COnTaCT LEns CaRE

Contact lenses help people improve their vision. If you are not careful, contact 

lenses can cause major eye problems. It is important to keep your eyes safe.

Use this booklet to help you talk to your eye doctor about keeping your eyes healthy 

and comfortable while you wear contacts. 

General Tips

• Follow your eye doctor’s directions on how to wear 

 and clean your contacts.

• Wash and rinse your hands before touching your 

 lenses.

• Use only contact lens solution to store or rinse 

 your contacts. 

• Get your doctor’s OK before using any new or 

 different medicines.

• Put in your contacts before you use makeup. 

 Take them out before removing makeup.

• Take out your lenses and call your eye doctor right 

 away if: 

 - Your vision changes

 - Your eyes are red

 - Your eyes hurt or feel itchy

 - You have a lot of tears

• Report problems to FDA’s Medwatch program. 

 1-800-FDA-1088, www.fda.gov/medwatch

Types Of 

Contact Lenses

Disposable Lenses

Wear them for one day and 

then throw away.

Daily Wear Lenses

Wear them for one day. Take 

them out when you go to sleep 

or take a nap. Clean the lenses 

every day. 

Extended Wear Lenses Wear 

up to 30 days and then throw 

away. Give your eyes a rest for 

at least one night. Then put in 

a new pair. 

Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses

Talk with your doctor to find 

the best cleaning, disinfecting 

and wearing schedule for you. 

For more contact lens care tips, go to www.fda.gov/contactlenses 2013
Other tips To learn more contact lens tips visit

www.fda.gov/contactlenses

Lens solutions 

• Do not “top off” the solutions in 

 your case.

• Throw away all of the lens solution after 

 each use. 

• Use only the lens solutions and eye 

 drops that your eye doctor suggests.

• Do not use solutions longer than the 

 recommended time after opening.

• Replace your contact lens case every 

 3-6 months.

Buying Contact Lenses

Use these tips to stay safe when buying 

your lenses. 

• Always have an up-to-date, correct 

 prescription from your eye doctor.

• Make sure you have had an eye exam 

 within the last one to two years.

• Never buy contact lenses, including 

 decorative lenses, from gas stations, 

 video stores, record shops, or any other 

 vendor not authorized by law to sell 

 contact lenses. 

• Make sure your prescription includes:

 - Your name

 - Date of your eye exam

 - Date you received the prescription 

 (issue date) and the date your 

 prescription expires

 - Lens measurements

 - The contact lens brand name and 

 material

 - Your doctor’s name and contact 

 information

Watch out! Make sure you get what you asked for. 

Some online or mail-order sellers may send you a different brand. Contact lenses may 

look the same, but materials and shapes change by brand.

If you think you received the wrong lenses, contact your eye doctor. Do not accept 

different brands unless your doctor says it is ok.
DecOrative 

cOntacts

To learn more about decorative contact lenses visit

www.fda.gov/decorativecontacts

Decorative contact lenses change the look 

of your eye. For example, these lenses can 

change your brown eyes to blue eyes.

Some people wear them for special events, 

parties or Halloween. People may also wear 

them to look like their favorite singer or 

character. 

Decorative lenses can enhance your look. 

They can also damage your eyes if not used 

correctly. They can cause serious problems 

like infection and blindness.

Use These Tips To Keep You and 

Your Family safe.

• Buy the lenses from an eye care doctor 

 or from a vendor who requires that you 

 provide a prescription.

• Do not buy lenses from a beauty supply 

 store, flea market, or Halloween store.

• Follow directions for cleaning and 

 wearing the lenses.

• Visit your eye doctor for follow-up 

 eye exams.

You need an eye exam and 

prescription for decorative 

contact lenses.
Top Things To Know about 

Contact Lenses

• Follow your eye doctor’s directions on how to 

 wear and clean your contacts.

• If you have a problem, take out your lenses 

 right away and bring them with you to see 

 your doctor. 

• Have an up-to-date, correct prescription from 

 your eye doctor when buying contact lenses.

• Get your doctor’s OK before using any new or 

 different medicines. 

• Do not use solutions longer than the 

 recommended time after opening.

• Take out your contacts when you swim or go 

 into a hot tub. You could risk an eye infection 

 from the non-sterile water.

• You also need an eye exam and prescription 

 for decorative contact lenses.

• Report problems to FDA’s Medwatch program. 

 1-800-FDA-1088, www.fda.gov/medwatch 

For more information 

and tips on contact 

lenses visit:

www.fda.gov/contactlenses 

To get other women’s health materials, go to:

www.fda.gov/womens

TAKE TIME TO CARE... For yourself, for those who need you.