You should protect your eyes against the sun the way you protect your skin. The main eye infection contact lens wearers can get can actually be caused by excessive UV exposure. Many contact lens brands now claim to have UVA/UVB protection, but this is never an acceptable replacement for a pair of light-blocking sunglasses.

When contacts are exposed to water, they can be exposed to microorganisms that can be very harmful. So if you choose to swim in contacts or insist on keeping them on while you shower, talk to your doctor about using your contacts with goggles and changing to a daily disposable lens to minimise your risk of infection.

The care and maintenance of your contact lens case is very important first step for reducing your risk of infection. When it comes to storing your contacts, keep in mind that a fluid-filled dark environment is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

When you close your eyes with your lenses in place, you’re reducing oxygen, so the surface becomes more vulnerable to infection. Meanwhile, any germs on lens are being slammed against cornea by the insides of your eyelids.

A small study from researchers at the New York University School of Medicine found that different types of bacteria reside on the eyeballs of contact lens wearers than non-lens wearers — and the bacterial populations were more similar those found on skin than typically found on the eyes. The solution? Stop touching your eyes!

Eye infections can cause pain, blurred vision, and sometimes even blindness but proper storage is key to contact lens health. If you’re worried about an infection, the signs include discomfort, excessive tearing or mucus, sensitivity to light, itching, burning, a “gritty” feeling, redness, blurred vision, swelling and pain.

Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea, which is the dome of the eye where the contact lens rests. Although it’s a rare and serious complication, it’s very painful and requires immediate medical attention. If it’s not cured, it can result in vision loss, or a corneal transplant may even be needed to treat the infected eye.

Do not ever DIY contact solution! Because you’re not working in a sterile environment, you’re at risk for mixing in a litany of germs into your solution. Don’t store them in water either. Contact lenses are intended to be soaked in saline that has a very particular balance that mimics your natural tears. Water can upset this delicate balance.

Acanthamoeba is the scariest amoeba that can affect the eye, and they are relatively ubiquitous and can live in, but are not restricted to, tap water, freshwater lakes and rivers as well as soil. Infections from acanthamoeba can lead to significant and permanent vision loss, so if your eye starts to feel “funky” after swimming see your doctor.

It’s physically impossible to lose a contact lens “behind” your eye. A membrane covers your eye and connects inside your eyelids, preventing anything from getting behind your eye, including a contact lens. Contacts also cannot get stuck to your eye and are easily removed using the method your eye care practitioner recommends.