Common Contact Lens Problems
Chicago, Illinois
Corneal Ulcers
Contact lenses are a foreign body in direct contact with the cornea of the eye and complications do occur. Properly wearing and cleaning your contacts can decrease the chance of your having problems, but serious contact lens related problems are a common part of the practice at Doctors For Visual Freedom. By being aware of the potential of problems and seeking care immediately it is possible to improve the chance of a good recovery.
One of the most concerning possibilities when wearing contact lenses is corneal ulcers. Approximately one in every 600 people will have a contact lens related infection every year. On average, a person’s risk of blindness from contact lenses is one in 40,000. (The risk of blindness with LASIK is less than one in 1,000,000.) Infectious corneal ulcers can be found associated with any type of contact lens but are most commonly seen in those who wear soft contact lenses. The risk becomes even greater when an individual sleeps in their contacts. Swimming or other contamination of the lenses can increase risk even further. A corneal ulcer is an infection of the front surface of the eye, the cornea. The inherent problem is that small injuries of the cornea easily occur in those that wear contacts. The soft contact lens material easily holds an infectious agent, such as bacteria and when combined with small areas of corneal trauma, infections can occur very quickly. Such infections at their worse, may lead to perforation of the cornea in less than 24 hours with subsequent loss of the eye.
Dr. Mark Golden of Doctors For Visual Freedom considers any complaint of redness or tearing in a contact lens patient to be an emergency. Remove your contact lenses and call for a same day appointment. The sooner treatment is started the better is the chance for a good recovery.
The best way to prevent a corneal ulcer is to carefully sterilize and store your contacts, avoid extended wear and never wear your lenses when swimming unless you plan to throw them away immediately afterwards.
Tight Lens Syndrome
Although soft contact lens inherently fit a wide variety of eyes, it is possible for a lens to be too small particularly when the lenses get dry on the eye. This can lead to Tight Lens Syndrome. This causes the contact to squeeze onto the eye like a suction cup. Tight Lens Syndrome can lead to redness, discomfort and reduced vision. Wetting drops may help, but a change in lens size or type may be necessary.
Ocular Allergies and GPC
Many have found that contact lenses can make their eye symptoms of allergies worse. Pollen and other allergens can stick to your contacts exacerbating the allergic symptoms.
Many individuals develop a sensitivity or allergy to protein deposits on their lenses, contact lens solutions, or the contact lens material itself leading to a reaction on the inner surface of the upper lid called Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis more commonly known as GPC. This reaction involves the development of a bumps or “giant papillae.” Patients commonly complain of sore and itchy eyes and notice that their eyes produce a large amount of mucous. Others just say that their contacts have just become too uncomfortable to wear. Mild cases of GPC may improve with medications, changing to daily disposable lenses or stopping all contact lens wear for several months. GPC is much less common in those that wear gas permeable contact lenses and may be an option. GPC is a common reason that patients choose LASIK Laser Vision Correction. Once the process of GPC has started, in Dr. Golden’s experience, the time for wearing contacts is limited.
Other Complications
Contact lenses can cause a wide variety of other corneal problems. Corneal warpage, swelling of the cornea and the growth of blood vessels into the normally clear cornea can all be significant problems leading to decreased best corrected vision with or without the contacts. The best treatment for contact lens related problems is when caught early. Contact lens wearers should receive careful regular eye examinations to pick up contact lens related problems early.
Symptoms of Contact Lens Complications
Redness, pain, and tearing can be signs of an emergency. Decreased vision, itching, and excess mucous in the eyes should be evaluated. Use common sense; if contact lenses are causing problems of any type, they should be removed followed by consultation. Dr. Golden commonly sees contact lens related corneal problems.
Two Locations:
Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1550
Chicago, IL 60611 | Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
2010 S Arlington Heights Rd, Suite 121
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 |
