According to the American Optometric Association, contact lenses are one of the safest forms of vision correction, if wearers properly maintain their lenses.

However, busy lifestyles and confusing directions—yes, one has to rub "no-rub" solutions into contacts—mean that many Americans do not thoroughly clean or disinfect their lenses.

Bacteria and proteins can adhere to lenses, causing infection when contacts are reapplied to eyes.

Serious vision problems, even blindness, can result when contact wearers sleep or shower with their contacts in or when they wear their lenses longer than recommended. Recent eye disease outbreaks were worsened in people who wore their lenses without properly caring for their eyes.

Contact lens disinfectant must be strong enough to kill bacteria but gentle enough to avoid irritating sensitive ocular tissue.

Solutions need an overnight period to disinfect lenses properly, but many Americans will rewear contacts after a one-hour soak. Some people will reuse old contact lens solution, helping contaminate contact lenses.

Some companies are developing products that make disinfecting and cleaning lenses quicker, easier and more effective, helping to ensure improved contact lens safety.

This story is provided by NewsUSA.