Pink Eyes: How do I Know if Contact Lenses Causing it or the Lens Solution?

Pink eyes also known as conjunctivitis is a common eye infection with distinctive inflammation of eye lids and or eyes/cornea. Conjunctivitis can be minor or severe – it always is however contagious to provoke the infectious outbreak. Both contact lenses and or the solution to soak/disinfect your contact lenses may spread pink eye disease. Patient is asked to cease wearing contact lenses during the illness but it does not always help. To prevent future viral attacks, please narrow down your symptoms & judge what you need to change – your contact lenses or contact lens solution?

When Solution for Soaking Contact Lenses should be replaced with a Better Brand

There are many types of contact lens solutions available. Some only soak your lenses, some rinse, some re-wet too, and some help production of quality tears whereas some do all of these. Contact lens solutions, no matter what their specialty is, contain preservatives. These preservatives may sometimes trigger allergic response. Therefore, always use a multi-purpose contact lens solution so that there are less chances of drug interaction. In case you opt to choose a set of solutions, you are more likely to get affected by inflammation due to your eyes coming into contact with several of the chemicals that are not always in harmony with each other.

Symptoms if Contact Lens Solution is Causing Discomfort & Pink Eyes

An expired or incompatible contact lens solution is injurious for eyes. Sometimes contact lens solution can lose its efficacy even before meeting the expiry date. This happens due to the improper usage and or mishandling such as leaving your solution bottle opened. (It causes evaporation of disinfectant). If you notice following symptoms, change your contact lens solution. Get a pharmaceutical contact lens solution preferably.

1. Increased sensitivity to light
2. Delayed hypersensitivity: Itching sensation, discharge or stinging even when wearing same pair of contact lenses/brand you had been wearing previously
3. Weepy & warm painful eyes
4. Discomfort even after removing lenses

Sometimes your eyes develop allergy against the same solution you have been using since ages. This happens when manufacturers alter the formula. Always keep a check when a label of your contact lens solution reads “New & Improved”. Some types of lens materials and solutions are not the optimal combinations, so trouble may arise due to incompetency.

Last but not the least an expired contact lens case that is most ignored is also a hidden cause. Case past 3 months of usage needs immediate replacement as the accumulation of bio-film may trigger allergenic response.

Conjunctivitis Alert: Disinfect Contact Lenses Properly

Pink eye or conjunctivitis spreads viral-y and bacterial-y both. It is highly contagious and contact lenses can act as a possible transmitter of the disease. If you wear contact lenses, pay attention to keep them disinfected. Also disinfect your contact lens accessories including plunger, forceps & contact lens case.

For contact lens wearers, conjunctivitis may be your eyes’ way to protest against the extender wear of contact lenses. Colored lenses should not be worn more than 6-8 hours daily. You are probably over-wearing them if you find mild inflammation, discharge or crust at sleeping that keeps eyes from opening in the morning. Pink eye disease that is spread by over-wearing contact lenses must go by itself in a day or two as you rest your eyes.

Conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Therefore be very cautious when dealing with an affected eye. Don’t touch the same cloth or finger you use to wipe the infected eye to the unaffected eye.

Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

• Sometimes conjunctivitis can be caused by improper contact lens solutions. Over-dated solution, contact lenses or failing to properly rinse & disinfect the lenses spread the disease from one person to another.
• Throw your contact lenses that might have accumulated the bacteria during infection. Replace them immediately
• Use only pharma-formulated contact lens drops and solution.
• Do not share contact lenses with friends or swap for something else.

Be very careful about disinfecting them thoroughly after each wear. Giving your eyes rest from lenses is recommended for quick recovery. Furthermore, switching to monthly disposable contact lenses also help during the seasonal out-break. 

Contact Lens Wearers at Risk of Infections due to Unhygienic Practices

A recent warning released by eye experts reminds contact lens users to stay vigilant about proper care of contact lenses. Doctors reveal that there have been an increased number of patients in past months that are affected by infections occurred by improper use of contact lenses.

Infections Contact Lens Wearers are at Risk Of:

Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Acanthamoeba Keratitis is a microorganism carried by water. When users wearing contact lenses carelessly use water whilst wearing lenses; they get affected by the infection. This microorganism is corneal devouring bacteria & in gross cases it may lead to complete visual impairment. Eye experts advise to completely avoid water-related activities before handling contact lenses. Do not wash face, do not visit beach & do not take baths when wearing circle lenses.

Conjunctivitis

It is the inflammation of conjunctiva- the white layer of the eye. Contact lens wearers spread conjunctivitis when they share, swap or exchange contact lenses among fellow wearers. It is diagnosed by teary eyes, pink eyes, itching, irritation & discharge. When contact lenses are contaminated with bacteria, they should be immediately thrown away and or replaced. Avoid wearing circle lenses when suffering from infection to prevent spreading the disease.

Doctors opine that patients should keep an eye over how their eyes are working with contact lenses. In case of any unusual symptoms such as inflammation or excessive discharge from eyes; rush to your eye doctor than creating panic. To stay on the safe side, never top off contact lens solution but always toss it off and refill the chambers after each wear.

Contact lenses need meticulous care as they are prosthetic medical devices. Provided what you get for your eyes are FDA approved lenses there are rarely any chances for you to get affected by contagious ocular diseases. 

3 Ways you are Wearing Contact Lenses Wrong: First Contact Lens Week, 2014 (Health Reminder 2)

Play your role in prevention against conjunctivitis, keratitis & neovascularisation through wise use of contact lenses. 

