Contact lenses are a phenomenal invention for people who do not want to wear or can not get used to glasses. They are designed to allow you to perform everyday tasks comfortably and easily. Soft contact lenses are usually made of hydrophilic plastic – a special type of plastic that stays soft and moist as long as it absorbs water. If you wear soft contact lenses you have probably noticed that when they dry they become firm and create a foreign body sensation in the eye.
Proper wearing of contact lenses, according to the recommendations of an ophthalmologist, is a combined wearing of glasses and lenses, with the lenses to be removed after a maximum of 8 hours of wearing.
This is because the tear film moistens the eye and nourishes the cornea with oxygen. Tears are shed in the blink of an eye, and when the eye is open it comes in contact with oxygen from the air. When we sleep, there is no exchange of tears (because we do not blink), but also the eye is closed and the exchange of tears is reduced. Sleeping with lenses additionally covers the cornea and does not have enough oxygen. At the same time, there is no exchange of tears and it suffers from lack of oxygen (hypoxia) and dryness.
Corneal neovascularization – is a condition in which small blood vessels grow in the cornea to allow oxygen to flow, thus reducing the transparency of the cornea in that area. This condition is treated with corticosteroids that should not be used for too long because of their contraindications.
Corneal erosions – the contact lens can harden while it is in your eye which can lead to small corneal sores. This condition is treated with antibiotics, a ban on wearing lenses and artificial tears that stimulate epithelialization (healing).
Eye Infection – Sleeping with contact lenses increases the risk of eye infection by 6 to 8 times. Infections are treated with therapy, but can have lasting consequences on your eyesight. If you have an infection and have been wearing contact lenses, you must not wear them again because they are infected. A contact lens is the greatest danger of all eye infections.
Redness of the eyes, irritation, hypersensitivity, pain and increased sensitivity to light.
There may also be a change in the structure of the cornea which may result in distorted values for your correct diopter and the appearance of a cylinder. Therefore, it is recommended not to wear contact lenses for 3 to 7 days, depending on their strength, before the laser diopter correction examination.
It is very important that you never sleep with contact lenses, whether they are soft or hard. There are new types of contact lenses that are specifically designed to be worn at bedtime or for extended use – but before you take it on yourself, consult your ophthalmologist if these lenses are a good solution for you and your cornea.
Tips for good eye care if you wear contact lenses:
- Avoid wearing them for more than 8 hours during the day;
- Avoid sleeping with them;
- Avoid swimming or diving with contact lenses;
- Use of contact lenses with unwashed hands;
- Cleaning contact lenses with tap water;
- Reuse already used lens fluid.