Back to Routine: 4 Simple Habits for Better Lens Care

Back-to-school season has a way of bringing routine back into focus. Earlier mornings, busier schedules, packed calendars, and a return to the habits that help keep everything on track.

Your contact lens care can benefit from that same reset.

Whether you're heading back to school, getting kids out the door, or simply settling into a busier fall schedule, a consistent lens care routine can help make caring for your specialty contact lenses easier and help set you up for comfortable, successful wear.

Make Lens Care Automatic

The best routines are the ones you don't have to think much about!

Try keeping your lens care supplies together in the same clean, convenient place and following the same steps each day. When cleaning and caring for your lenses becomes part of your "normal" morning and evening routine, you're less likely to rush through or forget an important step.

And don't forget the basics: always wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling your lenses, and never use tap water to rinse or store them.

Plan for Busy Days

A change in schedule can make even established habits harder to maintain. Long school days, after-school activities, travel, work, and evenings away from home can all interfere with your normal routine.

A little preparation goes a long way. Keep the lens care products recommended by your eye care provider stocked at home, and consider putting together a small backup kit for your school bag, work bag, or backpack.

If you occasionally need to remove or reapply your lenses away from home, you'll have the supplies you need rather than having to improvise.

Don't Let "Almost Out" Become "All Out"

Make checking your lens care supplies part of your routine, too. When you open your last bottle, box, or package, consider that your reminder to reorder rather than waiting until it's completely gone.

Having the right supplies on hand makes it much easier to stick with the care routine your eye care provider recommended. Try subscribing to the products you use most to ensure you always have what you need on-hand. 

Give Your Routine a Checkup

Back-to-school season is also a good time to make sure your routine still matches your needs.

Have you added or changed products over time? Are you unsure about a step? Have your lenses, wearing schedule, or comfort changed?

Bring your products or even a photo of everything you're using to your next appointment and review your routine with your eye care provider. Small adjustments may make your daily care easier.

A Little Routine Goes a Long Way

Good lens care doesn't have to feel complicated. Like packing your bag the night before or putting your keys in the same place every day, consistency can turn one more thing you have to remember into something you simply do.

This fall, get back to routine and make healthy lens care one of the habits that sticks.