Is It Safe To Wear Contact Lenses Everyday?

Millions of people worldwide go through the daily routine of placing contact lenses in the eye. Each night, these same people remove their contact lenses before going to bed (hopefully). Contact lenses seem like the perfect way to correct vision, no?

In general, it is safe to wear contact lenses, even every day.

But contact lenses aren't risk free.

Infection

The real downside of contact lenses is a higher chance of infection. It makes sense when you think about it since you are putting foreign objects onto the eye.

Eye infections from contact lenses can be dangerous! They can lead to permanent vision loss. The best way to take care of eye infections is to prevent them all-together.

• This involves proper hygiene when putting in and taking out contact lenses.
• This involves using a proper contact lens formula (and following the instructions for the formula).
• This involves changing out your old contact lenses for new ones as directed (while they do make contact lenses for extended wear, I and most others still recommend not sleeping in contact lenses).
• And make sure you get contact lenses that are specifically fitted for your eyes (looking at you colored contact lens wearers; don’t buy contact lenses from the internet without a prescription).

It is important to exercise proper hygiene to prevent contact lens related vision loss.

_{Take out your contacts lenses daily; Image by Alexisrael / CC BY-SA}

Avoid Swimming in Contact Lenses

Hopefully you’ve heard before that it is dangerous to swim in your contact lenses. If not, well than let me be the first to say- It is dangerous to swim in contact lenses!

I will admit that it actually took me a long time to hear this message myself. Back when I used to wear contact lenses, I used to swim in contact lenses ALL the time. I even played water polo in my contact lenses without goggles. My eyes would become all blurry and bloodshot from the chlorine soaked contact lenses.

But fortunately nothing bad happened to my eyes. I just didn’t know any better. And thankfully most others out there unaware that contact lenses and swimming don’t mix don’t have any issues either.

Water and contact lenses create a recipe for very serious infections in the eye.

So just don’t swim in contact lenses. Not in pools, lakes, hot tubs. Instead, invest in a good pair of prescription goggles. Better to be safe than to lose vision!

_{Looks nice! But avoid swimming with contacts; Image by Markgorzynski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Can You Overwear Contact Lenses

As mentioned, improper care of contacts can lead to horrible large infections. Fortunately, most people don’t develop this issue. But overwear of contact lenses can lead to other issues that are still bothersome. With contact lenses there can be “too much of a good thing”.

Mechanical Irritation

Some conditions like allergies cause small bumps on the inside of the eyelids. These bumps are called papilla. Contact lens wear, on the other hand, can lead to very exaggerated bumps in a condition called giant papillary conjunctivitis!

_{Giant bumps!; Image by Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Giant papillary conjunctivitis truly sounds like something out of a horror movie. Along with these giant papilla, there is typically some swelling and irritation of the eye. So how does this happen? These giant bumps can be caused by mechanical irritation from the contact lens. It can also be a response to chemicals in the contact lens cleaning solution or deposits on the lens itself.

The contact lens sits on the surface of the cornea and underneath the eyelids. The eyelids are designed to close smoothly over the cornea. Although contact lenses are thin, they can still rub up against the eyelid. This mechanical irritation can cause an irritated red eye.

Fortunately the treatment for this condition is pretty straightforward: take out the contact lenses. Taking out the contact lenses and keeping them out for a few weeks prevents whatever was irritating the eyelid in the first place from continuing to irritate the eyelid. Starting an ointment to help control the inflammation in the eyelid can also help things heal up quickly.

But even if the contact lens doesn’t cause a fiery angry eye, damage can occur to the tiny ducts that provide the oils to the surface of the eye. Over time, this damage can increase in dry eye.

Reduced Oxygen

Apart from mechanical irritation, contact lenses also impair the ability to get a good supply of oxygen to the cornea. This can cause the surface of the cornea to become weaker and/or lead to abnormal blood vessels growing into the cornea to attempt to restore more oxygen. Switching contact lenses brands, going back to glasses or getting refractive surgery can help reverse these changes.

Contact lenses are great for convenience! But it’s important not to neglect your eye health by overwearing them.

Summary

When wearing contact lenses, pay attention to what your eyes are tying to tell you. If they are irritated, take breaks from your contact lenses. If not, feel free to wear them daily. But be sure to practice proper contact lens hygiene to keep your eyes healthy.

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