Reasons for Contact Lens and Eye Allergies

The option to correct a refractive error (vision correction) is spectacle, contact lens, or refractive surgeries. Each of those choices has its advantages and disadvantages downside. 

Spectacles are the foremost commonly used for refractive correction. All three types of corrective choices for refractive error are simply offered in developing and developed countries. Though, the selection varies from the individual affordability, place, and nature of work, profession, socioeconomic status, and hobbies. 

Of those corrective options, contact lens has been playing an important role in providing vision to the countless users worldwide with several advantages like comfort, convenience, quality vision, wider the field of view, and different optical advantages over spectacles. Apart from the natural look it also opens the door for an unlimited selection of sunglasses.

Contact lens penetration in India was reported as ~5.5% of the target population 18 million. This can be considered low compared to other Asian countries like China (17%), Korea (16%), Malaysia (25%), and Singapore (35%).

The contact lens provides safe and effective vision correction if proper lens care is taken care of as recommended by the practitioner. However, contact lens wearer may have a risk of an eye infection if they fail to wear, clean and disinfect, their contact lens as per instructions directed.

The phrase ‘allergic reaction’ could be causing up images of hives or the sudden sensation of restricted airways, but did you recognize that an allergy can develop slowly? After all, you will gradually become allergic to belongings you use every day, like your soap, favorite beverage, or maybe your contact lenses.

If you develop an allergy with contact lenses, you’ll first notice some itching and irritation. If the condition is not taken care of promptly then feeling of heaviness within the eyelids, redness, swelling, and discharge may develop.

As your eye responds to the contact lens, inflammation causes small bumps formation under the eyelids called papillae. The bumps are visible when a doctor inverts the eyelid to have a glance. When these bumps continue to enlarge - and that they can get as big as a millimeter each called giant papillary conjunctivitis - the condition worsens and your eyes become very sensitive to bright light and contact lenses.

So don’t get frustrated - It is possible that you are allergic to your contact lens material (if hygiene and disinfection is proper) or maybe you are allergic to any ingredient of contact lens solution.