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There are currently about 41 million people who wear contact lenses in the United States. Due to the high rate of eye infections, the experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the American Optometric Association have decided to conduct a poll to see why there are so many people who wear contact lenses and have eye problems.
After analyzing the data of the survey, they were shocked to find out that almost all of the participants (99 percent) were not using their contact lenses properly.
Thus, about 55 percent of them failed to replace the solution with a fresh batch when they removed their lenses, 50 percent went to bed while still wearing them and more than 80 percent wore them more than they were supposed to.
The CDC decided to carry out the survey because there has been an outbreak of eye infections over the last decade and it has often been linked to the incorrect use of contact lenses.
Given the fact that there are so many people who don’t clean and store their lenses the way they are supposed to, it is no wonder that about a third of them ask for medical help because their eyes hurt or are red. Treating and curing these eye problems usually costs $ 175 million every year.
Health experts are also becoming increasingly worried and feel that it is absolutely necessary for optometrists and ophthalmologists to make sure their patients understand the basic rules of hygiene when it comes to using contacts.
It is also crucial for these people to understand that, while tap water is completely safe for human consumption, it cannot replace the solution when the user wants to disinfect the lenses. Therefore, rinsing the lenses under running water, showering or bathing with them is completely out of the question.
Dr. Steve Compton, the president of the Kentucky Optometric Foundation explains this theory: “Exposure of lenses to water raises the risk for infection because microorganisms living in water can be transferred to the eyeAlthough tap water is treated and safe for drinking, it is not sterile and contains microorganisms that can contaminate lens cases and contact lenses, which can cause eye infections.”
Image Source: telegraph
