contact lens overwear syndrome – Los Alamos Family Eyecare, P.C.

It Feels Like Something is in my Eye

My eye hurts

Subepithelial infiltrates (SEI). SEIs generally occur after viral keratitis, but are also found in blepharitis and contact lens-related hypersensitivity. White blood cells from the limbal vasculature are drawn into the avascular cornea. What is Inflammation? Inflammation is the body’s response to protect tissues and organs. It is an efficient response caused by injury, infection, autoimmuneContinue reading “My eye hurts”

Contact lens overwear

Corneal vascularization occurs when contact lenses do not allow your eyes to breathe normally. In order for your eyes to be healthy again, you must decrease contact lens wear time and/or change to a more oxygen permeable contact lens material.

When your eyes don’t breathe

When the cornea does not get enough oxygen, there is corneal hypoxia. This is the most common complication of contact lens wear, especially extended-wear lenses. The cornea has no blood supply of its own, so it gets oxygen only from tears and directly from the atmosphere. Sleeping in or overwearing your contact lenses reduces theContinue reading “When your eyes don’t breathe”

When Contact Lenses Cause Problems

Did you know that sleeping in your contact lenses, over-wearing your contact lens, and not cleaning/disinfecting your contact lenses properly can cause a corneal infiltrate? Bacterial exotoxins are responsible for whitish/gray anterior stromal infiltrates in the cornea. They are usually round, well defined, and small, ranging in size from 0.1mm to 2.0mm. There are oftenContinue reading “When Contact Lenses Cause Problems”

When Contact Lenses Cause Scarring

Did you know that a corneal ulcer can cause permanent scarring? At the front of the eye is a clear layer of tissue called the cornea. The cornea allows light to enter the eye. The cornea is bathed in tears, which provide the natural defense against bacteria and viruses. A corneal ulcer is an openContinue reading “When Contact Lenses Cause Scarring”

Contact Lenses Cause a Scar

Did you know that if you over-wear your contact lenses and develop a bacterial infection, a corneal scar can develop? This can permanently affect your vision.

When Contact Lenses Cause Inflammation

Sometimes contact lenses can cause inflammation of the cornea, with an accompanying bacterial infection. The white dot shown on the cornea above is an infiltrate, caused by bacterial inflammation. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort, feeling like there’s something in your eye, tearing, and redness, to severe pain, light sensitivity, and decreased vision. Corneal infiltratesContinue reading “When Contact Lenses Cause Inflammation”