CDC study highlights risky contact lens hygiene habits

A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that approximately 99 percent of contact lens wearers engage in at least one risky hygiene habit. These behaviors can lead to eye irritation and serious ocular infections.

Commonly reported issues include wearing lenses beyond their prescribed replacement schedule, sleeping in lenses not specifically designed for extended wear, and rinsing lenses with tap water. Using tap water or natural water sources, such as during swimming or showering, can introduce microorganisms that adhere to the lens surface and cause difficult-to-treat infections.

In Hungary, optometrist Mária Boros notes that patients frequently overwear lenses and misuse cleaning solutions. Many users mistakenly believe lenses are safe to wear past their expiration if no immediate redness or pain is felt, though pathogens can multiply unnoticed. Additionally, research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology indicates that over 60 percent of contact lens cases are bacterially contaminated due to improper drying or infrequent replacement.