Can Your Contact Lenses Cause Eye Infections?

If you mishandle your eyeglasses they may need to be fixed or replaced. If you need to buy new prescription glasses it may not be cheap but it’s easy to do. Mishandling your contact lenses may result in serious infections in your eyes, which are irreplaceable. It’s not unusual for there to be some minor irritation when first using contact lenses. Serious eye infections are very rare but if one occurs it may be very harmful and quick acting. These infections are often caused by users who either don’t know proper handling techniques, make mistakes or they choose not to bother with precautions. Click Here for 10 Do's and Don'ts of Wearing Contact Lenses Eye infections and corneal ulcers can develop very quickly and be very severe. You won’t know the seriousness of a problem when you are wearing contact lenses unless you’re in physical pain or are suffering vision loss. If you think something is wrong you need to contact our office so we can diagnose the problem and address it. If you’re suffering irritation due to your contacts or think you may have an eye infection, the Food and Drug Administration suggests you,

• Take out your lenses and don’t put them back in your eyes.
• Contact our office right way.
• Don't throw away the contacts. Store them in your case and bring them to us. They may be helpful in diagnosing the problem.

Signs of eye Irritation or infection to be aware of include,

• Discomfort,
• Tears or some kind of discharge,
• Unusual light sensitivity,
• Itching, burning or a gritty or sandy feeling in your eyes,
• Unusual redness,
• Blurred sight,
• Swelling, and,
• Pain.

Improperly handled contact lenses can cause corneal ulcers. They are open sores in the cornea normally caused by infections. To reduce the risk of suffering an eye infection due to contaminated contact lenses,

• Thoroughly wash your hands before touching your eye, putting in or taking out a contact lens.
• Clean and disinfect your lenses according to instructions.
• Don’t reuse the solutions in your case. Discard the left over contact lens solution after each use.
• Saline solution and rewetting drops are not disinfectants so don’t use them as such.
• Never use your saliva on your contacts.
• To clean your lenses rub them with clean fingers on a clean hand then rinse the lenses with the solution before soaking them. Do this whether or not the solution you use advertises itself as a “no-rub” type.
• The tip of your solution should not touch any surface. Close the container after each use.
• Avoid exposing your contacts to any kind of water, whether that’s from the tap, bottled, distilled, from a lake or an ocean.
• Never use non-sterile water with your lenses. Exposure to tap or distilled water may lead to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection resistant to treatment and cure.
• Remove contacts before showering or swimming to avoid a bacterial infection.
• Replace your contact lens storage case at least every three months.
• Replace your contact lenses as directed by your eye care professional.
• Remove your contacts before you go to sleep.

There are risks associated with contact lens use but if you properly handle, clean and disinfect your contacts those risks are very small. But if you think you may have an eye infection it’s something that should be addressed without delay. If you have questions about using contact lenses or think you may be suffering an infection related to their use, contact the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight at 610-437-4988 or fill out our contact form so we can start the conversation and work together to protect your sight. Houman Ahdieh, MD Lehigh Valley Center for Sight https://www.lvcenter4sight.com eyedoc@lvcenter4sight.com

https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/can-your-contact-lenses-cause-eye-infections/