Contact Lens Problems and Eye Health

Sometimes wearing contact lenses can result in complications related to the health of your eyes. It should be stated however that serious complications are very rare indeed.

Most of these problems tend to result from contact lens overwear, poor hygiene, sensitivity to lens materials or solutions, or indeed poorly fitting lenses.

Development of itchy red eyes, and in some cases, poor vision with contact lens wear may sometimes be associated with a condition known as giant papillary conjunctivitis. This eye condition can only be diagnosed by inversion of the upper eyelid, which would reveal the giant papillae characteristic of this condition.

The cause of this condition is thought to be an immune reaction to the material from which the contact lens is made. And treatment normally requires discontinuing, or at least reducing, contact lens wear. In most cases, use of steroids for a short time or continuous use of mast cell stabilizing agents will control the conjunctivitis.

Another contact lens associated problem, and a most feared one, related to contact lens wear is the risk of corneal ulceration.This is a bacterial infection of the cornea and the condition usually appears with a red, painful eye with discharge, and possibly poor or reduced vision. A white spot may sometimes be observed on the cornea of the affected eye.

If corneal ulceration is diagnosed, antibiotic eye-drops are often administered. The patient is then followed daily until the condition is cured. This problem in rare instances can result in permanent loss of vision despite early treatment, depending on what part of the cornea is most affected.

Contact lens problems resulting from hypersensitivity to lens solutions may also arise. These problems usually exhibit themselves with red, irritated eyes and a difficulty in wearing the contact lenses without discomfort. Such problems most frequently occur if the wearer has recently changed contact lens cleaning or storage solutions. Use of preservative-free solutions or a solution with a different preservative may be all that is necessary to correct such problems.

Problems related to protein deposits may make a once comfortable contact lens very uncomfortable and irritating. In most cases to solve this problem, it is necessary to use a new lens. The best ways to avoid this problem in future is to employ enzymatic lens cleaner or to wear, as most patients these days do, planned-replacement contact lenses, which are disposed of regularly.

If contact lenses are not well fitted, tight contact lens syndrome can occur. Because of a variety of factors, including inadequate tears in the eyes and changes in corneal curvature with contact lens wear, tight contact lens syndrome may occur even in patients with initially well-fitting contacts. This problem is often discovered when the wearer complains that the lens feels fine until after a few hours of wear, after which point it becomes uncomfortable. Symptoms will usually resolve within a few hours of removing the contact lens.

To resolve the problem of tight lens syndrome, a contact lens with a flatter base-curve or smaller diameter is usually adopted.

Corneal warpage is a condition that may develop with hard, rigid gas-permeable (RGP), or soft contact lenses. It is characterized by an unusual change in the curvature of the cornea with protracted contact lens wear. Essentially the cornea is molded by the contact lens into a distorted shape. This problem usually manifests itself with a gradual worsening of vision while wearing contact lenses, the need for frequent lens power changes, and occasionally, an irritated red eye.

The only available treatment for corneal warpage is stopping wearing contact lenses until the cornea stabilizes (typically after a few weeks or months). Contact lenses may be recommenced once the cornea is stable. Although it should be noted that a recurrence of corneal warpage is entirely possible.

For sufferers from corneal warpage, glasses or refractive surgery may be better options depending on the amount and type of vision correction required.