I have worn contacts for 22 years (-1.5 prescription). I love them but don't think I can wear them any more.
My history:
1985 - got soft contacts
1992 - switched to disposables (taking out every night)
2002 - much trouble with redness - doctor diagnosed pink eye. Stopped wearing contacts for a few weeks and things were ok - a few times in the next 2 years pink eye returned so I used the same eye drops.
2004 - much redness and discharge, crustiness in the morning - doctor diagnosed blepharatis. Stopped wearing contacts for several months and used prescription on eyelids. Problem appeared to be solved.
2006 - Eyes continually dry. Doctor inserted plugs to prevent tear loss. Using 20 atrificial tear drops a day and hot compresses, still can't wear contacts every day. If I wear them more than half the day, every other day, eyes get so dry I sometimes can't open them in morning.
Any Ideas? Thanks! I have Acuvue Oasys contacts and
use Refresh Tears w/o preservatives Ok, i have a slightly similar problem. I got pink eye that wouldn't resolve for 2 months and I had to see 2 specialists. I also have severe dry eye and he wants to put the plugs in. Because of all this, I have been unable to wear my contacts for 6 weeks due to corneal swelling. Now you have a -1.5, I have a -10. So imagine the thickness of my glasses. So i know how imperative it is for cosmetic reasons to wear contacts for self esteem.
Anyway, in talking to the doctor, i found out a few things. High water, soft contact lenses are awful for dry eyes. You would think they would be good right? Not so, the high water content of the lens actually encourages it to soak up all the moisture in your eyes like a sponge. Most of the new generation of lenses are high water content to encourage oxygen to enter your cornea. That's great, unless you have dry eyes.
You need to see a qualified eye dr who specializes in hard to fit patients (may take some research on the internet). Do what I did, write out everything that has been going on and bring it with you.
In some cases, rigid gas permeable contacts may be right for you. I know what your thinking, that hard thing in your eye is only going to make the irritation worse. Possibly, but it also doesn't soak up the moisture in your eye, the way the soft ones do. There are also some daily disposable low water content soft lenses that you can try. There is also a drug called restasis for dry eyes (takes a while for it to work but some people get good results)
You eye irritation can also be caused by allergies, etc. I know how you feel. I've worn contacts for 20 years and never had an issue and now i look like mr magoo walking around in these glasses. I am frustrated. But I kept going to specialists until someone started to actually sit down and give this problem some attention. I would suggest you do the same. Get the dryness under control and go see a specialist, possibly a cornea external disease specialist. Ask questions and dont give up until they give you answers. I feel your pain. Hang in there. What type of contact lenses are you in? Have you tried a few different ones? There are lenses like Ciba O2 Optix and Acuvue Oasys that are especially for dry eyes.
Are you on any medications that affect tear film quality? I know when I take Claritin D (a must for me) it does make my eyes a bit drier.
When I need lens drops when my contacts are in, I use Refresh Contacts by Allergan.
If you are to the point of requiring plugs to prevent tear loss, you may not be able to wear them comfortably anymore. :(
I'm sorry, I hope you find some answers. I had similar problems and it sucks.
But there is hope...
I had been wearing contacts with no problems for at least 20 years - then in the space of about a year my eyes got to the point where they were so dry that I could no longer wear my beloved contacts.
I tried really hard with rigid gas permeable contacts - I couldn't wear them.
I had punctal plugs inserted - but it didn't make any difference. I could only wear contacts for 3 short and mostly uncomfortable hours at a time.
Then I went on a course of doxycycline for a couple of months. No discernable improvement.
But then - as a last resort, my doctor prescribed Retasis. I really did not think it would work, but it actually does. Restasis increases tear production. I can now wear my contacts for 10 hours every day. My eyes are still not as good as they used to be - but as I had given up hope of being able to wear contacts pretty much at all - its wonderful!
I could probably wear them longer if I used Retasis twice a day -as prescribed (but ususally I only remember in the morning), and if I used artificial tears more often. Also the tear production is supposed to increase the longer you use it.
Unfortunately it is expensive, but its worth it!
I am using a trial pair of lenses right now, that are also making a huge difference. They are apparently brand new on the market - but as they are just a trial, I threw away the wrapper and don't know who makes them. They are made specifically for dry eyes (and I have tried others that were supposedly made just for dry eyes with no results) but these really are great.
They even allow me to see my computer clearly - with the last ones that were supposedly for dry eyes I couldn't read or look at my computer monitor very well.
So for a long time I thought I was stuck wearing glasses forever - but I am so happy now that I can put in almost a full day, every day with contacts.
Hope that helps
And good luck |
