Contact lens intolerance

Difficulty with contact lenses

Compared to glasses, contact lenses mean more care, a higher rate of complications (corneal inflammation), greater stress on the eye (Lack of oxygen and mechanical damage) and make more frequent ophthalmological checks necessary. Especially when exercising dusty jobs and staying in a drying environment (like in a drafty environment, air conditioning, screen work).

Read more on the topic: Eye pain

Importance of regular checks

All Types of contact lenses can cause damage to the surface of the eye. Especially with soft contact lenses, this can go on for a long time without any discomfort. Permanent damage can best be prevented if problems are identified early on. For this reason, a professional lens adjustment by a trained optician is necessary and the lens material must also be adapted to the individual needs of the eye. It is also important that regular checks are carried out by the ophthalmologist. For unclear complaints, such as one red eye, Deterioration of vision or pain, an ophthalmologist check is particularly urgent.
If one does not react in time to a constant lack of oxygen under the contact lens, it can lead to excessive sprouting of small veins in the Cornea of the eye, which is usually vascular-free and over the Tear fluid and oxygen supply is supplied from the outside. In addition to causing unsuitable contact lenses, such damage also occurs if the recommended wearing time for contact lenses is not observed. There is then the threat of permanent loss of visual acuity through progressive Corneal opacity.

Importance of corneal infections and hygiene

Circa 50% all through bacteria Corneal infections caused by contact lenses occur in association with contact lenses. Often this depends on the material of the contact lenses.
Soft contact lenses, as well as one Overnight wear increase the frequency of infections drastically, whereby the main cause must be listed as hygiene problems. About 58% of the wearers do the evening rinsing and contact lens rubbing (with hard lenses) not through. In addition, athletes and Smoker Due to the glucose deficiency and anaerobic metabolism, more affected by infection.

Reasons for intolerance to contact lenses

Acute contact lens intolerance is caused by foreign bodies under the lens or by surface damage. But even in the long term, intolerance can arise as a result of too long wearing time and oxygen deficiency symptoms on the surface. The contact lens material with its different properties is particularly important for problematic eyes.
The uniform moistening of the lens and the different tendency for tear fluid to evaporate depending on the lens also play a major role in tolerability.

In addition, there are the influences of the composition of the care product (see Contact lens care) or unsuitable environments with lots of dust, chemical vapors and very dry air / drafts are the cause of contact lens intolerance. Main reason for being contact lenses not tolerated, but the so-called "Dry eye“, Especially in connection with Eyelid inflammation (Blepharitis). 40-50% of contact lens wearers report dry eyes, which is significantly more than that of non-contact lens wearers. It is crucial to properly treat dry eye and eyelid inflammation. With consistent use of moist, warm compresses with "Lid margin hygiene“For many patients with contact lens intolerance, more comfortable contact lens wear can then be restored.

Types of contact lenses

1. Hard contact lenses touch that eye hardly as they swim on a tear film, which causes the Corneal surface nutrition through the tears and the oxygen supply can continue to take place quite well. As a result of this and the more regular moistening / wetting and thus also cleaning of the eyes, there are fewer problems with dry air and chemical vapors. However, they are more likely to fall out of the eye and are therefore less suitable for contact sports and in dusty environments. For very severe astigmatism or even keratoconus, hard contact lenses are the only usable contact lens shape.
2. Soft contact lenses can hardly (even with swim) are lost. Even with a dusty environment there are fewer problems, but they are. unsuitable for dry air and chemical vapors. A major disadvantage is a poorer supply of oxygen to the surface of the eye, since the contact lenses sit directly on the eye and so to speak "suck in". Regular checks by the ophthalmologist, at least every six months, are absolutely necessary in order to diagnose oxygen deficiency symptoms of the cornea in good time and thus avoid permanent damage. Soft contact lenses should also only be inserted an hour after getting up and taken out an hour before going to bed so that the cornea receives more oxygen before and after the night.