Authored by: OCC LASIK
Think back to when you got your first contact lenses. Were you happy to finally get rid of your pesky glasses? Contact lenses likely gave you more confidence and seemed like a great alternative to your glasses. As time has passed and you continue to wear contacts, you realize now that there are certain drawbacks to what you thought would be an improvement. Let’s list just a few of them and let you decide if it’s time to put your contacts away for good.
Dry Eyes
By their very nature, contact lenses inhibit the amount of oxygen to your cornea which in turn leads to dry eye. In fact, it is the most common complaint from contact lens wearers. The longer you wear them, the more risk you have of developing dry eye syndrome. Our eyes need a certain amount of moisture and oxygen to remain healthy, and wearing contact lenses every day just exacerbates your dryness. Do you find yourself using over the counter moisture drops all day? Do you hurry to remove them the minute you get home from work? Then your contacts are probably making your eyes dry. If your eyes are itchy, burning and irritated, then most likely the cause is dry eyes.
Inflammations and Infections
No one really wants to think about getting an infection from their contact lenses, but it is more common than you may think. If you do not care for and maintain your contacts, they can cause many undesirable effects, some being quite serious. You are at a higher risk for keratitis, or an inflammation of the cornea when wearing contact lenses. If you wear them for too long a period of time, infections like conjunctivitis can occur. If your lenses are not cleaned properly, or if you sleep in them, you set yourself up for an uncomfortable inflammation. Red, irritated eyes while wearing contact lenses should not be ignored. Contact an eye specialist to be sure it is nothing serious.
Seasonal Allergy Issues
Whether it is spring or fall, the ragweed, pollen and other environmental factors contribute to seasonal allergy issues for many people. When you wear contact lenses, this is an even more uncomfortable time of the year. The pollen and other allergens adhere to the contacts and trigger the effects of seasonal allergies, making them even worse.
Cost Factors
You probably think that you are better off financially, wearing contact lenses rather than having LASIK. In reality, that actually may not be the case at all. When you add up the costs associated with contact lens wear: the solutions, lens cases, lenses, exams, and lost contacts, you may discover that over the years it is less expensive to get LASIK. Check out our savings calculator here.
Stop putting your eyes at risk for inflammations and dry eye syndrome. It’s time you enjoyed the spring and fall seasons for a change. Put your contact lenses away for good and contact the eye specialists at OCC LASIK see if LASIK is the next step for you and your