Are Contact Lenses Harmful?

Although serious problems from the wearing of contact lenses can occur, these instances are very rare. You must consult a professional eye doctor in order to be fitted with the correct lenses and to determine if contacts are even a viable option instead of wearing glasses. While most people have no problems wearing contacts (even those with an astigmatism), there are certain circumstances in which contact use is not recommended. Generally, contact lenses are not harmful to the eyes and are worn by millions of people daily with no problems. Most problems arise not because of the contact use itself but because of certain incorrect actions and improper care on the part of the contact lens user.

Risks

• Wearing contact lenses does put a person at higher risk of developing an eye infection, pink eye, corneal abrasions or corneal ulcers. If not looked at by a professional optometrist, these conditions could become severe and cause blindness, although this is a rare occurrence. If you experience discomfort in the eye, too much tearing or abnormal discharge from the eye, a sensitivity to light, redness of the eye, blurred vision, eye pain or swelling around the eye, these may be signs of a serious problem.

Proper Reaction to Eye Irritation

• If your eye does seem to be irritated, it is important for you to immediately take out the contacts and make an appointment to see an eye care professional. Many people incorrectly decide to keep wearing the contact, which will further irritate the eye and may lead to a more serious condition. Some people find out that they do not produce enough tears while wearing contacts, which leads to constant eye irritation.

Proper Lens Care

• Corneal ulcers, open sores on the eyes, are normally caused by eye infections. The best way to ensure that contact lenses are safe to wear is to take proper care of them. The contacts should be properly cleaned and disinfected regularly to guard against infection. Once lenses are placed into solution and taken out and placed in the eye, the solution needs to be discarded. Placing lenses into already used solution can lead to infection. Contacts should never be exposed to water, including tap and distilled water. This increases the likelihood of exposure to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a serious eye infection which has no cure. Contact lenses should not be worn while swimming in pools, lakes or the ocean.

Importance of Cleanliness

• Other ways to guard against eye infection involve proper health and cleanliness. A new contact lens case should be used every 3 to 6 months. A case can get dirty and contaminated after constant use, so it is better to be safe than sorry. It is also very important to wash your hands before handling contacts and to replace contacts as often as prescribed. Trying to prolong the use of contacts more than intended can cause eye irritation and other problems. You should also get a professional eye exam yearly to ensure proper eye care.

Dangers

• Special contact lenses that are sometimes sold in stores and costume shops, especially around Halloween, should never be worn. These contacts usually contain decorative elements but if worn can cause permanent damage to the eyes. In the past, there have been concerns raised by the FDA with certain contact solutions that had been pulled from store shelves because of potential risks of developing bacterial and fungal infections. It is important to order contacts from a professional and not over the Internet and to keep up with the FDA for any recalls or concerns about specific contact brands or solution products.