Have Worn Contact Lenses for Years. Why Are They Suddenly So Uncomfortable?
November 3rd, 2010 | See the Top Answers to this Question Below
I have worn contact lenses for ten years. I’ve never had any trouble.
In June I went to the eye doctor for my yearly exam and got a new contact prescription. The contacts the doctor ordered for me were so uncomfortable. They were the same curve and diameter as my previous prescription, so I assumed that it was the new brand of contact lens that made them so uncomfortable; especially my right eye.
I went through a six month supply of contact lenses in three months. The right eye lenses kept ripping!
I figured the doctor had ordered me some cheap crap, and that was the problem. So I went online to try another brand. This brand is thinner, but the diameter and curve are .1 larger than my prescription (they only came in that one size).
They are still so uncomfortable. I bought a different solution, thinking that maybe I’ve developed an allergy to the solution that I’ve used for the last ten years, but that hasn’t helped. I’ve had them in for two hours, and I’m already about to take them out for the day.
I’ve worn contacts for years, and suddenly they irritate my eyes! What gives?
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Posted in Contact Lenses | 
Tags: allergy, cheap crap, contact lens, Contact Lenses, curve, diameter, eye doctor, eye lenses, hasn, last ten years, three months
Is it possible that the shape of your eye has changed very slightly?
Ripping usually means you’re too aggressive in rubbing, catching a nail, etc. Usually a handling issue.
Fact is, your eyes can’t "talk", but they’re trying to tell you something: the longer you wear contacts, the MORE likely it is that you’ll develop contact lens intolerance. It’s as if your eyes are saying thanks for playing, but I’ve had enough of the low-grade irritation, and am firing a warning shot over the bow!
Some people seemingly think that since they’ve worn lenses for ‘x’ years that they’ve earned immunity from developing problems, and are entitled to wearing them as they want! The exact opposite is the case; the LONGER you’ve worn lenses, the more CAREFUL you have to be to respect reasonable wearing times, proper replacement/cleaning, using rewetting drops BEFORE the lenses dry out, etc, etc.
People never think they will grow intolerant, until they do. There’s many causes, as well as treatment for those causes. Totally impossible to diagnose without examining your eyes under a slit-lamp (most common cause is GPC, if you’re looking to Google), but you need a doc you trust to help resolve your issues.
As far as experimenting with your eyes by ordering different brands (illegal, BTW), etc, good luck with THAT! There’s an old saying, "anyone who plays doctor with their own eyes has a fool for a patient". All fun and games until someone goes blind…..
I love Dave’s post. People are seriously clueless about contact lens intolerance.