Contact Lenses and Eye Infection

Contact lenses, especially when not properly worn and cared for, can cause painful eye infections. The risk of eye infection in contact wearers can be considerably lessened with proper education. If an infection is suspected, it is advisable to go to an eye doctor right away.

Significance

• It is important for wearers of contact lenses to be aware of the potential for infection, as the condition can cause permanent sight loss if left untreated.

Type

• Contact lens wearers are susceptible to an infection of the cornea known as keratitis, which is most often caused by bacteria or fungus.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of an eye infection include redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, pain, and discharge.

Prevention

• Contact lens wearers can reduce their chances of contracting eye infection by washing their hands before handling contacts, keeping contact cases clean and dry, using fresh clean saline for each storage, not sleeping in contacts and changing to a new pair when the wear time is up.

Treatment

• Keratitis is treated with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial eye drops; never with steroids, as this can exasperate the condition. Contacts should also not be worn while recovering from the infection.