People with a refractive error once get bored of wearing those spectacles because it influences one’s overall appearance. To replace the specs there is an alternative which is contact lenses which are highly preferred for their aesthetic benefits and convenience. But like any medical device has its own risks, contact lenses also hold a few of them, one of which is their impact on the cornea, the transparent layer of the eye. The below contact explores those potential risks over the corneal layer of the eye, continue to stick to the article to learn about the possible risks and also possible preventive measures could be taken if you are a contact lens user.
Understanding the cornea and its vulnerabilities
The cornea, the vital part of the eye that focuses the light into the retina and thereby forms the image that you see, is composed of different five layers each of which has its functions. Like epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea which is responsible for trapping dust, bacteria, and other unknown particles. When contact with unknown particles it may bring up infections and other possible complications.
Common corneal conditions
Below are some of the corneal conditions which will be brought by contact lenses check it out,
- Keratitis: It is a condition where the cornea is inflamed and often it is caused by infections. People wearing contact lenses especially overnight are highly prone to bacterial or fungal infections.
- Corneal ulcers: When the keratitis condition is left untreated it will lead to corneal ulcers that are open sores, as a result, an individual will experience unbearable pain and vision loss if the condition persists.
- Dry eye syndrome: Through continuous usage of contact lenses the chance of getting dry eye syndrome increases because the lenses that reduce the amount of oxygen the cornea receives also influence tear film stability.
- Corneal edema: Due to excessive usage of contact lenses cornea may swell which also requires medical assistance to resolve it.
How contact lenses can worsen corneal conditions?
To know how your contact lenses have greater influence over the cornea continue reading the below points,
- Like any part of the body, your cornea also requires oxygen for its function but they don’t have its blood supply in that case it takes up the oxygen from the air. The contact lenses that you wear, especially those made of older materials will allow only limited oxygen which may lead to corneal damage.
- Impregnating the contact lenses properly is important because improper fitting may cause mechanical stresses to the cornea which may lead to corneal abrasions and make it susceptible to infections.
- Poor maintenance of contact lenses or using contaminated solutions may bring foreign organisms into contact with an eye. As a result, various infections may arise like bacterial keratitis.
Preventive measures
If you are a contact lens user then you have to be very clear about preventive measures that will keep you out of infections and also protect the corneal layer of the eye. Here are preventive measures you can follow,
- The first and foremost step is maintaining hygiene in handling the contact lenses. The best contact lenses recommended by eye care providers go with them and also try to use the fresh lens solution each time that reduces the chance of contamination.
- A regular eye examination is vital and will help you identify the issues that are arising or underlying in corneal layers.
Book your appointment
Using contact lenses for your refractive errors is not the wrong thing but using them with proper knowledge is vital so that you won’t damage the corneal part of the eye. Prefer the best eye hospital like The Eye Foundation where you can get advanced ophthalmic assistance and also adequate treatment for your eye needs.
