【Causes・Disease】

Contact lens damage is eye diseases caused by the use of contact lenses.
It is estimated that 1 in 10 Japanese people wear contact lenses. Under the background of simple care methods, low price sales in hypermarkets and the popularity of online shopping, eye diseases caused by contact lenses are increasing sharply.
Contact lenses can be divided into hard contact lenses and soft contact lenses, the soft contact lenses users account for about 70% of the total number of contact lenses users. There are 1-day soft contact lenses and 2-week soft contact lenses, which are also called disposable contact lenses. More and more people are wearing them. Compared with hard contact lenses, it is difficult to detect eye damage in the case of soft contact lenses because they are thinner and more comfortable. When people feel foreign body sensation and pain, the symptoms have worsened in many cases. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required. Improper lens care, disobedience of the contact lens using time and wearing time may cause corneal damage that may lead to infection.
In order to wear contact lenses safely, proper lens care, proper usage and regular eye examination are very important.

Diseases and symptoms caused by contact lens are as follows.

◎Corneal infection

【Causes】Bacterial infection, virus infection, fungal infection and amoeba infection

【Symptoms】congestion, pain, foreign body sensation, eye droppings, etc.

◎Corneal ulcer

【Causes】Bacterial infection, virus infection, fungal infection and dry eye

【Symptoms】severe eye pain, congestion, foreign body sensation, eye droppings, decreased vision in severe cases.

◎Dry eye

【Causes】contact lenses can interfere with the normal function of tears and cause dry symptoms

【Symptoms】Dry eyes, congestion, foreign body sensation, etc. If the cornea is scratched, it may cause pain.

◎Allergic conjunctivitis

【Causes】dirt on contact lenses may cause allergic reactions.

【Symptoms】foreign body sensation, congestion, eye droppings and itchy eyes

【treatment】

In infection cases, according to different symptoms and pathogens, antibiotics, antiviral agents and antifungal agents are used for treatment. Some severe cases even require hospitalization and corneal transplantation.
Dry eyes can be treated with eye drops to stabilize tears.
Allergic conjunctivitis should be treated with anti-allergic eye drops or anti-inflammatory eye drops.

【Summary】

In order to prevent eye diseases caused by contact lens, proper lens care, adherence to lens usage and duration, and regular eye examination are very important. If you feel uncomfortable, please go to the eye clinics as soon as possible.