A: Contact lenses are dangerous if you have a faulty lens, or do not maintain proper ocular hygiene, or don’t follow the recommended wearing and handling procedures. For instance, corneal abrasion can occur when the lens isn’t inserted properly. Corneal edema occurs if you overwear the lens. An eye infection may be caused by fingers or contact lens solutions that are contaminated. And foreign bodies can sneak under the lens and irritate the cornea.
With regard to the vast number of contact lens wearers, though, such complications have been remarkably rare. Read the rest of this entry »
In general extended-wear patients follow similar instructions concerning adaptation and wear as outlined on conventional soft contact lenses. The slight discomfort some experience at first usually disappears in a very short time; vision may fluctuate until the eye adjusts and the lens “settles in.
Other than that there’s almost no adaptation time to speak of. Patients usually go on an extended-wear regimen after one week of daily wear.
Minor symptoms to be on the lookout for are excessive tearing, redness, stinging, burning, itching, blurry vision, halos around lights, and light sensitivity. If any of these occur, remove the lens for at least three hours. If the problem ceases, your lens may be the source of the problem and you should check to see if cracks or chipped or ripped edges are present. Do not reinsert the lens if it is damaged. Put it back in its case and return it to the doctor, who will order a replacement. If you see dirt or an eyelash (or any other foreign matter) use the enzyme solution, clean, and disinfect the lens. Then you may reinsert it. If any of these problems persist, consult your doctor. Read the rest of this entry »
Occasionally a lens will be displaced from the cornea onto the white of the eye or under the eyelids. This may occur during wear, or during a faulty insertion. You’ll know that the lens is not in place by covering the other eye: if your vision isn’t sharp, then the lens is not on the cornea. Don’t worry that the lens will be lost behind the eye: anatomical barriers (the conjunctiva, which covers the sclera and underside of the eyelids in a continuous sheet) prevent this from happening. Don’t panic when the lens decenters; theoretically, a lens can remain decentered on the sclera for hours or even days, and there’s no harm done. I remember a patient of mine who came in to have her eyes examined. Read the rest of this entry »
Contact Lenses Care .
