How Safe are Contact Lenses Really?

Let’s be honest, I know you don’t want to go there, but how safe are contact lenses really? When was the last time you had red, irritated eyes, or slept in them and then couldn’t get them out in the morning?  How about when you used your unwashed hands to put a contact back in your eye after you found it on the floor at the basketball game, or maybe you rinsed it under the faucet and then put it back in your eye! Eww! We could go on, but you get the idea.  At least we hope you get the idea.  All of these situations are just dangerous infections and inflammations waiting to happen.

What You Should Know

We all think this could never happen, but according to the FDA, wearing contact lenses “puts you at risk of several serious conditions including eye infection and corneal ulcers.” Pink eye (conjunctivitis) and corneal abrasions are typical results when contact lenses are not cleaned properly, worn too long, or not replaced as directed by an eye specialist. Contact lenses are only as safe as the human component – YOU.

Some risks you may not be aware of:

• When you wear contacts too long, like overnight or for days on end, bacteria grows between the lens and your cornea, leaving yourself open to conjunctivitis.
• If you take certain medications like birth control, antibiotics, or even acne meds, it can result in your eyes producing less tears, which can lead to dry eyes and additional issues.
• Wearing your contact lenses at the hair salon, (yes, the hair salon) leaves you susceptible to the chemicals and debris in the air.  These toxins can cause issues with your contact lenses.
• If you don’t replace your cleaning solutions in a timely fashion and clean your contacts as prescribed, you are just looking for trouble.

Our eyes need a sufficient amount of moisture (tears) and oxygen to remain healthy, and wearing contact lenses can interfere with these necessary requirements for healthy eyes and proper vision.

LASIK vs Contact lenses

If you have wondered about laser vision correction, now might be the time to visit OCC LASIK. If you have been under the misconception that contact lenses are safer than LASIK, you might want to rethink those unfounded beliefs.  NASA and the US military have approved LASIK for their astronauts and fighter pilots using the same individualized treatment performed by Dr. Ali at OCC LASIK. This advanced all-laser LASIK technology provides a custom vision treatment for each individual eye.

Forget about all the contact lens paraphernalia and daily maintenance of contacts, and leave behind the worries of infections and inflammations! Discover how to free yourself from those contacts and join the millions who now enjoy a new lifestyle post contacts!

Make an appointment today to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK.