contamination (as highlighted at the start of this article), remove your lenses and consult your optometrist immediately.
• Even if you're using a no-rub cleaning and storage solution, practise the rub-and-rinse lens cleaning method. This ensures that any last traces of germs or organisms are removed from the lens and reduces the chances of infection.
• Pick your contact lenses cleaning, disinfecting and storage solutions very carefully. Purified or distilled water and homemade solutions should not be used for rinsing lenses.
  
  

Clean and disinfect your lenses thoroughly to kill micro-organisms that can cause eye infections.

Store your lenses only in solutions approved for contact lens storage.

If your lenses feel dry, use only drops approved for re-wetting contact lenses, and that are recommended for the alleviation of lens dryness.

A dirty contact lens case is a minefield for microbial contamination. Keep your case clean and frequently replace it – once every month. The packaging insert on your contact lens solution usually includes detailed instructions for cleaning the case.