What instructions should patients receive to prevent their contact lenses from becoming contaminated?

The advice to wash hands with soap and water before touching lenses is essential in preventing contamination. This practice reduces the risk of transferring bacteria and other pathogens from the hands to the lenses. Clean hands eliminate unnecessary exposure to contaminants that could lead to serious eye infections or irritations.

Handling food, such as spicy items, does not have a direct connection to lens hygiene or contamination. While it's good practice to maintain general cleanliness, the focus on handwashing is more pertinent to preventing lens contamination. Furthermore, avoiding contact with the face during lens insertion can be helpful but does not replace the critical step of handwashing, as handling contaminated lenses with unwashed hands poses the greatest risk.

Using fragrance-free lotion before handling lenses may be beneficial for skin care; however, lotions can also lead to residue transfer onto the lenses, which is undesirable. Therefore, the practice of thorough handwashing stands out as the most effective instruction to help patients maintain proper lens hygiene.