There are definitely some unique benefits to wearing contacts over traditional eyewear in the great debate between contact lenses and glasses. However, contact lenses aren’t completely without issues. For example, contact lens wearers are subject to develop an eye problem called contact lens intolerance. CLI affects many people who wear contacts, including those with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. CLI is extremely common and has left many people to put away their contacts for good and correct their vision with alternative means, like eyeglasses or a Los Angeles LASIK procedure.
What is contact lens intolerance?
CLI is a term used to describe people who have eyes that can’t handle having a contact lens in place. Instead, the eye rejects the contacts. Because of this, people experiencing CLI are unable to wear them without experiencing pain or discomfort. CLI can affect any person who wears contacts and even occur years or decades after a person has been wearing their lenses with no prior issues.
What are the symptoms of contact lens intolerance?
There are several symptoms associated with CLI. Among them includes:
- Scratchy and itchy eyes
- Redness
- Dry eyes
- Feelings of pain, discomfort, and stinging while wearing contacts
- Irritated eyes
- Corneal ulcers and abrasions
What causes contact lens intolerance?
According to a Los Angeles LASIK eye center, there are many explanations as to why one might develop CLI. For example, it may be the result of other eye issues, such as chronic dry eye. On the other hand, another factor that can potentially contribute to CLI is contact hygiene. That’s to say, if a contact wearer isn’t prioritizing their eye health by following proper contact lens care, there is a possibility of developing CLI over time. This includes not disinfecting or storing the lenses correctly, failing to change out their old contacts, and wearing them for too long of a period. Lastly, it’s also possible that the wearer’s eye just doesn’t agree with the disinfectant solution or the fit/material of the contact itself, leading to an inability to wear the lens comfortably.
Overall, many factors can contribute to one’s CLI. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to provide relief and avoid this issue.
How to treat contact lens intolerance
If you’re struggling with CLI, here are some ways you can provide your eyes with some much-needed relief:
- Make sure your contacts are the right fit- If you have CLI, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your eye doctor. They’ll be able to run tests and determine if it’s the contact itself that’s causing you so much trouble. If it is, you can get new contacts that are better suited for your eyes to avoid any discomfort!
- Use artificial tears- If dry eye is causing your intolerance, you should take extra steps to make sure your eyes are nice and hydrated. To do this, you can use artificial tears, and eye drops to lubricate your eyes.
- Keep up with your contact hygiene- Keeping your contacts clean is a great way to make sure you’re not putting your eyes at any health risks, including developing CLI. Make sure you’re handling them with clean hands, disinfecting them properly, throwing out the old solution every day, never sleeping in them, and replacing them at the end of the month.
- Take a break from wearing contacts- Taking a break from wearing contacts will give your eyes a chance to breathe and relax without having to deal with the discomfort of CLI. Once your eyes feel better, you can resume wearing them with improved results!
Los Angeles LASIK for contact lens intolerance
The level of discomfort one experiences from CLI varies from person to person. For some people, CLI may only cause minimal discomfort a handful of times in their life. For others, the pain is quite frequent and unbearable to the point that they can’t handle wearing contacts anymore. In either case, CLI is a bothersome issue, leading many to seek permanent solutions like LASIK. Since LASIK can restore your vision to near-perfect levels, it eliminates the need for patients to use contacts. Thus they no longer have to deal with the pain caused by CLI. If you are struggling with CLI and are considering laser eye surgery in Los Angeles, contact your local LASIK surgeon today!