CDC survey shows most contact wearers are reckless with their lenses

If you're one of the nearly 41 million American adults who wear contact lenses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's likely you are doing something that allows germs to get in your eyes.

The CDC surveyed 1,000 contact lens wearers, and said it's no surprise that nearly 1 million people visit their eye doctors annually complaining of keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea. The survey found that more than half of wearers slept or napped with their lenses on, 61 percent swam, and 55 percent said they would just top off the solution in their lens case instead of changing it. About one-third of those who responded said they rinsed their contacts in tap water, and 16.8 percent have stored their lenses in tap water. "Even 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 CDC said.

The survey was only for adults, and the CDC believes teenagers are probably even less hygienic, NBC News reports. To stay safe, the CDC says wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them completely before touching your contact lenses. Always take them out before showering, swimming, and sleeping, and rub and rinse the lenses every time they are removed. After rinsing your case, dry it and store it upside down with the caps off.

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