I’m an active, healthy 19 year old girl who wears contacts. I like to wear my lenses day and night for up to a couple of months. I’ve been told by my optician that this could cause permanent damage to my eyes. Is this true?
L.P Fodalming
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While I sympathise, your optician is absolutely right. You are most certainly risking permanent damage to your eyes. Wearing lenses for longer periods than recommended means that your eyes can’t rest, and they can’t get the vital oxygen they require to keep them healthy – even if your lenses are gas permeable. If you keep this up you risk infection, swelling and distortion of the cornea, and you have an increased risk of eyelid changes and allergies which can be irreversible in certain cases.
So far, you’ve been incredibly fortunate. However, if you continue to wear lenses for longer periods than recommended, you will eventually have problems which could be severe. Your eyes are much too important to take unnecessary risks with!
If contact lens solution is as safe as we’re led to believe, what is the problem with changing the type we use?
D.M. Edinburgh
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Different types of contact lens solutions have specific properties which make them suitable for use with certain types of lens. Use the wrong solution with the wrong lens, and not only do you risk lens discolouration, you may cause an allergic reaction. Some of the preservatives used in solution manufacture can be harsh and a leading cause of problems with lenses is inadequate care or the wrong care. Take your optician’s advice and use the cleaning solution that is correct for your lenses. While it’s tempting to save a few pence, your eyes deserve the best care possible.
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My daughter suffers from short sightedness and wears spectacles. She now wants contact lenses and while I don’t mind in theory, I don’t think she is responsible enough to handle lenses and care for them correctly. Although I have stressed the dangers of wearing contact lenses that have been prescribed for others, I have caught her wearing her friend’s lenses on two separate occasions. Is there any way I can get her to take the dangers of sharing contact lenses on board?
S.B. Birmingham
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You’re absolutely right! People should never wear other people’s contact lenses. Apart from the damage that can be caused by badly fitting lenses, or contact lenses that are not the correct prescription, bacteria can be transferred from another person’s eye.
Perhaps show her the replies to some of our other questions, or arrange for her to see a contact lens practitioner or optometrist who can explain the dangers and show her photographs of some of the problems that lens sharing can result in.
Can I sleep in my contact lenses?
T.W. Leicester
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Certain types of lens, called ‘extended wear lenses’ have been designed so that you can sleep in them. However, they are not suitable for everyone and your optician will be able to advise you as to whether they are appropriate for your specific eye condition. You should not combine extended wear lenses with daily wear lenses as you could deprive your eyes of oxygen which may cause permanent damage to the cornea. If you still wish to wear contact lenses during sleep, speak to your optician who will be able to properly advise you of your options.
I’m thinking of soft contact lenses. Advantages and disadvantages?
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B.D. Wigan
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Soft lenses are highly popular for several reasons. Firstly, they’re comfortable. They also come in various formats and can correct vision to an excellent degree. There are soft lenses that can correct astigmatism, and even bifocal lenses. Disposable soft contacts are easy to use and relatively safe if you maintain good cleansing and storage routines.
Though there aren’t many negative points, soft contact lenses can alter slightly over time. They can absorb tears and also sometimes absorb debris and dirt from the air. This can cause the surface of the lens to partially disintegrate and reduce acuity of vision, and can occasionally result in a lack of oxygen flow to the cornea.
Can my contact lens roll up, and become lodged behind my eyes?
N.D. Cambridge
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No. While it is possible that a contact lens might get stuck to your eye, it can’t get lost or trapped in the back of your eye. If your lens is getting stuck on your eye, then don’t panic. Wash your hands thoroughly, apply a few drops of contact lens solution, sterile saline or rewetting eye drops to your eye to lubricate and rinse the eye. Close your eye and massage your eyelid and repeat the process until the contact lens unsticks.
Some time ago I purchased some contact lenses but after about 4 months I stopped wearing them as I found that my eyes become irritated. I’m thinking of giving them another go but as it’s around 15 months since I last used them and though I’ve stored them in the correct solution I’d like to check whether they’ll be okay. Or, will I need to get new contact lenses?
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After sitting for so long the solution is likely to be swimming with bacteria which will have coated the lenses and the lens material may disintegrated or become damaged. After such a prolonged period it is likely that your prescription will have altered in any case, and you should arrange a new eye test. Your optometrist may be able to shed some light on why your eyes felt irritated, and will be able to recommend a different type. In short, yes you definitely should get new lenses!
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