Contact Lenses and Eye Infections
Contact lenses are a convenient and comfortable
alternative to eyeglasses for many people. But you can't wear
them all the time. And if you don't clean and care for them correctly, you're
more likely to get eye infections.
People who wear contact lenses have a higher risk for keratitis,
an infection of the cornea, the clear outer covering of your eye. They're also called corneal ulcers. Viruses,
bacteria, fungi, and a rare but serious eye parasite can cause keratitis.
It's also easier for you to catch pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, when you wear contacts. These
infections come from a bacteria or virus in the thin membrane covering the
white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids.
Eye
Infection Symptoms
Stop wearing your contact lenses immediately if you have these
symptoms:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Extra tears or sticky, gooey stuff from your eye
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
- Itching, burning, or a feeling that something's in your eye
- Eye pain
Call your eye doctor as soon as
possible. Some problems can be quite serious and need treatment right away to
save your sight.
Don't throw your lenses away. Put
them in the case, and bring them when you see your eye doctor. They may give
him or her a clue about what's wrong since cultures are sometimes taken off
contact lenses to determine what is causing the infection.
These symptoms could also be an allergic reaction to the lenses themselves or to
another irritation in your eyes, like pollen.
Bacteria
The "normal" bacteria on
our skin, mouth, and nose usually don't cause any harm. But
the combination of a lot of them on your contact lenses and any small scrape on
your eye can be very dangerous.
About a third of people have Staphylococcus
aureus in their nose. It's easily spread to your eyes by your hands, and
it's stubborn and hard to treat. Wash your hands and keep your contacts sterile to
avoid an eye infection from it.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacteria that can cause a fast-moving infection of your
cornea and leave a hole in your eye. You could lose your vision permanently. Make sure you clean and
disinfect your lenses and lens case correctly, and don't keep either longer
than you should.
Mild bacterial infections of the eye surface usually
clear up after treatment with antibiotic eyedrops.
Viruses
The herpes simplex virus -- both the kind that causes
cold sores and the kind responsible for the STD -- can cause keratitis. You can transfer it
if you touch an active herpes sore and then touch your eye. Viruses that cause upper
respiratory infections and the chickenpox virus can also infect your cornea.
Pinkeye most often comes from the common
cold virus.
A virus can easily spread to your
other eye or to someone else.
You'll probably have to wait out a
viral infection, but you can ease your symptoms with a cool compress and artificial tears. Your doctor may recommend steroid eyedrops to ease swelling, too.
Parasites
Tiny one-celled animals called
acanthamoeba live in water, including tap water, swimming pools, and hot tubs. They can infect
your eye more easily if you're wearing contacts while you're in the water. If
you wear contacts, avoid opening your eyes in a hot tub where this parasite is
typically found.
They're also the reason you
shouldn't use water -- even distilled or bottled water -- to clean and store
your contacts.
Keratitis caused by these parasites
is very hard to treat. You may need a cornea transplant.
Fungal
It doesn't happen often, but you can
get fungal infections in your eye. These can lead to blindness. They're usually
treated with antifungal eyedrops or pills.
Prevent
Eye Infections
Lower your risk of an eye infection
by following these guidelines:
- Don't reuse or "top off" cleaning solution. Use fresh solution every day.
- Keep your lens case clean. Replace it every couple of months.
- Wash your hands often, especially before you handle your contacts.
- Take out your lenses, even extended-wear ones, before you go to sleep.
- Don't wear your contacts in the shower, bath, or hot tub. Take them out before you go swimming.
- Read the labels and follow directions on your lenses and contact cleaning solution.
- Don't sleep in your contact lenses.
Source :WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Brian
S. Boxer Wachler, MD on November 10, 2017
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