Contacts provide numerous benefits to patients, including clearer, more natural vision – but they are not free of risk. You must follow the wear and care instructions carefully to avoid complications and keep your eyes healthy.
Common Conditions
There are a number of conditions and complications that can develop due to contact lens use. A few of the ones we treat the most often at our Los Angeles office include:
Allergies
It's quite common for contact lenses to exacerbate allergies, because they trap allergens close to the eye. To treat allergies caused by contacts, Dr. Benjamin typically recommends temporarily switching to glasses, using artificial tears and avoiding rubbing your eyes. If it's allergy season and your symptoms are unmanageable, schedule an appointment at our office so he can assess your condition in person and prescribe medication that can alleviate your symptoms.
Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
Also known as GPC, giant papillary conjunctivitis is an irritation of the eye. It causes a number of symptoms, including large bumps inside the eyelid, red and itchy eyes, painful sensitivity to light, discharge and a change in vision. To treat the condition, you should first stop wearing your contacts for at least several days. From there, Dr. Benjamin may prescribe different cleaning solutions or lenses to prevent the irritation from recurring.
Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion is simply a scratch on the eye. It develops due to lenses that don't fit properly, wearing lenses with dry eyes, improper hygiene, overuse and sleeping with your contacts. Continuing to wear your lenses with a scratched cornea can cause the condition to progress quickly, ultimately resulting in scarring or perforation. Depending on the severity of your abrasion, Dr. Benjamin will offer a personalized treatment plan which may include prescription medication to manage the pain, eye drops and an antibiotic to prevent an infection.
Contact Lens-Induced Acute Red Eye
Also known as CLARE, this is an inflammatory reaction that develops due to overnight contact use, causing sudden eye pain and irritation. To treat the condition, you will need to stop wearing contacts and use artificial tears until your eyes have healed.
Dry Eyes
Dry, scratchy and irritated eyes are very common among people who wear contact lenses. To treat the condition, Dr. Benjamin will prescribe new contacts that can reduce dry eye discomfort and ensure that the lenses fit properly. From there, he will recommend specific lens care products that can optimize your comfort, along with drops to lubricate your eyes as needed.
Symptoms
There are many uncomfortable symptoms that can indicate a complication with your contact lenses. They include:
- Red, painful and irritated eyes
- Excessive tearing or discharge
- Sudden blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