“Contact lenses offer many benefits, but they are not risk-free”; said Dr. Cope, a CDC medical epidemiologist at a conference. Contact lenses thus may be the prime reason of several outrageous ocular injuries & chronic vision threatening infections if not used appropriately. Practicing healthy habits & introducing vision-friendly measures with contact lenses can save you from the gross aftermath of using these medical devices the wrong way.

Prevention is better than Cure

• How to protect yourself from Keratitis?

Keratitis is an infection of the cornea- front layer of iris. It can cause blurred & hazy vision leading to permanent vision loss and acute pain along with other deathly symptoms. If you wear contact lenses, you need to stay more vigilant as you are prone to developing ocular infections.

Case Study: How Common are Acanthamoeba Related Ocular Infections?

What You Need to Do?

Stay very cautious about your contact lenses. Never allow water to come into contact with your contact lenses. Water contains a virus “acanthamoeba Keratitis” and letting your contact lenses make a contact with water is like welcoming the corneal-devouring parasite to your most precious & only set of eyes. Always air-dry your contact lens cases.

• How to protect yourself from Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva- the white layer of the eye. It is also known as pink- eye disease. It can cause teary eyes, inflammation, itching, irritation, and discharge along with other symptoms.

Case Study: Sharing Contact Lenses Promoted Guam Conjunctivitis Outbreak

What You Need to Do?

As a contact lens wearer; you are at a risk of developing conjunctivitis. Therefore, make special preventive measures for the sake of your eyes. Do not share your contact lenses with anyone. Also avoid falling for substandard and cheap contact lenses.

• How to Protect yourself from Neovascularisation

Neovascularisation occurs when your eyes become oxygen-starved. Since eyes draw its oxygen from the open environment than from the body, they grow blood vessels to fulfill the requirement when there is a blockade. The blood vessels may rupture when you discontinue wearing contact lenses, but in severe cases with excessive growth of blood-vessels you are left with horrendous permanent eye scarring & eye sore.

Case Study: How Over-Wearing Contact Lenses Affected London Based Fashion Designer

What You Need to Do?

To prevent your eyes from neovascularisation always take note of following:

Never over-wear contact lenses. This includes wearing contact lenses exceeding the daily limit of 6 hours and wearing contact lenses past their expiry.

Also;

1. Do not sleep in your contact lenses
2. Go here to find out if you are also over-wearing contact lenses.

“There is no question that many people love to use contact lenses instead of spectacles. Using contact lenses, however, does carry the risk of infection and, in extreme cases, blindness,” added by CDC team. Always wear FDA approved circle lenses & ensure a pragmatic approach to contact lens disinfection to lead a safe life.

Failing to Proper Cleanliness & Maintenance of Circle Lenses: 3 Things that went Horribly Wrong(Case Studies)

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

All the users of circle lenses should stay vigilant about the cleanliness and maintenance of circle lenses and contact lenses. There is no doubt that contact lenses are prosthetic medical devices that ensure crisp vision and brighten up the personality by adding a color to your eyes. However; at the same time; one wrong move with contact lenses may lead to undesirable, horrendous & gross results that are often irrevocable.

1. Failing to Replace Colored Contact Lenses

All the variants of contact lenses either colored, transparent or big eye circle lenses should be timely replaced. Failing to follow which may lead to corneal abrasions or even permanent blindness. Most of the times patient stay oblivious of the damage that expired circle lenses cause to their eyes. It is therefore crucial to regularly visit your eye doctor if you frequently wear contact lenses or on daily basis.

Case Study 1:

A wise person learns from the mistakes of others.

See how a London based fashion designer had put her vision at risk by over wearing her contact lenses.

Case Study 2:

Over wearing expired contact lenses devoured cornea of a Taiwanese Student.

2. Failing to Keep your Colored Contact Lenses Confined to Oneself.

Sharing colored contact lenses with your friends and siblings is not less than a crime. Sharing them may transmit bacteria from your friends’ to your eyes or vice versa. It is critical to not to let use anyone your circle lenses; no not for even an hour. If you suspect that your circle lenses might have been used by someone else in your absence, tossing them off is the best option. Otherwise, doctors recommend to take pain of thoroughly cleansing & disinfecting them.

Case Study:

Earlier in June this year; Guam conjunctivitis outbreak affected 248 people. Sharing contact lenses along with other unhygienic practices stimulated the outbreak.

3. Wearing Substandard Colored Contact Lenses

Colored contact lenses are the new hype in both Eastern and Western part of the world. You are most probably to notice contact lenses in theroadside beauty salons and in your next-door novelty shop etc. Nonetheless online suppliers of contact lenses seem the most prolific & growing sector when it comes to colored contact lenses. Online suppliers of contact lenses especially from China are found to play dirty with the health of the consumers. Be very cautious with whom you are placing your order. Sub-standard or wearing over-the- counter circle lenses can damage your eyes permanently.

Buying circle lenses from authentic online stores like Uniqso lowers the risk as the experts there,  make sure the availability of branded & genuine circle lenses .

Case Study:

Bride went blind after using substandard colored contact lenses for beauty

People sport circle contact lenses when are aiming to create an impact by enhancing their eyes. They are definitely nothing to be afraid of if you simply stay meticulous of health and hygiene. Millions of people are wearing circle contact lenses and doctors are of the view that blindness followed by improper wear of circle lenses is a rare occurrence. Flaunt your style & create an impression with colored contact lenses but first learn how to avoid risks whilst wearing contact lenses