Is something wrong with my contact lenses?

Those of us with vision issues who wear contact lenses will have at least minor issues with our contact lenses from time to time. Either the prescription is not quite right, the type of contacts or contact solution you’re using irritates your eyes, or you simply can’t adjust to your new contacts lenses. But how do you figure out what the problem with your contacts is so you can fix it?

How to know what is wrong with your contact lenses?  

First thing you need to do if you think something is wrong with your contact lenses is, identify which kind of discomfort issue you may be dealing with in your eyes. Ask yourself the following questions to narrow down what might be wrong with your contacts:

 - Are you experiencing comfort issues in your eyes? 
 - 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 carefully. If you see a foreign object or dirt, try cleaning your contacts lens thoroughly, rinse and disinfect. If this doesn’t work, you should remove the lenses and immediately consult your eye professional.

Are you experiencing physical symptoms in your eyes?

 - Do you have excessive tearing, redness, or overly dry eyes?
 - Do you have 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 visit to the eye doctor.

Are you experiencing any vision issues?

 - Do you have blurred vision, or halos around objects?
 - Do you have reduced sharpness of vision? 
 - Are you unable to see clearly at distances you could see clearly before?

If you were recently prescribed new contact 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 eye doctor and review your vision symptoms and find out what your options are for another type of contact lens.

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

If you continue to have difficulties with your contacts, it’s a good idea to call or visit your eye doctor. When you use your VSP Individual Vision Plan, rest assured that you are not only taking great care of your eyes, but you are saving money too!

Information received through VSP Vision Care's social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 

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