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When using contact lenses, it's essential to consider a few things to avoid eye damage. Let's explore them together in this article.
Contact lens wear brings many benefits for those with refractive errors. However, alongside usage, proper eye care while wearing them is crucial to maintain visual acuity and protect the eyes. Let's delve into it.
1. Some Complications You May Encounter When Using Contact Lenses
Contact lenses offer numerous benefits to users, but improper care can lead to complications.
Corneal Hypoxia
Corneal Hypoxia
This occurs when you use lenses made from conventional materials like polymethyl methacrylate polymer, which don't provide enough oxygen to the cornea. Oxygen is essential for the cornea and is supplied through exchange processes. However, wearing contact lenses restricts this exchange, leading to dry eyes due to oxygen deficiency. It can cause dryness, irritation, and more.
Neovascularization of the Cornea
Neovascularization of the Cornea
The cornea is a transparent, avascular structure, so the presence of blood vessels on it is an abnormal issue.
This is a common complication of chronic corneal hypoxia due to wearing contact lenses. If neovascularization occurs in the cornea, patients should immediately stop wearing lenses.
Changes in Corneal Curvature
Changes in Corneal Curvature
Wearing contact lenses can cause distortion and alteration of the corneal curvature. This may result from corneal hypoxia or wearing lenses with a radius of curvature incompatible with that of the cornea. This can lead to blurred vision when wearing lenses.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a condition where blood vessels in the conjunctiva become engorged and cause the conjunctiva to swell and redden, hence the alternative name for conjunctivitis as red eye disease.
This is one of the common conditions encountered when eyes are not properly using lenses. The reason is that contact lenses have water-retaining properties, so they often contain allergens that can cause sensitivity to the eyes, leading to conjunctivitis.
Corneal Inflammation
Macular Inflammation
Macular inflammation is a condition where the macula, a round, transparent area covering the back of the eye and pupil, becomes swollen or inflamed, causing redness, pain, and affecting vision.
People who frequently use lenses are prone to macular inflammation caused by bacteria. This risk increases 10-20 times if wearing contact lenses overnight.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes When Wearing Lenses
Symptoms of Dry Eyes When Wearing Contact Lenses
When wearing lenses, insufficient tear production can cause discomfort, eye irritation, blurred vision, etc. Or when you don't blink frequently to provide enough moisture to the eyes, it also leads to dryness.
2. Tips for Keeping Your Eyes Healthy and Beautiful When Wearing Lenses
Maintain Cleanliness of Lenses
Ensuring Cleanliness of Lenses
Lenses need to be thoroughly cleaned when used because if not cleaned regularly, properly, and thoroughly, they can become contaminated and affect the eyes upon use.
Therefore, lenses need to be cleaned with contact lens solution. After each use, rinse the lens with soaking solution for 5 minutes. Then replace the soaking solution with fresh one and leave it to soak in the soaking case for the next use.
Clean Your Hands Before Wearing
Wash Your Hands Clean Before Wearing Contact Lenses
When using contact lenses, you must use your hands to put them on or remove them from your eyes when not in use. Therefore, hand hygiene is extremely important to avoid bacterial contamination, which can cause eye diseases.
Put on Lenses Before Applying Makeup
Put on Lenses Before Applying Makeup
Some people start wearing lenses after they finish applying makeup, which is completely wrong. Because wearing lenses after makeup application can cause the lenses to stick to makeup particles or eye shadow dust, leading to bacterial contamination of the lenses. Additionally, makeup layers can smudge when wearing lenses after makeup application.
Remove Lenses Immediately After Use
Remove Lenses Immediately After Use
Wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods can cause oxygen deprivation to the eyes, leading to dry eyes and other eye conditions. If you no longer need to use contact lenses, remove them to allow your eyes to relax.
Avoid Splashing Water into Your Eyes
Avoid Splashing Water into Your Eyes
Water contains bacteria such as Bacterial Keratitis and Acanthamoeba. These bacteria, when entering the eyes, can cause conditions like conjunctivitis and, in severe cases, blindness. Therefore, when wearing lenses, avoid water splashing into your eyes when walking in the rain, etc.
Use Eye Drops
Use Eye Drops
Frequent eye dryness and fatigue when wearing lenses make eye drops essential. It helps relieve discomfort, dryness, and provides moisture.
Always Wear Dust Protection Glasses When Going Out
Wear Dust Protection Glasses When Going Out
Smoke, dust, and chemicals are always present in the air at high concentrations. If you let your eyes come into contact with this dirty air for a long time without protection, you're essentially 'killing' your own eyes. Prepare a pair of dust-proof glasses when you go out to reduce the impact of polluted air on your eyes.
Supplement Vitamins
Supplement Vitamins
Vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, etc., are very good for the eyes. Vitamin supplementation helps keep your eyes healthy and brighter. Additionally, it provides antioxidants to protect the eyes from pollution and the harmful effects of sunlight.
Regular Eye Check-ups
Regular Eye Check-ups
Regular eye check-ups will help you easily detect eye diseases, minimize the risk of illness, and receive necessary treatment measures. Prolonged use of contact lenses increases the risk of infection and eye allergies.
Visit an eye specialist for a check-up every 6 months.
Posted by: Võ Thị Thùy Trang
Keywords: Tips for Keeping Your Eyes Healthy and Beautiful While Wearing Contact Lenses
