Contact lenses and water must never mix

The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) has produced ‘No water’ stickers to remind contact lens wearers to not allow water to come into contact with their lenses or case.

The symbols are a modification of those used to mark lens boxes as right or left eye and include a ‘no water’ graphic designed by contact lens wearer, Irenie Ekkeshis, who contracted acanthamoeba keratitis. The stickers are designed to be placed on contact lens boxes at the point of collection and feature the new BCLA logo.

Irenie, from London, said: “Acanthamoeba keratitis is a serious and debilitating eye infection, which has had a profound impact on my own life. The fact the BCLA is including my ‘no water’ design on their new stickers is a huge step forward, and I am pleased to be working with them to encourage contact lens manufacturers to add a similar warning to their packaging.

“The chances of contracting this very rare, but awful, infection can be minimised by following a simple rule: contact lenses and water should never mix.

Immediate Past BCLA President, Dr Catharine Chisholm, who liaised closely with Irenie over the development of the stickers, said: “We decided to produce the stickers because of the continued apparent lack of awareness of the risks of water coming into contact with lenses and lens cases.

“We are continuing to lobby the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers to encourage manufacturers to put a similar warning on packaging. The BCLA is extremely grateful to Irenie for her input on this project,” added Catharine.