Doctor's Notes on Contact Lenses
Contact lenses are small pieces of plastic that allow a person to see without glasses. They can correct conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Contact lenses may also be used to treat certain eye diseases such as keratoconus or may be used for cosmetic purposes to change the apparent color of the eyes.
Symptoms of contact lens problems include
- eye irritation,
- light sensitivity,
- blurred vision,
- a feeling there is something in the eye,
- the lens slipping off the surface of the eye,
- corneal abrasions (scratches) that are very painful,
- mild infections (such as pinkeye or bleeding on the surface of the white part of the eye), and
- serious infections (such as corneal infections).
Severe, blinding infections may occur if contact lenses are worn while swimming.
What Is the Treatment for Contact Lenses Problems?
By following instructions for use of your contact lenses, you can avoid potential problems. Things you can do to avoid problems with your contact lenses include:
- Not sleeping with contact lenses in
- Not showering with or getting soap in your eyes with lenses in
- Avoiding swimming while wearing contacts
- Avoiding over-the-counter eye drops unless recommended by your doctor
- Using daily disposable contacts to decrease the chance of infection and inflammation of the eye
Remove contact lenses immediately if you have any eye pain or irritation, eye redness, a new sensitivity to light, or increased tearing or discharge from your eye as it may be a sign of a contact lens problem. If these symptoms occur talk to your doctor or seek medical care. You may require treatment with antibiotic drops or anti-inflammatory eye medications.
Contact lens use can increase the possibility of a corneal ulcer. Corneal ulcers are painful sores in the outer layer of the cornea caused by infections. They cause severe damage to the surface of the eye and must be treated aggressively by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist).
Must Read Articles:
Anatomy and Physiology of the EyeEven though the eye is small, only about 1 inch in diameter, it serves a very important function -- the sense of sight. Vision is by far the most used of the five senses and is one of the primary means that we use to gather information from our surroundings.
AstigmatismAn astigmatism is an irregular curvature of the cornea. Symptoms include blurred vision, eyestrain, eye fatigue, and headaches. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery may be used to correct the blurred vision caused by astigmatism.
BlindnessAbout 2.2 billion people around the world have some degree of blindness. A person is legally blind if their best corrected central visual acuity in the better-seeing eye is 20/200 or worse, or if the visual field is restricted to 20 degrees or less in the better-seeing eye.
Corneal AbrasionA corneal abrasion is a painful scrape or scratch of the surface of the clear part of the eye. This clear tissue of the eye is known as the cornea. Antibiotic and anesthetic eyedrops are typically used in treatment.
Ophthalmologist vs. OptometristThere are a number of different types of eye care providers. Depending on the eye problems you're suffering from you may need the services of an opthamologist or an optometrist, as well as members of associated eye care fields. Associated fields of expertise include opticians, ocularists, and ophthalmic technicians.
PresbyopiaPresbyopia makes it difficult to see near objects well. Presbyopia affects everyone as they get older. Treatment may incorporate wearing reading glasses or having surgery (LASIK, PRK).
Vision Correction SurgeryVision correction surgery changes the cornea to focus light on the back of the eye without the need for corrective lenses. There are several types of vision correction surgery, including: radial keratotomy (RK), photorefractive keratotomy (PRK), laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK (iLASIK), laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK), conductive keratoplasty (CK), intracorneal ring segments (ICR), phakic intraocular lens implants, and presbyopic refractive lens exchange (PRELEX). Vision correction surgery can benefit those with myopia, hyperopia , and astigmatism.
What Is the Main Cause of Astigmatism?Astigmatism causes blurry vision resulting from an irregularity of the eye’s lens or cornea. These irregularities may stem from genes, injury or certain eye diseases.
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.