Possible Problems With Contact Lenses: Fit Related Problems

If you are interested in buying and wearing contact lenses, you likely have a number of questions in regard to contact lenses.  For example, you may be concerned about some of the possible problems that can be associated with contact lenses in some instances.  In this regard, this article has been prepared to discuss with you fit related problems that sometimes can be associated with contact lenses.

Improper Fit and Your Comfort

Improper fit of your contact lenses can cause problems, some that can only be fixed by going to another kind of material for your lenses or a return to eyeglasses. Because fit is so important, avoid using the decorative or special effects contact lenses without first speaking with an eye care professional.

How Your Contact Lenses Should Fit

A contact lens should cover your cornea and move only a little when you blink your eye. These two factors depend on the width of the lens and the curvature that comes into contact with your cornea. If your contacts are too tight, the lens can’t move enough, and irritates your eye around the outside edges of the lens. Your eyes will become uncomfortable after only a few hours of wear due to the tear film’s inability to reach the eye. Continued use will make your eye red and irritated, and could cause sensitivity to light and other vision blurring.

Problems with a Loose Contact Lens

A lens that is too loose has a flatter curve than the corneal curve, and will irritate the center of the cornea more than the outside. The lense moves too much, and rubs the centers rather than the outside. As with the tight contact lenses, the loose lenses will become uncomfortable after only a short wearing time, and will not improve.

You and Your Eye Doctor

Both tight and loose fitting lenses can be diagnosed by your eye doctor. Be sure to contact your physician if you experience any of the above symptoms and get the fit checked. If the problem has progressed, you may need to go without contact lenses for some time before returning to them, or you may have to give them up entirely. Don’t let it wait.

You and a New Pair of Contact Lenses

Even people who have worn contact lenses for a long time can experience an ill fit when ordering a new pair. While they should be able to go right to wearing their new lenses all day, an ill fit will cause them irritation and discomfort much sooner. An experienced wearer should be able to wear lenses more than 10 hours a day, and upwards of 12. If you experience pain, irritation, or redness before your usual length of time, stop wearing the contact lenses and contact your eye care professional.

You and Your Eye Care Responsibilities

Remember that you are responsible for your eye health-don’t wait to contact your physician if you have pain, redness, vision problems, or other indications of a poor contact lens fit.

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