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Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfort
jennylynn84 posted:
I'm 28. I've been wearing contacts since I was around 16. I've never had any problems until about a year and a half ago.
I started experiencing irritation in my eye when I had my contact lens in and just in my left eye. It felt almost like my eyelid was getting caught on the lens or vice versa. Just awkward like it wasn't sitting right on my eye. And it would make my eye water and it difficult to see clearly. After a couple hours of this (because sometimes I was trapped at work and couldn't take them out), my eye would start to actually ache a little from the irritation and would continue to do so for hours after taking the contact out. (It would also feel very... cold, I guess is the word, upon removing the contact.)
So I'd have to wait a good three days before trying to wear them again. I'd often toss the offending lens and get a new one at that point. I'd put in the new lens, it would feel better and I'd think it was okay and head out for the day. A couple hours later it would start with the irritation and repeat the last attempt.
So after going through a TON of lenses like that I gave up. When I went back to the eye doctor for an exam I got a new prescription and new glasses. The eye doctor said I didn't actually have an astigmatism and put me on regular lenses. I thought that would help, that surely the problem was with the toric lenses and my prescription had changed.
No such luck.
I've been through a dozen different brands, including dailies and used special drops from the doctor (who has thoroughly examined my eye, since I shared this problem with him) and NOTHING has helped.
I need an answer here.
I am nearsighted, but only at about 3.00 for my prescription. I have never had any eye injuries. I have fibromyalgia.
I have seasonal allergies and have had them for as long as I've been wearing contacts. They never affect me like this, mostly my eyes just itch and I sneeze a lot.
Basically nothing about my health or routine has changed in that decade except for the fibromyalgia and substantial weight loss that I achieve the old fashioned way.
Please HELP!
I started experiencing irritation in my eye when I had my contact lens in and just in my left eye. It felt almost like my eyelid was getting caught on the lens or vice versa. Just awkward like it wasn't sitting right on my eye. And it would make my eye water and it difficult to see clearly. After a couple hours of this (because sometimes I was trapped at work and couldn't take them out), my eye would start to actually ache a little from the irritation and would continue to do so for hours after taking the contact out. (It would also feel very... cold, I guess is the word, upon removing the contact.)
So I'd have to wait a good three days before trying to wear them again. I'd often toss the offending lens and get a new one at that point. I'd put in the new lens, it would feel better and I'd think it was okay and head out for the day. A couple hours later it would start with the irritation and repeat the last attempt.
So after going through a TON of lenses like that I gave up. When I went back to the eye doctor for an exam I got a new prescription and new glasses. The eye doctor said I didn't actually have an astigmatism and put me on regular lenses. I thought that would help, that surely the problem was with the toric lenses and my prescription had changed.
No such luck.
I've been through a dozen different brands, including dailies and used special drops from the doctor (who has thoroughly examined my eye, since I shared this problem with him) and NOTHING has helped.
I need an answer here.
I am nearsighted, but only at about 3.00 for my prescription. I have never had any eye injuries. I have fibromyalgia.
I have seasonal allergies and have had them for as long as I've been wearing contacts. They never affect me like this, mostly my eyes just itch and I sneeze a lot.
Basically nothing about my health or routine has changed in that decade except for the fibromyalgia and substantial weight loss that I achieve the old fashioned way.
Please HELP!
5 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfortI'm 28. I've been wearing contacts since I was around 16. I've never had any problems until about a year and a half ago. <br /><br />I started experiencing irritation in my eye when I had my contact lens in and just in my left eye. It felt almost like my eyelid was getting caught on the lens or vice versa. Just awkward like it wasn't sitting right on my eye. And it would make my eye water and it difficult to see clearly. After a couple hours of this (because sometimes I was trapped at work and couldn't take them out), my eye would start to actually ache a little from the irritation and would continue to do so for hours after taking the contact out. (It would also feel very... cold, I guess is the word, upon removing the contact.)<br /><br />So I'd have to wait a good three days before trying to wear them again. I'd often toss the offending lens and get a new one at that point. I'd put in the new lens, it would feel better and I'd think it was okay and head out for the day. A couple hours later it would start with the irritation and repeat the last attempt. <br /><br />So after going through a TON of lenses like that I gave up. When I went back to the eye doctor for an exam I got a new prescription and new glasses. The eye doctor said I didn't actually have an astigmatism and put me on regular lenses. I thought that would help, that surely the problem was with the toric lenses and my prescription had changed. <br /><br />No such luck. <br /><br />I've been through a dozen different brands, including dailies and used special drops from the doctor (who has thoroughly examined my eye, since I shared this problem with him) and NOTHING has helped. <br /><br />I need an answer here. <br /><br />I am nearsighted, but only at about 3.00 for my prescription. I have never had any eye injuries. I have fibromyalgia. <br /><br />I have seasonal allergies and have had them for as long as I've been wearing contacts. They never affect me like this, mostly my eyes just itch and I sneeze a lot. <br /><br />Basically nothing about my health or routine has changed in that decade except for the fibromyalgia and substantial weight loss that I achieve the old fashioned way. <br /><br />Please HELP!
