Congratulations on being fit in one of the newest contact lenses on the market. As you know, advances in technology allowing contact lenses to be more breathable, have resulted in contact lenses that are approved to be slept in. Not only are these lenses more health for your eyes than previous lenses, but they also provide some freedom from glasses that many contact lens wearers are looking for. They can be a great alternative to surgery to correct your vision, because y9ou are able to sleep in the lenses according to your wearing schedule and wake up seeing well. While these lenses are very healthy, it is important to be aware of some of the risks of sleeping I lenses continuously or not following the recommended wearing schedule and care regimen advised by your eye doctor. Studies have shown that wearing lenses continuously versus removing them daily is associated with an increased risk of eye infection, corneal ulcer, or iritis (inflammation). Theses infections are not only painful, but can result in permanent scars to the surface of the eye that could result in permanently decreased vision. Symptoms of any eye infection include:
o Stinging, burning, itching, or eye discomfort o Feeling that something is in the eye o Excessive watering or unusual discharge/mucous from the eye o Redness of the eyes o Blurred vision o Increased sensitivity to light
If you experience any of the above symptoms or any other changes in your vision or comfort, it is very important that you remove the contact immediately. If the pain goes away with lens removal, inspect the lens for a nick or tear to the lens. Any defect in the lens can cause a scratch to the eye that could get infected; therefore, if a problem is seen, it is important to throw this lens away. If the irritation does not go away upon removing the lens, you should keep contacts off your eye and see your eye doctor immediately.
So, what can you do to prevent an infection? You should always follow the wearing and replacement schedule as advised by you eye doctor. Each contact lens brand has different properties and therefore have different schedules based on clinical trials. You should disinfect your lenses every time that you remove them and give your eyes at least one night with out wearing any contact lenses before putting a fresh pair in. You should not swim in your contact lenses or wear them in hot tubs. Water is microorganism that can grow on the contact lens and result in infection. Also, smoking has been shown to increase the risk of infection.
Remember that your eye should look and feel comfortable and that you should see well with your contact lenses. If you do not you should consult your eye doctor about the cause and what can be done to remedy the problem.
