The Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus contact lens is a soft contact lens that is used to treat both near- and farsightedness. People with nearsightedness need correction to see objects that are far away, while those with farsightedness need correction to see objects that are close to them. The Acuvue contact lenses may help with either of these conditions, but there are risks of developing several side effects.
Bacterial Keratitis
The American Academy of Ophthalmology website, EyeSmart, defines bacterial keratitis as an infection of the cornea that is caused by bacteria. The symptoms of this infection are similar to those suggesting a corneal ulcer and include abrupt onset of eye pain, discharge from the infected eye and increased sensitivity to light, also known as photophobia. Patients who wear lenses such as Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus as extended wear lenses have a higher risk of developing bacterial keratitis. "Extended wear" indicates that instead of wearing the lenses only during the day, patients wear the lenses overnight while asleep. According to the Acuvue Patient Instruction Guide, if a patient uses daily wear lenses as extended wear lenses for a longer period of time than the lenses are meant to be worn, there is a higher likelihood that she will develop bacterial keratitis. Because of this risk, patients should be careful to correctly clean and disinfect their lenses, and discard lenses at the schedule suggested by their eye doctor. These simple steps can reduce the risk of an infection that can potentially result in loss of vision.
Corneal Ulcer
The cornea is a clear layer of tissue that covers the area at the front of the eyeball. A corneal ulcer is an open sore that develops on this layer of the eye. Often, the sore develops due to infection with bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. According to the National Institutes of Health website, MedlinePlus, if left untreated, a corneal ulcer may lead to scarring on the cornea, permanent vision loss or even the loss of the eye that had the ulcer on it. The Patient Instruction Guide for Acuvue brand contact lenses, including Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus, reports that wearing these contact lenses increases the risk of corneal ulcers developing. If Acuvue Oasys contact lens wearers notice symptoms of watery eyes, sensitivity to light, eye pain or unusual discharge from the eye, they should make an appointment with their eye doctor to evaluate for a possible corneal ulcer.
Other Side Effects
The Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus contact lenses may result in several other side effects. Patients may notice dry eyes or a feeling of something under the eye, especially when the lens is due to be changed. This may be due to the buildup of deposits on the lens that causes discomfort to the person wearing the lens. Other side effects include sensations of itching or stinging; watery eyes; redness of the eyes; or strange visual changes, such as a "halo" effect around objects. The latter side effect is more likely if the Acuvue Oasys lenses are worn continuously or are worn after the time they are supposed to be discarded.
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