Side effects of contact lenses

Synonyms in a broader sense

Sticky lenses, sticky cups, sticky glasses, glasses
engl .: contact lenses

Risks and Side Effects

The most common side effects are intolerance and infections, but if handled correctly and not worn for too long, contact lenses are usually well tolerated and harmless to the eyes.

Contact lens intolerance

A beginning Contact lens intolerance is expressed by drought or Foreign body sensation in the eyes. This often manifests itself for the first time with cigarette smoke in the air or the use of air conditioning. The eyes are burning (see also: Burning in the eye), itchy and dry to the touch. You can prevent an intolerance by not wearing the lenses for too long if possible; wearing them for more than eight hours is clearly too long if the intolerance begins. Also regular breaks in wearing and wearing spare glasses can relieve eye strain and reduce irritation. Artificial Tear solutions and drinking plenty of water will help keep eyes moist and relieve burning and itching.If possible, glasses should also be worn when working with computer screens, as the less frequent blinking can lead to an undersupply and dehydration of the cornea. In general, contact lenses should never be worn longer than the recommended daily wearing time.

Infections

Infections can only be prevented by meticulous hygiene, as in the paragraph above Contact lens care is described. Bacterial or viral inflammation of the Conjunctiva (Conjunctivitis) are the most common, they are expressed by itching, burning and feeling like a foreign body. Also increased Tears in the eyes, sticky deposits on the lids and even purulent secretions are possible. Is there any suspicion of a inflammation a doctor, if possible an ophthalmologist, should be consulted immediately.
Infections Viruses, bacteria and fungi can spread to other parts of the eye, e.g. B. on the cornea (keratitis) or the iris (Iritis). In both cases, the same symptoms are present as in conjunctivitis, often added sensitivity to light and moderate to severe pain. The eye looks red and inflamed. If you have these symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately.

Also read: Stye through contact lenses and Pain behind the eye

Forget contact lenses in your eye

If the contact lenses are forgotten overnight and remain in the eye, this can lead to swelling of the cornea. This manifests itself in light sensitivity and blurred vision, as if looking through fog or billows of smoke. The contact lenses should not be worn for a few days to protect the cornea. If there is no improvement in vision after six to 12 hours, an ophthalmologist should be consulted.

Foreign body sensation in the eye

Rough handling of the contact lenses or foreign bodies in the eye can cause irritation and, in the worst case, damage the cornea. This is extremely painful, the eye is watery and irritated, and a foreign body sensation may persist. If an injury to the cornea is suspected, an ophthalmologist should also be consulted for clarification and further treatment.

Read more on the topic:

• Foreign body sensation in the eye
• Foreign matter in the eye
• Eye pain

Contact lens cannot be removed

If a contact lens is not easy to remove, or if it slips and does not seem to be found at first glance, it is important to remain calm first.
Often it helps the eyes with soft contact lenses Saline solution or artificial tears (see also: eye drop) to moisten the contact lens. If this is too dry, it can easily stick to the cornea and cannot be removed. Some time after moistening, you can try again to remove the contact lens. If it has slipped, it is usually in the Lid fold. It cannot slip behind the eye because the conjunctiva forms a natural border in the crease of the lid. It can be removed from the crease of the lid by carefully rinsing the eye with saline.

Side effects of hard contact lenses

In general, it can be said that hard contact lenses tend to have few side effects compared to soft contact lenses. However, this is also reflected in the price. Hard contact lenses are both stronger and smaller and, thanks to the constant development of materials, are in no way inferior to soft ones in terms of air permeability. Nonetheless, wearing hard contact lenses naturally also carries risks and side effects. The most common problem is conjunctivitis. These can be further specified in acute or mechanical conjunctivitis as well as the so-called gigantopapillary conjunctivitis. Mechanical conjunctivitis is caused by irritation of the conjunctiva from rubbing the contact lens while wearing it continuously. In combination with the everyday environmental influences such as dust, wind or smoke, the eye is quickly reddened and inflamed. Often there is also swelling and itching in the area of ​​the eyelids.

The gigantopapillary conjunctivitis, on the other hand, is caused by the lens itself and often occurs in soft models. After years of wearing contact lenses it can also happen that the conjunctiva wears off, so to speak, and becomes red and swells as a result. The eye itches and the eyelid can no longer be opened completely. There is an increased flow of tears and sensitivity to light, which can be quite painful for the person concerned. Another problem that occurs with contact lens wearers is hyperemia. The mechanical irritation of the hard contact lens on the eye leads to a reactively increased blood flow, which the eye itself does not need at all. Neovascularization can also occur, i.e. new blood vessels in the cornea. In any case, you should consult an ophthalmologist as soon as previously unknown irritation and redness or even pain appear in the eye.

Read more on the subject at: Hard contact lenses

Side effects of colored contact lenses

As long as you stick to a few very general basic rules that are generally recommended for wearing contact lenses, wearing colored contact lenses is also possible without hesitation. For example, you should be careful not to leave your contact lenses in your eye while you sleep and always take care of the lenses yourself and keep and clean them accordingly. When buying colored contact lenses, you should also ensure that you only select products with a certified seal, as this is the only way to guarantee the medical compatibility of the ingredients. In contrast to "real" contact lenses, the colored ones often allow a little less air to enter the eyes, which means that they dry out and become irritated more quickly. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to the specified wearing times and not to exceed them.

Read more on the subject at: Coloured contact lenses

Side effects of the pill on contact lenses

Visual changes and discomfort are a common problem among women taking hormonal birth control pills. The additional hormones can lead to small differences and fluctuations in the body's fluid balance, which in turn affects the tolerance of contact lenses. The cornea swells and changes its shape a little. As a result, the contact lens no longer fits correctly and the women complain about poor eyesight. Sometimes it helps to switch to hard contact lenses, as they are more dimensionally stable. A consultation with an ophthalmologist or optician can also clarify whether and what type of contact lenses would be recommended in individual cases.

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