Regardless of color or visual design, cosmetic contact lenses remain Class II or Class III medical devices. Corneal infections do not discriminate between prescription lenses and fashion accessories. Safe use requires rigid sanitation routines during every step of handling.
Always wash your hands thoroughly with fragrance-free antibacterial soap and dry them with a lint-free microfiber towel before touching the lenses. Apply contacts before brushing on eye makeup, and remove them before cleansing your face at night. This sequence prevents oily cleansing balms and pigmented eye shadows from sticking to the hydrogel matrix.
For monthly or bi-weekly wearers, daily cleaning requires active mechanical rubbing. Place the lens in the palm of your hand, add several drops of multipurpose disinfecting solution, and rub both sides gently in a back-and-forth motion with your index finger for 15 to 20 seconds. Simple soaking alone will not eliminate stubborn lipid deposits. Store lenses strictly in fresh solution within a clean case, and replace that storage case every 90 days. Never expose lenses or storage accessories to tap water, distilled water, or homemade saline solutions, as doing so introduces the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis, an aggressive infection capable of causing permanent vision loss.
