Black contact lenses are certainly a dynamic look and one that is for the bold. Wearing black contact lenses for the first time is one that requires careful attention to eye health, as with any lenses, they’re considered medical devices. This is regardless of whether they have a vision-correcting prescription or not.
Improper use of them can cause serious risks to the eyes, like infections and, potentially, permanent vision loss.
Essential safety precautions to take
First and foremost, there are some essential safety precautions that you’ll want to take in order to protect your vision.
Get a prescription
Even if you have 20/20 vision, you should be getting a prescription from an eye doctor to ensure that the lenses you purchase will fit your eye shape properly. Not everyone may be aware that you can have different eye shapes.
Buy from reputable sources
Never buy from any unauthorised retailers, like costume shops or random sellers online. These may not be the safest options for your eyes and, in some cases, may contain bacteria or toxic substances.
Never share lenses
Sharing contact lenses is what spreads harmful germs and can also cause eye infections that can damage your eyes, too, if left untreated.
Proper hygiene and no water/saliva
When putting in or removing contact lenses, you should always wash your hands with soap and water, drying them with a lint-free towel before handling the lenses themselves.
It’s good to never rinse or store your lenses in tap water or saliva, only using approved multi-purpose contact lens solution.
Proper usage and care are required
For the first day, you should be wearing them for around 2-4 hours. This can then be slowly increased over 10-12 days just so that your eyes can adjust.
You should never sleep in coloured contact lenses as this significantly increases the risk of eye infections and limits oxygen to the eye. Cleaning and disinfecting lenses with a fresh solution after each use is key. You should also replace your lens caps every three months.
Insert your lenses before applying makeup, and make sure to take them out before you take makeup off.
What to expect in comfort and vision
There are some initial discomforts when wearing black contact lenses or any contact lenses in your eyes for the first time. It’s a minor foreign body that wasn’t in there before, so you may feel it for a few minutes.
Black lenses can sometimes cause a haze around your field of vision, so you should be wary of how much it obstructs your view, making sure it isn’t too intrusive.
If your vision is blurry, then the lens might be out or have a smudge on it. With all lenses, you want to check that the lens forms a perfect bowl shape.
When to remove immediately
If you experience any of the following symptoms, then it’s best to remove the lenses and consult your eye care professional as soon as possible.
- Persistent pain or burning
- Significant ongoing redness
- Suddenly blurry vision
- Excessive discharge or watering
Knowing everything about wearing contact lenses safely is important, so apply these tips to your advantage.
