Wearing contact lenses is a popular choice for vision correction which offers convenience and clear eyesight without the need for glasses. However, if you wear contact lenses for an extended period, it can lead to various eye issues.
To learn about what can happen to your eyes after wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods, OnlyMyHealth team interacted with Dr Supriya Sriganesh, Executive Director and Phaco and Refractive Consultant, Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital, Jayanagar, Bangalore.
Consequences Of Wearing Contact Lenses For Long
While talking about the effects of wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods of time, Dr Sriganesh said, “The consequences of wearing contact lenses for longer periods could mainly be dryness in the eyes. It can also cause inflammation in the eye which can present as red eye or allergies. The longer contact lenses are worn and the more inflammation it is causing in the eye, the tolerance for the contact lens itself keeps reducing.” Talking further, Dr Sriganesh said, “Additionally, it also leads to the risk of Corneal and eye infections, which can cause greater consequences in the future.”
Explaining major consequences of corneal infection, Dr Sriganesh said, “Dry eyes can increase the risk of corneal infection. Cornea can develop a corneal ulcer and if it is an infective ulcer, it can lead to scarring and permanent loss of vision.”
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Ideal Duration of Wearing Contact Lenses
As per Dr Sriganesh, contact lenses can be worn for up to 14 hours. “It is recommended to take off the contact lenses before sleeping and give at least a two hour break before going to bed.”
Giving further instructions for the usage of contact lenses, she said, “There are daily disposable contact lenses, weekly disposable contact lenses, or monthly available. Ideally they must be thrown after the recommended time for usage. Ideally, the daily disposables should be thrown everyday even though they may seem fresh enough to be reused but never reuse them.
Can You Sleep With Contact Lenses?
It is a big no no. Never sleep while wearing contact lenses. “In case of some of the extended wear contact lenses, the companies say it is okay to sleep with contact lenses, but it is not recommended. The contact lenses do cause some amount of movement and friction in the eye which can cause allergy or inflammation which reduces the tolerance.”
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Tips And Precautions
Dr Sriganesh listed out some tips and precautions to be followed while wearing and removing contact lenses.
1. Keep your hands clean while using the contact lenses, wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly while putting them in and taking them out.
2. The contact lens solution needs to be changed frequently.
3. Never use expired solutions.
4. Contact lens box matters a lot, keep it very clean.
5. Do not keep the box and solution in the bathroom and the tendency for the solution or the box to get infected in the bathroom is much higher. Keep it in a cool dry place, away from moisture and humidity.
Conclusion
If you experience any pain, irritation, redness, discomfort, dryness, while wearing the contact lenses, remove them and make sure that you don’t put them back in or use the contact lenses in spite of a red eye or discomfort or pain. Do visit your eyecare provider immediately in case of any kind of redness or discomfort associated with contact lenses.