Eye Care Tips for Contact Lens Users

Contact Lens care and problems you can face
Contact lens users are plenty. With prolonged working hours you may face few problems.

Contact lens wearers are susceptible to a variety of pathological conditions that are either directly or indirectly linked to contact  lens use. These conditions can be loosely grouped into three categories: hypoxia, reduced oxygen supply; allergic reactions and  infections; and dry eye. Both soft and hard contact lens wearers can be affected by any of these conditions.

Common Contact Lens Wear Conditions

Hypoxia : Hypoxia, an insufficient supply of oxygen to the cornea , is the underlying cause of most complications of contact lens  wear. When you place a contact lens over the eye, it limits the amount of air, or oxygen that can reach the eye. This can lead to  red, tired eyes and lessen your tolerance for long-term contact wear.

Related symptoms include a lack of tolerance for long periods of contact lens wear; discomfort, especially a feeling of grittiness;  and blurred vision, especially toward the end of the wearing period.

To treat hypoxia, increase the water content of the lens. Do this by periodically removing the lenses and allowing them to  rehydrate in contact lens solution. Or, consider changing from an extended wear to a daily wear lens, reduce the thickness of the  lens or change the permeability of the lens material.

If you have redness stop using contact lenses and contact your ophthalmologist.

A very common form of bacterial eye infection is bacterial conjunctivitis, but most people know it as "pink eye." Bacterial infection  symptoms usually include redness, itching and stickiness of your eyes, especially upon waking. Symptoms may also include a dark  yellow or greenish discharge.

Fungal keratitis is of growing concern amongst contact lens wearers, and is a serious and painful corneal disease caused by a fungal  organism.

There is also occurrence of infection by organism called acanthamoeba.To avoid this do not wash your lenses with tap water and  use only prescribed lens solutions.

Avoid eye infections by consistently complying with lens care regimen, especially disinfecting the lens regularly. Also, avoid exposing  lenses to contaminated water . If you get an infection, stop wearing your lenses and see your doctor, who may prescribe an  anti- infective eye drop.