Wearing contacts has become one of the daily must-dos for many people, but both veterans and novices often encounter problems such as keratitis, eye allergies, and dry eyes. So what can be done when you encounter these problems?

Many times, articles on the internet will suggest eye drops, so do you need to take off your contacts? Freshlady team will answer your questions today.

Can you use eye drops with contacts？

When wearing soft contact lenses, the water evaporates over time and the lenses draw tears from the eyes, causing them to become dry.

If your eyes are not adequately lubricated while wearing contact lenses, not only will this cause discomfort, but it may also wear away at the conjunctiva and cornea, making them susceptible to infection and irreversible eye damage. Therefore, if you feel that your eyes are unusually dry or have a foreign body sensation when wearing contact lenses, you should use eye drops to relieve the discomfort.

It is important to note that not every eye drop is suitable for use when wearing contact lenses. Especially for soft contact lenses, the ingredients in some eye drops may cause deformation of the lens, which may affect the service life and eye health of the user. Therefore, when using eye drops, you should pay attention to whether the product is labeled as “suitable for contact lenses”, otherwise you should remove your contact lenses before putting them in your eyes.

In addition, the following points should also be kept in mind when using eye drops.

• Check whether the eye drops are discolored, spoiled, or expired
• Wash your hands before applying the drops
• Keep the mouth of the bottle at a distance from the eyes to avoid direct contact with eyelashes or eyelids.
• If eye drops are not suitable for contact lenses, leave them in for at least 15 minutes before wearing them

Problems that can occur when wearing contacts and how to solve them

1. Keratitis

Cause:

• Wearing contacts for too long
• Sleeping or swimming with contact lenses in place
• Inadequate storage or handling
• Failure to maintain lenses as directed
• Smoking

Symptoms:

• Eye pain
• Red eyes
• Unexplained watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Photophobia or foreign body sensation

Solution:

• Use eye drops with antibiotic ingredients
• Suspend contact lens wear
• Wearing an eye patch
• Severe or need a corneal transplant

2. Corneal ulcers

Cause:

• Improper cleaning method
• Wearing for too long
• Sleeping or swimming with contact lenses
• Corneal injury

Symptoms:

• Blurred or reduced vision
• Pain and foreign body sensation in the eye
• Heavy and thick secretions
• Redness of the eye

Solution:

• Use eye drops or ointments with antibiotics
• Stop using contact lenses
• Severe or need corneal surgery

3. Dry Eye

Cause:

• Wearing for too long
• Insufficient tear production
• Tear nerve dysfunction
• Prolonged work in a dry and cold environment

Symptoms:

• Dryness and foreign body sensation in the eyes
• Burning pain in both eyes
• Sticky eye discharge
• Photophobia and fear of wind
• Eye fatigue

Solution:

• Reduce or stop wearing contact lenses
• Use artificial tear drops or ointments
• Apply warm towels to the eyes
• Use punctual plugs (tear ducts)

4. Corneal abrasions

Cause:

• Particles inside the lens
• Wearing for too long
• Excessive dryness of the eye

Symptoms:

• Redness in the eyes
• Eye pain
• Photophobia and tearing
• Blurred vision
• Headache or heartburn

Solution:

• Use eye drops with antibiotics
• Use artificial tear-based eye drops or ointments
• Wearing special contact lenses
• Suspend contact lens wear

5. Eye allergy

Cause:

• Long-term contact lens wear
• Long-term use of multiple disposable contact lenses

Symptoms:

• Itchy eyes
• Redness of the eyes
• Watery or discharging eyes
• Eye pain or foreign body sensation

Solution:

• Stop wearing contact lenses
• Use anti-sensitivity drops
• Use steroid drops

Frequently asked questions about wearing contacts

Q1. How can I tell the front and back of my contact lenses?

Users can place their contact lenses on their fingers and then observe the position of the edge of the lens.

If the edges are slightly turned outward, like a dish, it is on the opposite side.

Q2. Can I still wear and use expired contact lenses?

No, it is not recommended.

Contact lenses that have expired may have deteriorated and even started to grow bacteria, which can cause eye diseases such as inflammation and ulcers if they come into contact with the eye, with far-reaching effects.

Q3. What should I do if my contact lenses have shifted?

Once you find that your contact lenses have shifted, you should rinse your hands well and then look in the mirror or close your eyes to feel the position of the lenses.

After that, you can put an appropriate amount of eye drops into both eyes and gently massage your eyelids with your fingers and blink your eyes normally until you feel the contact lens slowly return to the center of your eyes, and then remove the lens as usual.

Q4. What should I do if I can’t remove my contact lenses?

If you cannot remove your contact lenses, you should seek a professional optometrist or ophthalmologist assistance as soon as possible, do not try online remedies.

Q5. Can I wear contact lenses while taking a bath or sleeping?

No, it is not recommended.

Tap water used for bathing is not 100% pure and may contain carriers of various microorganisms and bacteria, increasing the risk of eye infection. In addition, some contact lenses may become tight after contact with tap water, causing discomfort to the eyes.

On the other hand, when we fall asleep, our body will secrete fewer tears, and the tightly closed eyes will reduce the oxygen supply to the cornea.

Q6. At what age can I start wearing contact lenses?

According to FDA guidelines, children can start wearing contact lenses as early as 8 years old.

However, each child’s self-care and health conditions are different, so it is best to consult a professional optometrist for advice before fitting contact lenses.