Many people choose to wear contact lenses for cosmetic reasons while others choose to wear them for comfort reasons. No matter what the motive, contact lenses come with a unique set of health risks. Before you choose to wear contact lenses, make sure you are completely aware of the health risks that come along with them.
While some of the risks are minor, others are quite severe. They could even lead to blindness. Get to know the risks and find out about some natural alternatives to contact lenses.
Health Risks from Wearing Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses puts you at risk of developing several different eye conditions. One of the reasons this can happen is because all contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches your cornea. This can lead to different types of infections.
One of the biggest risks for contact wearers is developing corneal ulcers. Corneal ulcers are open sores on the covering of the eye. Other risks include corneal scratches/scrapes, changes in the cornea’s shape, swelling and infection of the cornea.
Besides problems with the cornea, other common risks include:
swelling of the eyes or eyelids
bumps under the eyelids
allergic reactions to contact solution
deposits on the lenses which can lead to a variety of eye infections
dry eyes
conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye)
general eye irritations
Making the Risk Worse
There are several habits and choices that can make wearing contact lenses even riskier. One is touching the contact lens without washing your hands first. This is an opportunity for bacteria to be introduced into your eye. Wearing your contacts for long periods of time also increases your risk because the lens is keeping oxygen from getting to the eye even longer. This makes corneal ulcers more likely.
Smoking is another way of increasing the risk of eye ailments with contacts. Smoking raises the risk of the wearer developing corneal ulcers. Swimming also increases your risk. Yes, that “sparkling clean” pool water can cause a lot of problems with your contacts. The risk of getting contaminated water into your eyes is very strong and the bacteria can stick to your lenses.
Symptoms of Contact Lens Problems
If you choose to wear contact lenses, be on the lookout for any of these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, your body is telling you that something is wrong. One of the first symptoms you might notice is blurred vision, which should be immediately reported to your doctor.
General eye discomfort is a symptom that may be monitored for a short period of time before calling your doctor. Wearing contact lenses for the first time will feel strange and slightly uncomfortable. But, that feeling should go away within a few days. Combined with other symptoms, the discomfort could be a sign of another problem. You should be looking for excessive tearing, discharge from the eyes, or watery eyes. Also, you should be concerned if you have itching, burning, or feel like there is sand or dirt in your eyes. Among the other symptoms which should be tended to are pain, redness in your eyes, sensitivity to light, and swelling.
When You Have Symptoms
If you already wear contacts and you experience any of the symptoms listed above, immediately remove the contact lenses from your eyes. Do not put them back in. Then, you should contact a doctor, preferably an eye doctor. Place your contact lenses back in a contact case. When you go to the doctor, make sure you take your contact lenses and any contact solution you are using with you to your appointment. It can help the doctor determine what is wrong with your eyes.
Contacts – Not a Good Choice?
There are several reasons why contacts may not be the best choice for you. If you suffer from arthritis, contacts may be too difficult for you to insert or remove from your eyes. People who have dry eyes are also not good candidates for contacts as they can dry out in your eyes and make the problem worse for you. Certain medical conditions also make you less likely to have success with contact lenses. These conditions include hyperthyroidism, diabetes, asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.
This post originally appeared on Rebuild Your Vision.
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