Discomforts Experienced from Wearing Contact Lens

It is not unusual for contact lens wearers to experience discomfort from time to time. Although modern contact lenses are designed to be very comfortable, still it is unavoidable. You may be tempted to switch back to wearing eyeglasses but - these contact lens discomforts can be simply solved. By seeking the help of your eye doctor, you will most likely be feeling and seeing great in no time and not be forced to stop wearing contact lens!

Contact Lens Discomforts and its Remedies:

Problem # 1: Ill-fitting Lenses

Whenever you feel like something is in your eye/s when you wear your contact lens it is a sign that your contact lens does not fit perfectly, either the lens may be too small or too big for your eyes. It is very important to get the correct size and measurement of your eyes to effectively wear contact lens without any trouble. Bear in mind that contact lens is not a one-size-fits-all. When you first seek your ophthalmologist for your contact lens fitting, oftentimes the initial prescription is not accurate and the size may need adjustments. That is why it is recommended to let your eyes be examined at least 2-3 times in order to get your correct eye measurement.

ProblemProblem # 2: Dry Eyes

If you eye/s are not appropriately lubricated with tears the tendency is that your contact lens will most likely cause you some uneasiness.

Causes of Dry Eyes:

• Smoking
• Too much consumption of alcohol and caffeine
• Prescription and other over-the-counter medications (e.g. decongestants, sleeping pills, birth control pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, etc.)
• Frequent use of computer
• Refractive surgeries, such as LASIK surgery
• Medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, arthritis, some skin conditions, thyroid problems, etc.)

However, numerous cases of dry eyes can be easily treated with over-the-counter or prescription eye drops. But always consult fist with your eye doctor before using any eye drops since not all eye drops are compatible with all types of contact lenses.

ProblemProblem # 3: Allergies and Dust

If you have allergies, or you're always in a dusty environment certain allergens can stick to your contact lens which can lead to irritations.

ProblemProblem # 4: Improper Use and Care Contact Lens

Contact lenses must be used as directed by your eye doctor for utmost comfort. Your contact lens should always be cleansed, rinsed, disinfected and stored properly every night to eliminate any lipids and protein build-ups which is being accumulated from your tears.

ProblemProblem # 5: Other Underlying Medical Conditions

If your eyes are not healthy, then your contact lens will not be comfortable. If you start having swollen eyes or experience eye pain/s, then it is best to stop wearing your contact lens and see an eye doctor right away. This may likely be that you have eye infection/s which should be treated immediately to avoid any further major complications.

Possible Remedies

1. Nutritional Supplements
   • Vitamins and other nutritional products are helpful to reduce and eliminate contact lens discomforts. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids which is found in salmon and other fish as well as flaxseed oil (seeds of a flax plant that contains both omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids) can increase the oily part of tear composition which dejects the evaporation of tears.
2. Artificial Tears
   • Eye drops can relieve occasional dryness of the eyes. Before trying them out, it is best to consult your eye care practitioner whether or not it is compatible with your contact lens.
3. Contact Lens for Dry Eyes
   • Daily Disposables - these type of contact lens can ease contact lens discomfort because these are disposables, so starting each day with a new lens will help lessen build-up of deposits
   • Silicone Hydrogels - these lenses permits more oxygen to reach the eyes which makes your eyes more comfortable, it also dehydrates slower as compared to conventional contact lenses
   • Lower Water Lenses - people experiencing dry eyes can profit more from lower water lenses since lenses with higher water content dehydrates faster than this type of contact lens.
   • FDA-indicated contact lens for dry eyes - several soft contact lenses has been developed for reducing dryness. An example of this is Proclear contact lenses by CooperVision as well as Extreme H2O.

If you experience any contact lens discomfort, it is best to see your eye care practitioner to discuss the probable causes and its solutions. Remember that most problems can be resolved with simple remedies when it is prevented from the beginning.

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