What are the risks associated with wearing contact lenses for eye health?
October 22, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Laura Bergmann
Dear doctor,
my name is Hans Gerdes and I have been wearing contact lenses for many years because I am not satisfied with my vision and find glasses impractical for me. However, lately I have been increasingly concerned about the effects of contact lenses on my eye health.
Currently, I wear my contact lenses daily and often forget to take them out overnight. I feel that this has caused my eyes to become dry and irritated, and my vision has worsened. Additionally, I have heard from other contact lens wearers recently that there can be inflammation or other problems.
Therefore, I am worried about my eyes and would like to learn more about the potential risks of wearing contact lenses. Is there really an increased risk of inflammation or infections? Can contact lenses cause long-term damage to the eyes? Are there possible alternatives to improve my vision without having to rely on contact lenses?
I would greatly appreciate your assessment and any recommendations to protect my eye health and improve my vision.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Hans Gerdes
Dear Hans Gerdes,
Thank you for your message and trust in my expertise as an ophthalmologist. It's good that you are thinking about the impact of your contact lenses on your eye health. Contact lenses can be a convenient solution for correcting vision, but it's important to use them correctly to minimize potential risks.
First and foremost, it's important to know that wearing contact lenses, especially overnight, can increase the risk of eye infections and inflammation. By wearing the lenses, bacteria and dirt particles can enter the eye and lead to symptoms such as redness, dryness, itching, or pain. Therefore, it is crucial to adhere to the recommended wearing times and regularly clean and disinfect the lenses.
Long-term wearing of contact lenses can also lead to other issues, such as corneal distortions, reduced oxygen supply to the eye, or even permanent damage to the cornea. This can negatively affect vision and lead to further complications. Therefore, it's important to have regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist to detect and treat any problems early on.
However, there are alternatives to wearing contact lenses to improve vision. One option is to get fitted for glasses that correct both distance and near vision as needed. Another option is a laser treatment such as LASIK surgery, which can be a long-term solution to achieve good vision without glasses or contact lenses.
I strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with an ophthalmologist in your area to have your eyes thoroughly examined and discuss suitable measures to improve your vision. Be sure to use your contact lenses properly and maintain them regularly to protect your eyes from potential risks.
I hope my information is helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Best regards,
Laura Bergmann
