What Causes Contact Lens Intolerance?

Sometimes wearing contact lenses is not comfortable for people, this is called contact lens intolerance. Contact lens intolerance can cause people to wear contact lenses less than they would like to, to stop wearing contact lenses, or to wear contact lenses and have irritation or pain.
 

Comfort with Contact Lenses

Contact lenses should be very comfortable and not cause any pain, redness, or irritation when worn for up to 10 hours at a time.

The majority of contact lenses are soft contact lenses which should not have any sensation of there being something in the eye after the first few minutes of wear.

These lenses also move with the eye and should not dislodge with normal wear.

Problems That Can Cause Contact Lens Intolerance

When contact lenses are uncomfortable, it is usually a result of another problem which is manifesting by causing discomfort with the contact lenses.

Examples of things that can lead to discomfort with contact lenses include dry eyes, eye allergies, and eye infections.

Any of these conditions can occur without contact lens wear, but they are all made worse if contact lenses are worn.

Discomfort from Dry Eyes

The biggest reason people discontinue wearing contact lenses is dryness with the contact lenses. As a result, dry eyes are also a major cause of contact lens intolerance.

When wearing a contact lens, the eye is no longer exposed to the air directly and it can become difficult to have enough tears under the contact lens to pass oxygen to the eye.

This will cause a feeling of dryness which may range from mild to very severe.

To treat dry eyes with contact lenses, there are many eye drops approved for use with contact lenses. These eye drops help to keep the contact lens moist and add fluid to the front of the eye.

Discomfort from Eye Allergies

Eye allergies can cause itching or watering in the eyes. These symptoms can be exacerbated by wearing a contact lens.

Sometimes the eye allergies are caused by the contact lens or the solution that contact lenses are stored in.

If the eyes are itchy or watery from eye allergies, wearing contact lenses can be irritating to the eyes because the eye allergies have caused inflammation of the eyelids and around the eyes.

To treat eye allergies, there are eye drops and oral medications that can be taken to reduce the reaction from the allergies.

Most of these eye drops should not be used on top of contact lenses and work best when put in about ten minutes before putting in the contact lenses.

Discomfort from Eye Infections

Sometimes contact lens intolerance is caused by an eye infection. These infections can occur on the front of the eye, on the eyelids, or all around the eye.

If there is any eye infection, contact lens wear will be very uncomfortable and likely will have to be stopped until the eye is healed from the infection.

To treat an eye infection, there are eye drops and antibiotic pills that can help treat the infection.

Overcoming Contact Lens Intolerance

No matter what the cause of contact lens intolerance is, there are treatment options and changes that can help make contact lens wear comfortable again.

If you have irritation with your contact lenses, contact your eye doctor and discuss what could be causing your contact lens intolerance.

Our eye doctor at Local Eyes Optometry in New Braunfels, TX excels in the prescription of glasses, contact lenses, and the diagnosis of a variety of eye diseases. Call our optometrist at (830) 627-9272 or schedule an eye exam appointment online if you would like to learn more about or are experiencing contact lens intolerance. Our eye doctor, Dr. Marcus Page, provides the highest quality optometry services and eye exams in New Braunfels, Texas.