Contact lenses are a popular option to eyeglasses and are safely worn by millions of people every day, but they do carry a risk of eye infection. Symptoms of contact lens-related infections can include unusual redness of the eye, blurry vision, eye pain, excessive tearing or discharge from the eye, increased sensitivity to light, or the persistent sensation of something in your eye. Our
Henderson eye doctors, Trang Tran, OD and Esther Tan, OD make our contact-lens wearing patients aware that some contact lens-related eye infections can cause serious vision loss or even blindness, so it is very important to be diagnosed and receive treatment as soon as possible.
Henderson Eye Exams
The most common infection related to the use of contact lenses is keratitis. This is an infection of the cornea and can have multiple causes, including bacteria, herpes, fungus and microbes. Keratitis is the most serious complication of contact lens wear and, in severe cases, can lead to corneal scarring. This scarring impairs vision and can lead to the need for a cornea transplant. A keratitis infection can be bacterial or fungal, develops very quickly and can cause loss of vision if left untreated. Our
Henderson eye doctor educates our patients, explaining that some common causes that contribute to a contact lens-related infection include sleeping in your contact lenses, use of extended-wear lenses, reduced tear exchange under the lens, and environmental issues. Another common cause of infection is poor hygiene, including insufficient maintenance of contact lens cases or reusing contact lens solution. Safe handling, proper storage and cleaning of your lenses are important steps to reduce your risk of a keratitis infection.
Research shows that contact lens-related infections are rare and affect only about four in 10,000 contact lens wearers per year. Vision loss due to contact lens-related infection is even less common and affects only six in 100,000 wearers annually. Our
Henderson eye doctor will discuss the pros and cons of lenses that are approved for extended wear while daily disposable lenses have a low rate of serious infection when truly only worn daily. Another risk factor is buying contact lenses over the internet, and we encourage our patients to only purchase lenses from an eye care practitioner and get regular aftercare check-ups.
Henderson NV Eye Care
540 Marks Street
Henderson, NV 89014
702-434-2441
