Common Contact Lens Problems, Proper Contact Lens Care

Newspaper Article about Contact Lens Care

Contact Lens Problems, Anyone?

You finally took the big step and switched from wearing eyeglasses to contact lenses. You heard the numerous positives points about wearing contacts and wanted to give it a try. But now that you’re finally in contact lenses, why is it that your vision doesn’t seem as clear? Or why do your eyes feel dry towards the end of the day? Or why does your vision fluctuate when you’re reading or using a computer for hours at a time?

The primary issue that affects the quality of vision and comfort-related complications is how well a person takes care of their contact lenses. When people start having visual complaints or problems with redness, dryness and intolerance issues, one main reason is that the lenses are taken care of poorly.

Overwear is one problem that leads to contact lens complications. If you are wearing the contact lenses every waking moment, or even sleeping in them, you are cutting off the supply of oxygen to the cornea, the part of the eye on which the contact lens sits. Decreasing the oxygen supply to the cornea principally causes inflammation and dryness, but can also lead to the formation of corneal ulcers and bacterial infections that could potentially be sight threatening.

Poor cleaning habits also lead to contact lens problems. The contact lens case that you have should be replaced frequently. Whenever you purchase contact lens solution, it always comes with a new case, so use it. Old contact lens cases harbor nasty bacteria, so replacing your contact lens case regularly reduces your exposure to bacterial eye infections. Also, it is important to throw out the used solution in your contact lens case every morning and let the case air dry. Re-using solution for days at a time allows bacteria to proliferate in the dark, warm and moist environment, essentially turning your case and your contact lenses into a Petri dish.

However, a lot of people are very responsible and do take care of their contact lenses very well. Using artificial tear lubricating drops may help them, but they may still have issues. There are literally hundreds of different brands of contact lenses out on the market, and obviously, they are not all manufactured in the same way. If you weren’t fitted recently with contact lenses by your eye doctor, chances are you aren’t wearing the latest and greatest contact lens technology. These new contact lens materials allow more oxygen to cross the contact lens to your cornea, greatly reducing the risk of dryness and comfort problems. There are also contact lens cleaning solutions that are available that are preservative-free. Many times, people develop a hypersensitivity to the preservatives found in many multi-purpose cleaning solutions, and just switching to a different solution takes care of their problems.

So, if you are having any contact lens related problems, it is recommended that you seek the advice from an eye care professional, certainly someone who specializes in contact lenses. Your eye doctor can examine your eyes and contact lenses and make the proper recommendations to improve your situation with contact lenses.

Brendon J. Weaver, O.D.
Berks Eye Physicians & Surgeons, LTD.
1802 Papermill Rd.
Wyomissing, PA 19610
610-372-0712askdoctorweaver@yahoo.com