How to Relieve Eyes From Contact Lens Toxicity

Contact lens toxicity occurs when you have a sensitivity to a chemical in a contact lens solution or use the wrong type for your contact lenses. Soft and hard contacts require different and specific types of disinfecting and soaking solutions, and the two types are not compatible. Using the wrong kind may cause your eyes to burn, itch or hurt. If you have irritation from contact toxicity, there are things you can do to relieve your eyes.

Things You'll Need

• Washcloth
• Saline solution
• Rewetting drops

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Instructions

• 1

  Stop wearing your contacts and allow your eyes to rest. Do not use the solution suspected of causing toxicity, and check with your eye care practitioner for an alternate solution to use. Your eye doctor can determine if your lenses are able to be worn after your eyes heal. Soft lenses sometimes absorb chemicals and may need to be replaced if the solution causing the reaction is not removable.

• 2

  Soak a clean washcloth in warm water and wring dry. Hold the washcloth over your eyes for several minutes and repeat as often as needed to achieve comfort. If warm compresses do not give you relief, try cool water instead.

• 3

  Rinse your eyes with sterile saline. Stand over a sink and be careful not to touch the tip of the saline bottle to the surface of your eye. Gently squirt saline into your each eye while looking up. Let the saline drip out of your eyes into the sink. Close your eyes after for a moment to let them rest.

• 4

  Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing eyes that are irritated from contact toxicity will just prolong the symptoms and may make them worse.

• 5

  Use rewetting drops to keep your eyes lubricated. Make sure to use a preservative-free drop that is made for sensitive eyes. Check with a pharmacist or your eye doctor to make sure the drops you are using will work for your individual needs.

• 6

  Ask your doctor for a prescription steroid or ointment to help with inflammation and itching if the symptoms from toxicity do not stop after a few days.