As long as you follow proper wear and care instructions, wearing contact lenses should be as comfortable as using eyeglasses. You must also replace your contacts as recommended by your eye specialist. Failure to follow these directions can cause problems with your vision and eyes.
Here are possible causes of contact lens discomfort and tips to get relief from it.
Allergens
Huge amounts of airborne allergens such as dust or dander can irritate your eyes. They can also stick to your lenses and cause irritation.
Dry Eye
Dry eye suffers don’t produce sufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eyes. This condition can cause discomfort to contact lens wearers. Dry eye can be caused by a medical condition or acquired. Smoking, computer use, caffeine and some medications can increase the risk of developing dry eye.
Improper Fit
Contacts should fit properly into your eyes for comfortable wear. Your optometrist will perform various measurements to ensure you have the correct size of lenses. One symptom of ill-fitting contacts is the feeling of having something in your eye. Burning, stinging, irritation, and eye pain can also occur.
What to Do If Your Contacts Cause Discomfort
Remove your contacts if they are making you feel uncomfortable or if you don’t see well. Don’t attempt to put your lenses back if they are damaged. Clean and rinse your contacts thoroughly if it has debris and doesn’t appear damaged. You can wear them again once the irritation subsides but if the problem persists, remove the lenses and consult your eye doctor.
Your eye specialist may recommend using artificial tears to lubricate your eyes. Keep in mind that some eye drops are not suitable for certain types of contact lenses. Only use the eye drops recommended by your eye doctor. If you have dry eye, taking nutritional supplements may help encourage quality tear production. There’s scientific evidence that omega-3 fatty acids in certain fishes and flaxseed oil can nourish the oily part of the tear composition, which helps prevent tear evaporation.
Keep track of your eye health and vision by regularly getting an eye exam. At Eyes on Norbeck, we provide personalized vision care based on your visual needs. Call us at (301) 238-7199 or complete our online form to schedule an appointment. We assist patients around Potomac, MD.
