Contact lenses are a good option for those who don’t prefer to wear eyeglasses. However, you have to make sure you’re wearing and taking care of them properly to avoid eye problems.
Here are things you need to know about contact lens-related eye infections.
What Causes Contact Lens Infection?
The most common infection people get from wearing contact lenses is keratitis. It occurs when the cornea or the clear dome-shaped window of the eye becomes infected. At times, it can leave a scar on the cornea and affect your sight. A transplant may be needed to restore the vision of a patient with a severely scarred cornea.
Wearing extended-wear lenses and sleeping in your contacts can cause contact-lens related infection. Microbe buildup under the lens, herpes virus, bacteria, fungi and parasites can also lead to an eye infection. Make sure your contact lens cases are always clean and don’t mix a new contact lens solution with an old one.
Common symptoms of contact lens-related infections include blurry vision, eye redness, pain in the eye, tearing or discharge, light sensitivity, and feeling like there’s something in your eye. Certain kids of contact lens-related infections can result in serious vision loss or even blindness. See your optometrist or eye doctor immediately if you’re experiencing these symptoms.
Ways to Prevent Contact Lens Infection
Always wash your hands before touching your contacts. Rub the lenses when cleaning them to loosen protein and bacteria buildup. Studies found that rubbing lenses can help prevent eye infections. Only rinse your lenses in the solution your eye doctor recommended.
Replace your contact lens case three times a year. Rest your eyes from wearing contacts from time to time and never wear them in your sleep. Dispose your lenses as recommended by your eye doctor.
Maintain good eye health and preserve your vision by regularly visiting your eye specialist. You can count on Eyes on Norbeck for your eye care needs. We offer a wide selection of services including computer vision exam, LASIK evaluation and pink eye treatment. Call us at (301) 241-0553 or fill out our online form to make an appointment. We help patients in Rockville, MD.
