Has the sudden change in weather made your eyes feel dry and itchy? Do you wear contact lenses? If you’ve noticed a slight difference in how they feel lately, it could be weather-related. Or it could be another one of these common causes of contact discomfort.
The fit of the contact lenses.
While no contact lenses should actually “hurt” your eyes, first-time wearers or new prescriptions and brands could take some getting used to. It’s important to visit an eye doctor to find the right fit for your eyes. Every eye is unique, which includes the shape and other needs.
After your initial visit and updated prescription, your doctor will schedule a follow-up to make sure the chosen contacts are a good fit for you and your eyes.
Seasonal allergies.
Environmental allergies are one of the most common causes of contact discomfort for contact wearers. Contact wearers could experience itchy, dry or watery eyes due to allergies. If you continue to wear the same pair of contacts, it could lead to irritation from a buildup of allergens that you’re sensitive to on the lenses.
It’s a good idea to switch to glasses temporarily if you experience allergy symptoms to it help ease your discomfort. What’s more, wearing glasses also gives your eyes a break. Another solution is daily contact lenses, which means you open a new, fresh pair daily.
Dry eyes.
Dry eyes could also be the cause of itchy eyes and contact discomfort. While contacts do let moisture and oxygen into the eyes, bare eyes tend to let in more. So, this could lead to drier eyes for contact wearers.
A natural solution is to stay hydrated to help your eyes produce tears and moisture. Yet another option for relief from dry eyes is lubricating eye drops. If you aren’t sure what to try, contact your eye care professional.
Something is on the contact.
Pain or irritation from a contact could be caused by something on the contact. It could be dust, dirt, an eyelash or some other foreign object. That’s why proper, daily contact care is essential for healthy eyes. Regularly rinsing your contacts with contact solution and storing them correctly helps reduce the risk of typical eye irritants.
The contacts are old.
Contacts do expire, so be sure to double-check the date on the box before putting in new lenses. And remember to follow the directions provided by your eye doctor in terms of how long you can wear your specific contacts. Some are for daily use, while others can be worn for two weeks, for example.
Summary
While these are some of the most common causes of contact discomfort, they are not the only ones. In fact, if you try eye drops, taking breaks from contacts and you’re properly caring for your lenses, the discomfort could be something more, such as a scratched eye or eye infection.
Be sure to contact your local Mississippi Eye Care clinic if you experience discomfort from contacts for more than a few days. For more eye care tips, including information about contact lenses, keep reading our blogs.
