Red, irritated, itching or burning eyes are bothersome and sometimes signal a serious problem for contact lens wearers. Dirty or torn lenses lead to corneal infection, affecting the front surface and other parts of the eye. The National Eye Institute notes that minor corneal infections are manged with antibacterial eye drops but more severe problems require intensive treatment and in some cases, future contact lens wear is not possible.
Significance
Contact lenses are worn on the front surface of the eye, called the cornea. The lenses are a common source of infection because they harbor dirt, bacteria and viruses if not cleaned and disinfected regularly. Small tears and chips in contact lenses scratch the eye and provide a gateway for infection into the cornea. Misusing solutions or sharing solutions transmits bacteria and infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a contact lens infection include redness, irritation, dryness, watery eyes, blurred vision, discharge from the eyes, pain, swollen lids, flaky skin around the eyes and overall discomfort. According to EyeCareSource.com, it is common for contact lens wearers to develop eye infections when the lenses are not cleaned or taken care of properly.
Overnight Wear
Wearing contact lenses for an extended period of time or overnight increases the risk of developing eye infections. The Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan notes that contact lens infections are caused by over-wearing contacts or sleeping in lenses that are not prescribed as extended wear lenses. Infections caused by wearing lenses improperly can result in not being able to wear contact lenses at all.
Prevention/Solution
To maintain healthy eyes and avoid infections from contact lenses, always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling contacts. Clean and disinfect lenses according to the instructions given by the eye care practitioner. Store lenses in a clean contact lens storage case. Never rinse lenses in tap water or place in the mouth to rewet the lenses. Never share contact lens solution or allow someone else to wear lenses. Replace contacts if lenses are torn or dirty or as directed by your eye doctor.
Considerations
Never wear contact lenses if the eyes are red, irritated or swollen. According to the Ohio State University Medical Center, it is possible for most people to wear contact lenses successfully when the lenses are cleaned, disinfected and worn properly.
Warning
Cosmetics, lotions and make-up are sources of bacteria and infection. Contact lens wearers should discard old cosmetics and not share make-up which potentially transmits infections.
