Comfort is one of the most common issues contact lens wearers encounter. Do contact lenses cause your eyes to itch or burn? In addition to itching and redness, contact lens wearers often report difficulty wearing the lenses for more than an hour or two at a time. Your contact lenses may be uncomfortable for a number of factors. There are many reasons why we poke our eyes constantly, such as poor cleaning habits, double-ups on contacts, and sometimes our contacts just have a bad day.
Anyhow, you shouldn’t ignore contact lens discomfort. It is important that your lenses fit properly; if they do not, there may be a problem. Check out the possible causes of your discomfort and see what you can do to alleviate it.
What causes contact lens discomfort?
The following factors can cause uncomfortable contact lenses:
Dry eyes:
Dry eye syndrome occurs when your tears are not able to adequately lubricate your eyes due to a tear film imbalance. As a result of dry eyes, itching is common. The symptoms may include tearing, burning, and a feeling that something is stuck in your eye. Using an abrasive contact lens solution or not properly caring for your lenses can also cause dryness.
The underlying factors:
Rather than contact lenses, infections, and underlying diseases may cause discomfort and irritation. You should get immediate treatment if your eyes become red and swollen or if you experience discharge. Contact lenses should be stopped immediately if you suffer from an eye infection, redness, or blurred vision.
Allergies:
Certain people experience allergic reactions to harmless substances called allergens. Pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander are common airborne allergens that commonly cause eye allergies. Your eyes can feel itchy, dry, watery, and sore from allergies, which makes it difficult to wear contact lenses.
Itching can also be caused by allergies to the cleaning solution and the lenses themselves. You can develop allergies at any age.
Conjunctivitis:
The inner surface of your eyelids may appear bumpy due to a condition known as contact lens-induced conjunctivitis. The lining of the eyelids is irritated by contact lenses or allergens, resulting in bumps. Protein deposits on your lenses can also cause this condition if you fail to clean them often enough. Contact lens-induced conjunctivitis is characterized by an itching sensation, redness, blurred vision, and feelings of foreign bodies. In addition, mucus strands may accumulate.
Corneal irregularities:
The cornea, the dome-shaped outer covering of the eye, is where the regular contact lens sits. Astigmatism, for example, can make a contact lens uncomfortable due to cornea irregularities. Keratoconus, high astigmatism, and corneal ulcers are other corneal irregularities.
Fitting the wrong lens:
Wearing contact lenses can cause eye discomfort for many people. There is no single type of contact lens that feels good on all eyes since everyone’s eyes are different. A properly fitted lens should be barely noticeable, but one that doesn’t fit may feel like something is in your eye. In the case of online purchases, you might receive incorrectly fitted lenses. You’ll be assessed by an eye doctor to determine not only your prescription but what type of contacts feel best on your eyes.
Symptoms:
Contact your eye doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Itchy, burning, stinging eyes
- A feeling of something in the eye
- Eye redness
- Reduced vision sharpness
- A blurry vision or a halo surrounding an object
- Tearing or excessive watering of the eyes
- Excessive secretions from the eyes
- Light sensitivity
Treatment for contact lens discomfort:
Artificial tears or eye drops:
Contact lenses can cause occasional dryness and discomfort, but eye drops and artificial tears can relieve these symptoms. Make sure that artificial tears are compatible with your contact lenses by speaking to your optician or eye care professional. Certain types of contact lenses are incompatible with some eye drops, so follow your eye doctor’s advice. Lenses can be discolored and ruined by incompatible drops. It is also important to note that not all drops are compatible with contact lenses. Do not use eye drops that claim to reduce redness. These eye drops will reduce redness, but the underlying cause is not addressed.
Nutritional supplements:
It is important to produce enough tears to feel comfortable wearing contact lenses. However, the quality of tear production is as important as the quantity. Nutritional supplements can benefit contact lens discomfort in one eye or both and dryness. Omega-3 fats and flaxseed oil help the oil component of tears prevent evaporation.
Try new contact lenses:
Every person’s eyes are unique. Hence, you should take the correct steps to ensure your contact lenses are customized and fit properly. To make contact lens wear more comfortable, new designs are manufactured every year.
Change your lens-wearing schedule or contact lens design if your existing contact lenses cause eye irritation or dry eye.
Maintaining the correct wear schedule:
Contact lens wear schedules prescribed by your optician should always be followed. Long-term contact lens wear can result in severe eye infections that cause irritation and discomfort. Unless prescribed by an eye care professional, you should never sleep with your contact lenses in. Contact lenses should also be checked for expiration dates to avoid the risk of bacterial infections. Make sure that contact lens solution is thrown away after 1-2 months of opening, regardless of the expiration date.
Tips to avoid eye infection from contact lenses:
How to Deal with Contact Lens Discomfort? Here are few tips to avoid discomfort:
- Clean your hands thoroughly and dry them completely before handling your contact lenses.
- Take your lenses off before showering, bathing, or swimming.
- It may feel better to rub your eyes briefly, but rubbing can actually aggravate the condition and prolong it. So avoid it.
- Cleaning your contact lens case regularly can prevent infections.
- Consult your eye doctor before using contact lens solutions.
- Lens cases need to be replaced every 1-3 months.
- Make sure contact lens solutions are never reused or mixed.
- Do not use water to clean.
- Using artificial tears can help treat dry eyes. Be sure to use contact lens-safe products.
- Make regular appointments with your eye doctor.
Final Words:
The wrong lens fit, poor hygiene practices, allergies, dry eyes, and medications can cause contact lens discomfort. You can reduce eye discomfort with a good aftercare routine. When you are wearing contact lenses for the first time, check that they are the right way around and check for damage or dust. Use saline or your contact lens solution to rinse them if everything looks okay. You should see your eye doctor quickly if your contacts are bothering you.
FAQs:
How to handle contact lens discomfort?
To handle contact lens discomfort, ensure you’re following proper hygiene while inserting and removing your lenses. Cleanse them with recommended solutions and avoid excessive wearing. If discomfort persists, consult your eye care professional.
What causes contact lens discomfort?
Contact lens discomfort can be caused by factors such as dry eyes, poor lens hygiene, incorrect fit, or allergies. It’s essential to identify the underlying cause to address the discomfort effectively.
How long is it normal for contacts to feel uncomfortable?
Mild discomfort when first wearing contacts is common as your eyes adjust. However, discomfort lasting beyond the initial adjustment period could indicate an issue with fit, hygiene, or lens material. If this continues, seek advice from an eye care specialist.
