Using hand sanitizer before putting in contact lenses is probably not the best idea, although daily hygiene begins with clean hands. It is more essential if you are a regular contact lenses user. Why? It prevents pathogen from going into your eyes. Unclean finger tips can also infect contact lenses with various microorganisms which can cause serious ocular infections. Can you use hand sanitizers before putting in contact lenses? Read on to learn the recommended hand sanitizing procedures that should be applied before handling your contact lenses.
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
4 Ways to Avoid Using Hand Sanitizer Before Putting in Contact Lenses
Using concentrated soap and water is the best way to get rid of dirt and germs. Access to water supply can be quite scarce when traveling or taking part in outdoor activities. This should not be a reason to compromise on your hygiene standards, though.
It is highly recommended to get rid of dirt from your hands before touching your contact lenses. Just use water from your drinking bottle, if you have any. It should be sufficient to meet the required needs at that moment.
Here are four hand sanitizing procedures to maintaining good hand hygiene if you ever need to remove your contact lenses outdoors.
1. Wash Hands with Concentrated Liquid Soap
Concentrated soaps are an effective to remove stubborn stains and germs. To wash your hands with limited water supply, put a few drops of liquid soap on a dry cloth. A small towel or a bandana could work too. Mix it with a bit of water and rub the substance together on the cloth. Then, wipe your face and hands, particularly the finger pads which will be used to handling your contact lenses. Wet your hands with a little bit of water and pat your face and hands dry before touching your contact lenses.
Read More: How to Wash Your Hands Properly
2. Reduce Using Hand Sanitizer Before Putting in Contact Lenses
Hand sanitizers are extremely convenient to bring around. However, the alcohol content can harm your eyes. To be safe, try avoiding from using sanitizers that contain Triclosan. It is a toxic chemical that can easily be absorbed into the skin. This can cause thyroid and liver toxicity.
Bear in mind that hand sanitizers is not for cleaning purposes. It mainly kills off bacteria. If a hand sanitizer is the only item that you have, no worries. You can still rub your finger pads with it and dip them in water afterwards. Alternatively, if you do not have any water supply with you, dipping your thumb and index finger in contact lenses solution can also do the trick.
Read More: COVID-19: Washing Hands with Soap Water vs Sanitizer
3. Wet Wipes Aren’t That Safe Either
Multi-purpose wet wipes are a compact and light-weight cleaning tool. This is why most people prefer carrying them around as it is useful for all situations. That includes wiping dirty surfaces, cleaning hands, and more.
Bet you did not know that wet wipes also have a pretty high content of alcohol. However, if you prefer using wet wipes, try opting for the unscented ones.
Here is a bonus tip for you too! If you happen to be in the wild, unscented wet wipes help prevent from attracting wildlife. Always be mindful to dispose the wet wipes responsibly, though. It is our job to keep the wildlife and environment safe!
4. Old Contact Lenses Solution Can Come in Handy
Do not dispose remaining contact lenses solution just yet! You can always reuse it to disinfect or clean your finger pads. Once you are done, discard the liquid and keep the rest in your bag for whenever you need to use it again. Cool, huh? Nevertheless, do take note that eyedrops & solutions are different!
Last, but Not Least
Contact lenses are a necessity if they are your main tool for better vision. We understand that glasses can be an inconvenience. Mainly because you are required to adjust the glasses or constantly wipe the lenses, depending on the environment you are in. On top of that, glasses also do not ensure peripheral vision thus, contact lenses seem to be more reliable when it comes to corrected vision.
We hope that these hand sanitizing procedures have been helpful. Once again, a gentle reminder to always clean your hands thoroughly and avoid from using hand sanitizer before putting in contact lenses, whether you are indoors or outdoors.