Contact lenses can help correct refractive errors like myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia, just like glasses can.
There are many different kinds of contact lenses in the market. Most people prefer soft contact lenses, which can be worn for a long time or thrown away after each use. You can wear disposable lenses every day, every 2 weeks, or every month. Hard contact lenses, also known as rigid gas permeable lenses, let more oxygen through than soft contact lenses and may cause less allergic reactions, but they are more uncomfortable to wear.
Problems and complications associated with contact lens wear
Most of the time, contact lenses are safe as long as you do not wear them for too long and follow strict hygiene rules. But contact lenses can cause problems, some of which could make you blind, especially if you do not take good care of them and keep them clean. Some of the most common and serious problems that contact lenses can cause are:
1 / Dry eye
When you wear contacts for a long time, your eyes can get dry. People with dry eye should be careful with contact lenses because they are more likely to get problems like infections.
2 / Allergy and giant papillary conjunctivitis
If you wear contact lenses for an extended period of time, you may get an allergic reaction to them because they are foreign bodies in the eye. Giant papillary conjunctivitis is a type of allergy that affects a lot of people. When the contact lens is worn, the person may feel pain, itchiness, mucus discharge, or redness. Continued use tends to make it worse over time.
3 / Contact lens overwear
The cornea gets less oxygen when you wear contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses for a long time or sleep with them, they may damage the cornea. This can cause the surface layer to break down and the cornea to swell. This makes the eyes hurt, turn red, tear up, and make it hard to see. In some cases, a large epithelial defect may be left on a large part of the surface. This puts the eye at a high risk of infections.
4 / Contact lens infections
Contact lens infections can happen if you do not keep your lenses clean or if you wear them for too long. Micro-organisms on the lens can get into the cornea and cause an ulcer. Corneal ulcers are very dangerous because they can cause blindness. Pain, redness, tears, and blurred vision are all signs. Get in touch with a doctor right away so that treatment can start right away and keep you from losing your sight.
5 / Droopy eyelids
When you wear contact lenses for a long time, especially hard lenses, your eyelids can start to droop.
General advice
In conclusion, if you wear contact lenses and have blurred vision, redness, or pain, take them out right away. If the symptoms are severe or keep coming back, you should see an eye doctor right away.