jennylynn84 responded:
I should probably add that I don't sleep in my lenses and change them regularly - about once a month, but I slide that a little if I don't hardly wear them at all that month (like now when I can't wear them for more than a trip to the movies).
And I forgot to mention I've also tried using that soak overnight with the peroxide and the carbon wheel or whatever that causes the liquid to bubble and you have to wait a minimum of six hours before wearing them again. That seemed to help at first and then did not.
And I forgot to mention I've also tried using that soak overnight with the peroxide and the carbon wheel or whatever that causes the liquid to bubble and you have to wait a minimum of six hours before wearing them again. That seemed to help at first and then did not.
Report This| Share this:Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfortI should probably add that I don't sleep in my lenses and change them regularly - about once a month, but I slide that a little if I don't hardly wear them at all that month (like now when I can't wear them for more than a trip to the movies). <br /><br />And I forgot to mention I've also tried using that soak overnight with the peroxide and the carbon wheel or whatever that causes the liquid to bubble and you have to wait a minimum of six hours before wearing them again. That seemed to help at first and then did not.
Alan M Kozarsky, MD responded:
Contact lens intolerance in people who were previously perfectly comfortable in their contact lenses is a fairly common occurrence. The reasons include a contact lens regimen issue including sensitivity to solution or lens type, increasing dryness of the eye, and a form of pink eye caused by the contact lens called giant papillary conjunctivitis.
Our measures in these situation are to make sure that significant dry eye and contact lens related pink eye are not present. Then we may return the person to contact lenses and a disinfection regimen that was previously tolerated. If this is not sufficient and the eye(s) have become very sensitive to contacts or solutions, we may recommend daily disposable lenses. Finally, sometimes, when nothing else will restore comfort and wearing time, we will evaluate the person for possible LASIK correction if eyeglasses are not desired.
Our measures in these situation are to make sure that significant dry eye and contact lens related pink eye are not present. Then we may return the person to contact lenses and a disinfection regimen that was previously tolerated. If this is not sufficient and the eye(s) have become very sensitive to contacts or solutions, we may recommend daily disposable lenses. Finally, sometimes, when nothing else will restore comfort and wearing time, we will evaluate the person for possible LASIK correction if eyeglasses are not desired.
Report This| Share this:Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfortContact lens intolerance in people who were previously perfectly comfortable in their contact lenses is a fairly common occurrence. The reasons include a contact lens regimen issue including sensitivity to solution or lens type, increasing dryness of the eye, and a form of pink eye caused by the contact lens called giant papillary conjunctivitis. <br /><br />Our measures in these situation are to make sure that significant dry eye and contact lens related pink eye are not present. Then we may return the person to contact lenses and a disinfection regimen that was previously tolerated. If this is not sufficient and the eye(s) have become very sensitive to contacts or solutions, we may recommend daily disposable lenses. Finally, sometimes, when nothing else will restore comfort and wearing time, we will evaluate the person for possible LASIK correction if eyeglasses are not desired.
jennylynn84 replied to Alan M Kozarsky, MD's response:
LASIK even with Fibromyalgia? I've heard mixed reviews on how it affects the pain level and one place even listed it on the autoimmune diseases that rule you out.
Report This| Share this:Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfortLASIK even with Fibromyalgia? I've heard mixed reviews on how it affects the pain level and one place even listed it on the autoimmune diseases that rule you out.
Fibromyalgia is a poorly defined condition and I would consider LASIK and related procedures when other non-surgical vision correction options are not acceptable to the patient and the eye exam shows no reason not to perform LASIK and other vision correction procedures.
Report This| Share this:Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfortFibromyalgia is a poorly defined condition and I would consider LASIK and related procedures when other non-surgical vision correction options are not acceptable to the patient and the eye exam shows no reason not to perform LASIK and other vision correction procedures.
An_247724 responded:
Try taking fish oil pills. Worked for me!
Report This| Share this:Contacts lenses and irritation after years of comfortTry taking fish oil pills. Worked for me!
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