Is something wrong with my contact lenses?

Do you see clearly, with no limitations to vision and no irritation or pain? Then you probably don’t wear contact lenses. The fact is, all of us who wear contact lenses will have at least minor issues from time to time. Either the prescription is not quite right, the type of contacts or solution you’re using irritates your eyes, or you simply can’t adjust to your new contacts. But how do you figure out what the problem is so you can fix it?

First, identify which kind of discomfort issue you may be dealing with. Does your situation fall into one of the categories below?

Comfort issues: Are your eyes stinging, burning, itching or are you experiencing eye pain? Do you feel like something foreign may be in your eye? Are you less comfortable the longer you leave the contacts in your eye? You should remove your lenses and inspect them. If you see a foreign object or dirt, try cleaning thoroughly, rinse and disinfect. If this doesn’t work, you should remove the lenses and immediately consult your eye professional.

Physical symptoms: Do you have excessive tearing, redness or overly dry eyes? Or perhaps any eye secretions? You should take out your lenses immediately and inspect for any foreign objects as previously described. If you don’t see anything unusual, don’t put the contacts back in your eyes. Seek medical help as you may have a condition that requires a specific treatment or prescription eye drops. Don’t run the risk of damage to your eyes by delaying a doctor visit.

Vision issues: Do you have blurred vision, halos around objects, or reduced sharpness of vision? Are you unable to see clearly at distances you could see clearly before? If you were recently prescribed new lenses, your prescription may be a little off—or the type or style of lenses may not be a good fit (they could also be defective). You should return to your doctor and review your symptoms and find out what your options are for another type of lens.

Most of the time, issues with your contact lenses are minor problems that can be improved with simple measures. Occasionally, the irritation or symptoms may be caused by a more serious problem. Conditions like dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, keratitis and blepharitis are some of the diagnoses your doctor may consider based on your exam. Remember to always seek help immediately if you experience any prolonged symptoms or pain in your eyes.

If you have concerns about your contact lenses and the fit or comfort level, it might be time for a visit to the eye doctor. If you need to find a eye doctor near you, use our VSP Direct Find a Doctor today.

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