Contact lens eye infections are on the rise. However, according to the Center for Disease Control, the rise isn't because of the contacts themselves but because of poor cleaning habits by the wearers of the contacts.  

The contact lens eye infections report published by the CDC alleged that close to 1 million Americans every year visit the doctor because of eye infections. This means that out of the estimated 38 million contact lens wearers in the United States, about one in every forty will see the doctor for an eye problem concerning those very same contacts.

Looking at the figures more keenly, in 2009, about 930,000 Americans visited the optician out of eye infection problems caused by the contacts. Of these visits, about 75% of them are treated by the dispensing of anti biotics. The visits are also very costly to the Americans. Take Keratitis, a common bacterial infection of the eye that causes blurred vision, eye pain, redness and even blindness in severe cases. It costs about $151 to see the doctor for Keratitis. This will result in the expenditure totaling $175 million for the whole year to Americans.

Contact lens eye infections are caused by such factors such as the failure to remove the contacts overnight, the improperly wearing the contacts, not keeping the contact lens clean and even not replacing the contact lens. The CDC recommends a replacement of the lens every three months.

The CDC submits that these eye diseases can be prevented by using:

1. Washing hands before touching the contact lens with your hands

2. Removing the contact lens before going to bed

3. Rubbing and rinsing contacts with disinfectant

4. Replacing old contacts with fresh solution every time

5. Cleaning the contact lens cases

6. Replacing the contact lens every three months

These contact lens eye infections can be treated if spotted early enough