If you typically clean and then air dry your contact lens case, researchers say you could risk contamination if you leave it face up.

A study published in the July issue of Optometry & Vision Science says small numbers of microorganisms were found in contact lens cases when they were cleaned and then left in a face up position.

Contamination was even more likely in humid environments when cases were left face up after cleaning.

“On the basis of this limited study, we would recommend contact lens cases be air dried face down,” researchers said.

Based on these recent findings about care of contact lens cases, Contact Lens Headlines editorial advisor Edward Bennett, OD, MSEd, also suggests that wearers can be extra safe if they replace lens cases frequently — as often as monthly and at least every three months.

Bennett is executive director of the Gas Permeable (GP) Lens Institute (Contact Lens Manufacturers Association). He also is co-chief of the Contact Lens Service at the University of Missouri - St. Louis College of Optometry, where he is an associate professor.

Bennett offered two other crucial tips about good hygiene and contact lens cases:

• Use fresh disinfecting solution daily to minimize contamination of the soaking solution.

• Use only contact lens care products (for cases and contacts) recommended by your eye care practitioner.

“The importance of the lens case in successful, healthy contact lens wear cannot be overemphasized,” Bennett said. “Bacteria and other microorganisms in a nutrient-deprived environment, such as a contact lens case, can secrete a kind of slime which can protect the bacteria against certain preservatives.”

After years of wearing your contact lenses comfortably, you might be dismayed to learn that your favorite brand has been discontinued.

This custom toric contact lens line is from Alden Optical.

If you don’t want to change what has worked so well for you, you might consider a new program by Alden Optical that provides custom-made contact lenses as duplicates for your preferred brand.

Alden Optical President Tom Shone told Contact Lens Headlines that the cost may be about the same in certain cases as what you paid when your favorite contact lenses were available commercially.

Even when custom contact lenses are more expensive, certain contact lens wearers may have special needs that can be met only by a discontinued brand.

“Some brands have unique characteristics such as the size or corrective powers, or they are made from unique materials,” Shone said.

He said one example is the discontinued Hydron Mini lens from CooperVision, which has a distinct design including an unusually small size that could benefit certain wearers.

These types of custom-made contact lenses are available through the Alden, N.Y. company’s recently announced Phoenix program, which specializes in duplicating certain brands of discontinued contact lenses.

Any eye care practitioner should be able to assist patients with ordering these types of custom-made lenses, Shone said.

He said potential wearers also can contact the company at info@aldenoptical.com for recommendations of eye care providers who can assist them with special orders in their geographic area.

In her recent music video, “Bad Romance,” pop star Lady Gaga’s appearance is more arresting than usual thanks to a bit of computer magic: Her eyes were digitally altered to appear bigger.

Not surprising, the doe-eyed look she has in the video has inspired a fad among many teenage girls and young women: wearing special color contacts that mimic the anime-style look. These so-called “circle” contacts have a darkly tinted zone that makes the wearer’s pupil look much larger than normal.

The problem is that circle contact lenses are being sold illegally via the Internet without a contact lens prescription, which eye doctors say could cause serious eye problems ranging from minor eye discomfort to serious eye infections, including potentially blinding infections such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. This especially is true when contact lenses are not properly cleaned and disinfected after each use and/or are shared among friends.

Today, the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and American Optometric Association (AOA) issued a joint statement titled, “Concern Regarding Cosmetic ‘Circle’ Contact Lenses.”

In the document, the organizations point out that all contact lenses, whether they correct vision or are used simply for cosmetic purposes, are classified as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and cannot be obtained legally in the United States without a prescription, which requires a contact lens fitting by a licensed eye care practitioner.

The joint statement also says studies show individuals who purchase contact lenses via the Internet or mail order have a four times greater risk of eye infections than those who purchase their lenses from an eye care professional.

The AAO and AOA also warn of the dangers of sharing or swapping contact lenses with friends and advise consumers desiring cosmetic contact lenses to alter or enhance their appearance to do so only after consultation with their eye care provider.

The AAO/AOA joint statement follows a similar warning about circle contacts issued earlier this month by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Since disposable contacts were introduced in 1987, there has been plenty of controversy about how frequently you should replace your contacts to keep the lenses comfortable and your eyes healthy.

A consensus opinion doesn’t seem to exist among optometrists, as evidenced by a point-counterpoint discussion of the topic published in the June 2010 issue of Contact Lens Spectrum.

Colleen M. Riley, OD, vice president of professional development at Vistakon / Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, says disposable contact lenses should be replaced every two weeks for better vision, less contact lens discomfort and fewer complications.

Offering a different opinion, Peter D. Bergenske, OD, director of professional support at Ciba Vision North America, says popular and highly oxygen-permeable silicone hydrogel contact lenses make monthly replacement sufficient, and replacing contacts on a monthly basis is easier for contact lens wearers to remember than a two-week replacement schedule.

Other eye doctors prefer weekly replacement of disposable contacts. Weekly replacement is more likely to keep the lenses clear and comfortable, and a one-week replacement schedule is very easy for lens wearers to remember and comply with, they say.

Still other eye care practitioners say daily disposable contact lenses are the best choice. With daily disposables, there is no need to remember when to replace your contacts since they are discarded after a single use. Though daily disposable contacts may be the most costly option, many contact lens wearers prefer the convenience of not having to clean and disinfect their contacts at the end of the day, and there is no need to purchase lens care products.

So which contact lens replacement schedule is best for you? That may depend on your eyes as much as your personal preferences.

To determine the type of disposable contacts and the lens replacement schedule that are best for your needs, budget and lifestyle, it’s wise to discuss all options with your optometrist or ophthalmologist.