CDC: Most Contact Lens Wearers Are Risking Infection

Doing any of these things will increase your risk of eye infection by at least five times.

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most contact lens wearers are at risk of getting an eye infection.

About a third of contact-lens wearers said they had experienced pain and redness in their eyes related to their contact lenses that required a visit to the doctor. CDC collaborated with the Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) group, a multi-university group of researchers, to conduct the survey.

Wearing their lenses while sleeping (50.2 percent). For example, 85 percent said they showered with their contact lenses, 61 percent reported swimming with their lenses and 35 percent reported rinsing their lenses with water, according to the report, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The most common offense: napping in contact lenses. Another survey estimated the number of contact lens wearers in the U.S., which came out to about 41 million adults, the CDC said.

(HealthDay)-Most contact lens wearers close their eyes to safety recommendations, a new U.S. government study finds.

Topping off solution (adding new solution to the existing solution instead of emptying the case out fully before adding new solution) (ever): 55.1%. “Household tap water, although treated to be safe for drinking, is not sterile and contains microorganisms that can contaminate lens cases and contact lenses and cause eye infections”, the report says.

The CDC is not saying that the act of wearing contacts in and of itself constitutes a risky behavior, but rather said that almost 100 percent of all people who wear contacts have admitted to engaging in at least one habit that could lead to eye infections.

The CDC has made August 24-28 2015 Contact Lens Health Week, which it is preparing by publishing research like the survey mentioned above and working with its partners in the eye care industry.