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Contact Lenses
Fitting Contact Lenses
Contact Lens Prescriptions
Contact Lens Complications
Caring for Contact Lenses
Contact Lens Complications
The cornea is the clear, slim tissue that covers the iris and
pupil. It is essential for the health of the cornea to receive
a steady supply of oxygen. An inability of the cornea to get
the oxygen it needs for optimal health is the leading cause of
complications associated with the use of contact lens. The
vast majority of individuals can wear contact lenses with no
negative results. This is particularly true if contact lenses
are cleaned and cared for properly and replacement schedules
are followed.
Some complications resulting from contact lenses can be
experienced in a small number of people. Some of these
problems include those mentioned below.
Too little oxygen reaching the cornea
This is often experienced as a result of wearing contact
lenses for too long a period. Symptoms may include redness of
the eyes, blurred vision, pain and a sensitivity to light. To
avoid complications, always follow the recommended replacement
schedule for the brand of contact lenses being worn. If
symptoms occur, immediately remove the contact lenses.
Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)
This is an allergic disorder that occurs most often in people
wearing soft contacts, although it can occur with wearers of
RGP lenses and disposable lenses. GPC is particularly common
with old contact lenses that have developed protein deposits.
Symptoms include increased movement of the contacts on the
eyes, itching and redness of the eyes. It these symptoms
occur, remove the contact lenses and see an eye care
practitioner to ensure that the contact lenses being worn are
suitable for your eyes.
Corneal vascularization
A result of too little oxygen reaching the cornea is the
development of tiny blood vessels in the cornea's clear
tissue. It can cause blurred or cloudy vision. Those
experiencing these symptoms should remove the contacts
immediately and consult an eye care practitioner to determine
if the brand of contact lenses is the problem, or if they are a
poor candidate for contact lenses in general.
Corneal warping
The cornea's shape can change as a result of a lack of oxygen.
This can result in unclear or clouded vision. This condition
is most frequently experienced with hard contact lens wearers.
Bacterial infection
Infections of the cornea that develop into a corneal ulcer,
although rare, are potentially very serious. These problems
are most often associated with extended wear soft contacts and
usually result from too little or improper cleaning of the
contacts.
ALERT!
The FDA has alerted consumers about potentially serious side
effects associated with wearing
special effects contact lenses. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological
Health has advice for consumers wishing to
purchase contact lenses on the Internet.
The National Eye Institute (A
Division of the National Institutes of Health) offers
excellent resources about
vision, eye
care and contact lenses. This site is available in
both English and Spanish. The Optometrists Network
provides detailed information for parents about
children and vision care. |
