Many people feel comfortable wearing Contact Lenses as they make their life easier without the hassle of scratching, losing or fixing eye glasses. But, at the same time, it is important to use the Contact Lenses safely and this needs some effort on the wearer’s end. It is easy for most of wearers to skip the cleaning of Lenses or to swim while wearing them or go to sleep without taking them out but any of these things can cause various problems with the eyes. If you experience any eye problem then immediately stop wearing Contact Lenses and consult the doctor. The problems caused by Contact Lenses can be solved easily if you promptly get the treatment of the underlying problem.

Let’s see the early signs of eye problem, various types of Contact problems and ways to prevent these problems:

What are common signs of the eye problem caused by Contact Lenses?

Any type of eye problem whether it is minor such as Dry Eyes or serious infections can have same symptoms. So, in order to protect your vision and eye health, it is essential to consult the ophthalmologist when you experience the symptoms of blurred vision, burning sensation, itching, pain, or stinging in the eyes, redness in eyes, sensitivity of light, feeling of sand in eyes, more tears or other fluid coming in the eyes.

What are various types of problems caused by Contact Lens?

Some common types of eye problems happen when the Contact Lenses are not appropriate according to the size, shape and condition of your eyes or when you don’t follow the safety instructions of the doctor to keep the Lens clean, include:

Infections:

Most of the eye infections that are linked to Contact Lenses are caused by bacteria while some are also caused by certain types of germs. These infections can lead to swelling in the cornea, which is a front surface of the eye. If these infections left untreated then they can cause deep scarring and even vision loss. Usually, the ophthalmologist prescribes antibiotic eye drops to kill the germs that are causing the infection.

Conjunctivitis:

The condition of conjunctivitis is also called as “pink eye”. This condition causes swelling and redness on the eyelids. There are different types of conjunctivitis but with the use of contacts, the most common type is called as giant papillary conjunctivitis. It is a kind of allergic reaction in which your body sees that Lens is something foreign substance that shouldn’t be there and so tries to fight it.

If the symptoms are mild then there is no need to get the treatment because they can go away on their own. But, if the symptoms are severe then the ophthalmologist prescribes topical steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the underlying symptoms. You also may need to stop wearing the contacts for some time. The doctor may also recommend wearing a different type of Lens.

Hypoxia:

The cornea, a clear protective layer that covers the front of the eye, gets most of its oxygen directly from the air. The Contact Lens that sits on top of the cornea may block the oxygen that is needed by this front layer, which results in the condition called as Hypoxia. When this condition occurs, the cornea gets swell leading to some more serious problems mainly cloudy vision.

Hypoxia is more common among those who wear Lenses for extended period of time or those sleep with their Lenses in. The ophthalmologist gives you steroid to put into the eyes for treating swelling and preventing the condition from getting worse. He/she also recommends you to switch to that Contact Lens which allows more oxygen into the cornea.

Scratched cornea:

Contact Lenses can also cause a scratched cornea in different ways. For example, you may drag or rub your cornea with your finger while taking out your Lens or the Lens itself can scratch the cornea or when you don’t properly clean your Lens then dirt start builds up on Lens and scratch the cornea.

If your eyes hurt or you feel that something is in your eyes or they become red with excess tearing then immediately take out the Lens and consult the doctor. Most of the time, a scratched cornea heals up within one day or so but if the symptoms are left untreated then the condition can also lead to infection.     

Dry Eyes:

Every time we blink our eyes, tears spread across the cornea and this action keeps our eyes moist and wipes out all the dust and irritants while protecting the eyes from various infections. If the eyes don’t make enough tears or the quality of tears can’t properly perform their function then it leads to irritation and dryness in the eyes, a condition known as Dry Eyes.   

Over-the-counter artificial tears are recommended to treat the condition of Dry Eyes. If you are using these drops with your Lenses in then make sure to check that these are marked as safe for Contact Lenses or they don’t contain any preservative. If these drops didn’t treat the symptoms then the ophthalmologist prescribes special eye drops and devises other treatment options. 

Allergic reactions:

It may happen that you can get allergic reaction to the cleaning solution of contacts or rarely, to the material in the Contact Lens itself. If allergic reaction occurs then you should use different contacts or another solution as per the ophthalmologist’s recommendations.

What measures you can take to prevent contacts problems?

The Contact Lens should fit the shape and size of your eye because an unfit Lens can cause various eye problems. Secondly, different types of Lens have different features that may become better or worse for your eyes. Take the example of hypoxia, in which you can treat the condition by changing the Lens that lets more oxygen in. Sometimes, you may need to try different Lenses to choose the right one.

The ophthalmologist gives you some instructions of using the Lens and so you should strictly follow these to prevent eye problem. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them well before touching the contacts. Strictly follow the instructions to clean and disinfect the Lens. Replace your contacts as recommended by the ophthalmologist. Buy a new storage case for your contacts as prescribed; usually it is best to replace it after every three months. Discard whatever is in your Lens case and refill it with fresh solution. Use the solution only that is made specifically for your specific type of Lenses rather using tap or distilled water or anything else. When you want to go outside your home, don’t pour the solution into travel-size container because it can lead to infection, instead you can use travel-size bottle of solution. Avoid sleeping, swimming or showering with contacts in.

Conclusion:

Professional consultation is essential before using Contact Lenses because without a proper consultation, you can have a high risk of getting various eye problems. The ophthalmologists and optometrists at Menger Eye Centers are high accomplished to provide the best consultation in Glendale, NYC for choosing most appropriate Lens that perfectly fits your eyes. They recommend a complete usage plan along with the instructions to properly and safely wear the Lens and this prevents the eye problems.