What is it about ?
Contact lenses, like eyeglasses and surgery, can be used to correct certain vision problems.
The eye is made up of several parts. Its outer part is the white of the eye, the sclera or sclera. It is protected by a mucous membrane, the conjunctiva, which lines the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. The sclera extends to the front by a transparent part, the cornea. The cornea is located in front of the iris and the pupil. Light enters the eye through the cornea.
Contact lenses can cause eye problems:
- allergic reaction to eye preparations or preservatives;
- slower healing of eye inflammation because the contact lens is a foreign body;
- inflammation of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis);
- corneal damage ;
- dry eyes.
How to recognize them?
An allergic reaction is usually accompanied by itchy and dry eyes.
The conjunctivitis causes a burning sensation with itching in the eyes. The eye is red. Vision (visual acuity) is generally normal. Sometimes the vision is blurry.
If you have blurred vision, severe pain in the eyeball, or sensitivity to light, it is probably not conjunctivitis, but rather a disease, such as glaucoma, or a corneal injury. The corneal injuries (or lesions) cause pain, redness, sensitivity to light, tearing and impaired vision.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor will take a good look at your eye. Is the eye red? Painful? Are there any secretions leaking from the eye, and how do they look? He also checks your vision (visual acuity).
He will examine the eyes by placing a few drops of a special stain (fluorescein) on your eye, using blue light and possibly a magnifying glass.
In case of conjunctivitis, the general practitioner may take a sample by rubbing the conjunctiva with a cotton swab (swab).
If he suspects severe corneal or iris damage or increased eye pressure (glaucoma), he will refer you to an ophthalmologist.
He will always refer you to an ophthalmologist if you have persistent inflammation or other permanent symptoms of the eye.
What can you do ?
Make sure you have good hand hygiene.
Avoid using eye drops while wearing your contact lenses (unless they are moisturizing or preservative-free drops).
If you are allergic to pollen, avoid lenses for as long as you have symptoms in your eyes.
If you have dry eyes, it is best not to wear contact lenses. If your eyes are very dry, lenses are contraindicated.
Do not use contact lenses in a dusty environment or in dry or hot air. Also, do not wear them when swimming or diving in water that is not clean (this also applies to the pool). If you wear daily lenses: replace them with a new pair immediately after getting out of the water.
Do not use your lenses if you have a cough or cold.
Anyone who wears contact lenses should be monitored by an ophthalmologist. If you are under 20 and / or have an allergy or wear contact lenses every day (more than 5 days a week), you should see the ophthalmologist once or twice a year.
Soft contact lenses should be replaced regularly: every month to every three months depending on the intensity of use. In continuous use, it is better to wear them for only a few hours a day and replace them every month. Every six months, replace the lens box with a new one. Hard contact lenses should only be replaced after two years.
Be aware of the possibility of an allergic reaction to contact lens fluid or lens cleaning tablets. Stop wearing contact lenses if you have itchy or dry eyes, and see your doctor.
What can the doctor do?
The doctor will explain the nature of the problem and the best way to take care of your eyes over the days and weeks that follow. In any case, do not put the lenses on while it hurts.
In case of inflammation of the eye or eyelid, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics in drops or ointments. The smear with the swab will let him know which antibiotics are working. Often, he will also request an examination of a sample of the lens fluid.
If the problems persist, he will refer you to an ophthalmologist.
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