JAMA PATIENT PAGE Complications of Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses is generally safe, but complications can occur.

As many as 45 million people in the US wear contact lenses to im- Proper care of contact lenses prove their vision. Contacts are generally safe, but several serious complications can occur, especially if proper care is not taken.

Common Complications • Discomfort: An occasional or persistent uncomfortable feeling of the contact lens in the eye is common and tends to improve with Wash and dry your use.Lubricationandgraduallyincreasingwearingtimecanhelpeyes hands before handling Rub and rinse your lenses your lenses. with contact lens disinfecting adapt to contacts. solution whenever you remove • Dry eye: Dry eyes are worsened by contacts and may cause people them. Never use water or saliva. tostopwearingthem.Beforestopping,talktoyoureyedoctor(oph- thalmologist or optometrist) about artificial tears, prescription eye drops, or special plugs that may help. • Corneal infiltrates: Contact lens wearers may develop these small, Rub and rinse your gray-white bumps on the eye surface. Many people have no symp- case with solution Dry your case with a clean toms, but some may notice redness or irritation. Talk to your eye after each use. tissue and store it upside Soak your lenses down with the caps off overnight in fresh doctor if these develop, as they may be a sign of infection. after each use. solution. • Giantpapillaryconjunctivitis:Long-termuseofcontactscancause inflammation of the upper eyelid from rubbing over the contact lens. It typically causes itching or a sensation of having something in the eye, and people with the condition may become increas- ingly intolerant of contacts. This condition usually improves with Avoid showering, proper contact lens care and taking a break from contacts. If it per- Do not sleep in swimming, or going Always be prepared sists, allergy or steroid eye drops may help. your lenses. in hot tubs while with a backup pair wearing lenses. of glasses. Serious Complications • Corneal neovascularization: Wearing contacts reduces the Preventing Complications amount of oxygen that the cornea receives from the surface of the It is very important to have good contact lens hygiene. This in- eye (hypoxia), which can lead to swelling of the cornea. Over time, cludes not sleeping, showering, or swimming while wearing con- the cornea tries to get more oxygen by growing new blood ves- tacts to reduce risk of serious complications. The risk of infectious sels (neovascularization). If severe, the vessels can grow into the keratitis can be reduced by using daily disposable contacts. center of the cornea and cause vision loss. • Corneal abrasion: Poorly fitting contacts or trauma during inser- tion or removal of contacts can cause a painful scratch on the cor- Warning Signs nea. This condition warrants seeing a doctor immediately.The doc- Complications from contacts can have a wide range of symptoms. tor will stain the cornea with a dye to visualize the scratch and may Talk to an eye doctor if any of the following symptoms occur, as they prescribe antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection. may be signs of a serious complication: redness or irritation, eye pain, • Infectious keratitis: The most serious complication of contact lens sensitivity to light, blurry or worsening vision, excessive tearing, useisaninfectionofthecornea(corneal ulcer). This complica- or discharge. tion, if left untreated, can cause total loss of vision in the affected eye. It is usually painful and may cause decreased vision, light sen- sitivity, discharge, redness, and white areas on the eye. Many dif- FOR MORE INFORMATION ferent bacteria, as well as viruses or fungi, can cause infections in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contact lens wearers. Patients with poorly controlled diabetes may https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/index.html have an increased risk of this complication.

Authors: Malcolm M. Kates, BS, BA; Sonal Tuli, MD, MEd The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and Author Affiliations: University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville (Kates); recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your (Tuli). personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported. professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, email reprints@ Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ jamanetwork.com. glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care

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