The Symptoms of Eye Infections Caused By Contacts

You probably know that it’s not a good idea to sleep in your contact lenses, and you are also aware that wearing disposable lenses past the prescribed replacement date is asking for trouble. If you are going swimming, it’s also smart to take your contacts out first. We’re all human, however, so we know you’ve probably done at least one of these things at some point!

However, making these choices can lead to some serious eye infections in some cases, and we care about you and your eye health, so let’s talk about these issues and how to know if you have developed an eye infection.

Did you know that almost 90 percent of all eye infections related to contacts are bacterial?  They often involve a very common, and persistent, bacteria called staphylococcus aureus, but can also be due to a fast-growing, and far more serious bacteria, known as pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can lead to a hole in your cornea! Fungal infections can also become an issue and can be caused by poor contact lens hygiene. You can avoid these issues by practicing good contact lens habits and by knowing what to look for. You will want to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of an eye infection so that you can receive early treatment in order to prevent complications. Here are a few of the symptoms of eye infections that can come from wearing contact lenses:

• Red and painful eyes
• Watery eyes
• Discharge
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• The feeling of a foreign body in the eye
• Discomfort while wearing lenses

Here at Classic Vision Care, we are here to help. We are a comprehensive optometry center in Kennesaw, Marietta, and East Cobb, Georgia, and we are committed to providing each of our patients a comfortable and fully personalized experience. We’re led by Dr. Mital Patel, and our center also includes experienced optometrists Dr. Mark R. Machen and Dr. Ronald Becker. Our team provides quality vision care for every member of your family.