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Contact lenses have many benefits, but, unlike glasses,
they are not for everyone. They lead to a higher risk of eye health
problems and are not always as convenient as glasses. The following are
a few of the drawbacks to wearing contact lenses. These risks should be
taken inconsideration before the final decision to wear contacts is made.
Contacts can be irritating to the eyes, causing them to dry out
quickly. This is usually due to inadequate tear production. The highest
risk contact lenses wearers take is developing a corneal ulcer.
Complications from corneal ulcers can lead to blindness. In a given
year, there are about 12,000 corneal ulcers among contact lens wearers.
Rigid
lenses can cause abrasions to the cornea if the lenses are worn for too
many hours during the day. The same problem shows up if the wearing time
is built up too quickly during the adaptation period. Lenses that are
too tight fitting can make the problem worse. Signs that your eye is
torn or scratched include pain and tearing. Application of antibiotic
cream and an eye patch will usually cause the symptoms to go away within
24 hours.
Rigid lenses take more time to get used to as they are
made of a harder plastic than soft lenses. The adaptation period is
usually a week of gradually building up wearing time. Rigid lenses can
also pop out of the eye during rigorous activity, although newer designs
have minimized this. Another problem with rigid lenses can also slide
off of the cornea and get hidden under the eyelid. The lens cannot float
to the back of the eye, but it can be troublesome to find the lens and
get it back in the right place.
Wearers of soft contact lenses
can develop sensitivity of the eye and lid to either the maintenance
products used or to mucus that develops over the lens itself. Symptoms
of this sensitivity include less lens movement, redness of the
conjunctiva and increased mucus production. If a person develops this
sensitivity, it is generally recommended that the eyes be given a break
for several months to desensitize. After the eyes heal, new contacts can
be worn and a different maintenance product should be used.
Another
complication of soft lenses is the increases risk of corneal ulcers due
to the extended amount of time the lenses are worn. Extended wear lenses
put the eyes at an eight times higher risk for corneal ulcers than daily
wear lenses. Corneal ulcers can lead to permanent damage of the eye and
possible blindness.
All contact lenses require a special care
regimen. This regimen takes more time than simply taking off a pair of
glasses. Contact lenses need to be cleaned, disinfected and soaked over
night. The exception to this are disposables and extended wear lenses.
In addition, contacts need to have the protein build up removed weekly
by means of an enzyme preparation. Excess protein build up reduces the
comfort level and can also cause eye irritations.
Misuse of
contact lenses can lead to more eye problems. Misuse can cause temporary
or permanent damage of the cornea. Daily wear lenses should never be
worn over night as this can increase the chance of corneal infection.
Any lenses worn overnight increase the chance of infection. Improper
care and cleaning add to the chance of infection. Continual over-wearing
of contacts can lead to intolerance and the wearer may have to give up
wearing contact lenses altogether.
Contact lenses are more
expensive than glasses. Rigid lenses are expensive at the initial
purchase, but will last several years if maintained properly. Soft
lenses need to be replaced frequently and generally require more
maintenance products than rigid lenses. Some employers offer vision
insurance to help defray the costs.
There are several drawbacks
to wearing contact lenses that require serious thought and
consideration. However, there are also many bonuses to wearing them. The
decision to wear contact lenses is a personal choice. It is important to
thoroughly research both the risks and the benefits before reaching a
decision. Search out other contact lens wearers, as they will have
plenty of advice and personal experiences to share. Most people find
that the benefits outweigh the risks.
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