Could you be allergic to your contact lens solution?
If you developred eyeswhile wearingcontact lenses, consider it a warning sign.
A contact lens may seem small and harmless.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
But keep in mind that it is an object resting on the surface of your eye.
However, there are many conditions that can cause increased eye redness while wearing contacts.
Keep reading to learn the top eight reasons why your contacts may be causing red eyes.
It can also occur from overwearing contact lenses or not cleaning them properly.
GPC should be treated right away to prevent damage to the eyelid or cornea.
Treatment options for GPC include the following:
GPC may make your eyes red and itchy.
It can cause your contact lenses to move around on your eyes.
CLARE
CLARE stands for “contact lens-induced acute red eye.”
These toxins build up and can create a very unhappy red eye.
CLARE is found more commonly in people who take long naps or sleep in their contact lenses.
Not wearing contact lenses until CLARE resolves may be the only treatment needed.
In some cases, steroid eyedrops, antibiotic eyedrops, or a combination of both may be needed.
If your eyes are red, you may have an allergy to the disinfectingcontact lens solutionyou are using.
Seasonal Allergies
People who have allergies sometimes have a difficult time wearing contact lenses.
The constant itching, eye rubbing, and tearing brought on by allergies can be miserable.
But having a contact lens in your eye can make your eye allergy symptoms even worse.
Contact lenses collect pollen and allergic particles that float in the air around you.
These substances can stick to your lenses.
This makes your allergies worse.
Keratitis
Keratitis is inflammation or irritation of the cornea.
Complications from keratitis can include:
Treatment will depend on whether you have infectious or non-infectious keratitis.
Antibiotic, antiviral, or anti-fungal eyedrops and sometimes oral medication are used for infectious keratitis.
What does an eye infection from contacts look like?
An eye infection looks red with more tearing than usual and/or discharge from the eye.
Corneal Ulcer
Corneal ulcers are open sores on the surface of the eye.
They’re most commonly resulting from an infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or a parasite.
Eye redness is often the first sign of a developingcorneal ulcer.
You may also feel like there is a foreign body in your eye.
You may even have increased light sensitivity, tear production, and pain.
If you have these symptoms, seek care immediately.
Corneal ulcers have the potential to cause corneal scarring.
They can permanently reduce vision and sometimes cause blindness.
Corneal ulcers can develop due to improper wearing schedule, overuse, or extended wear.
Lenses that are too tight can restrict normal tear flow underneath your lenses.
They also reduce the amount of oxygen getting to your corneas.
Occasionally, a compression ring or red ring around the cornea is visible in the examination room.
Contact lenses that are too loose may cause redness as well.
A loose lens moves with every blink.
It can create redness and it feels like a foreign body is inside your eye.
You should never wear a defective or torn lens.
The defective part of the lens may constantly scratch your eye.
It doesn’t take much of a scratch to create small holes in your cornea.
This gives bacteria an easy pathway into your eye and can cause infection.
To be a successful contact lens wearer, you must have a fairly healthytear layer.
A contact lens can soak up every tear you have.
This does not allow lubrication of your eye or the lens.
Dry eye symptoms often increase as the day goes on.
Your eyes may become red, and they might feel scratchy.
More serious infections may cause redness and eye irritation for one to two weeks.
Allergies could be the cause as well.
Sometimes red, irritated eyes are because of dry eye syndrome or poorly fitted contact lenses.
Eye redness can also be a sign of a more serious issue.
A corneal ulcer, for example, needs treatment immediately.
It’s important to see your doctor so they can determine the cause of your eye redness.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Giant papillary conjunctivitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Potential complications from contact lens use: Causes and how it spreads.
Optometric Management.Clinical: Cornea.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Contact lenses: when a solution is the problem.
Prevent Blindness.Eye diseases and conditions - keratitis.
