Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDry Eye SyndromeBlepharitisSevere Eye AllergiesWhat Can Be Done?Unusual PrescriptionsContact Lens IntoleranceKeratoconusFrequent Eye InfectionsDusty EnvironmentSigns of Irritation
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dry Eye Syndrome
Blepharitis
Severe Eye Allergies
What Can Be Done?
Unusual Prescriptions
Contact Lens Intolerance
Keratoconus
Frequent Eye Infections
Dusty Environment
Signs of Irritation
Ready to trade your eyeglasses forcontact lenses? Many people excitedly make an appointment to try contact lenses, only to be told they shouldn’t wear them. Several factors may not make you a good candidate, such as certain allergies, the shape of your eyes, dry eyes, and more.
Youroptometristorophthalmologistwill perform a comprehensiveeye examinationand conduct certain tests to determine if contact lenses will work for you. While wearing contact lenses isn’t a problem for most people, there are a few conditions that may make it difficult.
This article will explain who isn’t the ideal candidate for contact lenses and why, as well as what can be done.
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Dry eye syndromeis one of the most common conditions that gets in the way of successful contact lens wear.In order to feel comfortable in contact lenses, a person needs to have ample amounts of healthy tear film.
Humantearsconsist of water, oil, mucus, salt, natural antibiotics, vitamins, minerals, and many other ingredients. Every time you blink, you renew your tears and wipe a new layer of this complicated solution across your eye. Tears help keep contact lenses moist and lubricated.
If tear film is lacking, the contact lens becomes dry, or the surface of the lens may be exposed to the air. This may cause fluctuating, blurry vision and the eye may feel:
These symptoms may leave your eyes feeling very irritated after only a few hours of wearing contacts.
Severe dry eye syndrome can be a major problem for contact lens wearers and may not be a good option. Severe dry eye syndrome can put a person at risk of corneal scarring and potential infection.
However, mild to moderate dry eye patients can usually wear contact lenses, at least part of the time. To improve dry eye problems with contact lenses, your healthcare provider may recommend:
Blepharitisis an inflammation of the eyelids. While it can affect people of any age, blepharitis tends to occur more often in people with oily skin.
Blepharitis is classified into two types:
Posterior blepharitis
When these glands are inflamed, either too much or too little oil is being secreted. This can result in evaporative dry eye. Having dry eyes can make wearing contact lenses extremely difficult.
Anterior blepharitis
Anterior blepharitis affects the outside of the eyelid where the eyelashes attach. This type of inflammation may be associated with either dandruff or bacteria. Dandruff causes the eyelids to become red and produce waxy scales on the eyelashes, whereas bacteria can cause hard crusts to form around the eyelashes.
Anterior blepharitis can actually put one at risk for developing a significanteye infectionwhile wearing contact lenses because of the amount of bacteria hanging around the eyelid. Plus, the crusty debris can spill over into the tear film and cause irritation and contact lens coating problems. Further, manipulating the eyelids while inserting and removing contact lenses can cause more debris to be spread around, increasing redness.
Other ways to treat blepharitis include:
Having severeeye allergiescan create problems wearing contact lenses. The allergy cascade or reaction is often associated with triggers or antigens that make allergies flare up.
When exposed to these allergens, cells in the eyes release histamines and other chemicals in an effort to protect the eyes. It is this chemical reaction that causes blood vessels inside the eyes to swell and the eyes to become itchy, red, and watery.
Common eye allergy triggers include:
To reduce symptoms of severe eye allergies, your optometrist or ophthalmologist may prescribe:
Antihistamineswork wonders for those with allergies, but one detrimental side effect is that they dry out the mucus membranes, including those in the eyes. This can make it difficult to wear contact lenses successfully.
Because allergens can stick to contact lenses and activate allergies, one method to reduce eye allergies is for the wearer to be fit with daily disposable contact lenses—which are thrown out of after a day or less of wear.
What Is Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis?Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is a condition in which the eye becomes allergic to a protein that precipitates out of the tears and onto the surface of a contact lens.The tissue under the upper eyelid becomes lumpy and bumpy and can grab hold of your contact lenses and move them around. People with GPC often complain of irritation and mucus discharge.GPC often develops in people who already wear contact lenses.This condition can usually be successfully treated.
What Is Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis?
Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is a condition in which the eye becomes allergic to a protein that precipitates out of the tears and onto the surface of a contact lens.The tissue under the upper eyelid becomes lumpy and bumpy and can grab hold of your contact lenses and move them around. People with GPC often complain of irritation and mucus discharge.GPC often develops in people who already wear contact lenses.This condition can usually be successfully treated.
Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is a condition in which the eye becomes allergic to a protein that precipitates out of the tears and onto the surface of a contact lens.
The tissue under the upper eyelid becomes lumpy and bumpy and can grab hold of your contact lenses and move them around. People with GPC often complain of irritation and mucus discharge.
GPC often develops in people who already wear contact lenses.This condition can usually be successfully treated.
Contact lenses do provide a new type of freedom, but for some people, they do not always offer the sharpness and clarity that a high-quality pair of eyeglasses provides.
Be willing to try several different diagnostic or trial lenses while being fit. Most eye doctors will try three to four different types of lenses before considering other options like discontinuation of contact lenses.
Your eye care professional may recommend an alternative lens design besides regular soft lenses. Many of these options provide superior vision compared to soft disposable lenses. Some of these lenses include the following:
For some people, wearing contact lenses may be nearly impossible. Symptoms of a contact lens intolerance may include:
Common causes of contact lens intolerance include:
A contact lens intolerance may be easily managed if there is a known underlying cause. Treatments are available for conditions such as allergies and dry eyes.
Ensuring you take proper care of your contacts can also help. If you think your contact lens solution is causing the irritation, try switching to a different brand.
If poor-fitting contact lenses are causing your discomfort, see a eye care professional right away. They can assess your fit and possibly recommend alternative lens options.
Keratoconusis a condition where thecorneabecomes thin and bulges like a cone. Symptoms may include:
This condition often affects both eyes and slowly gets worse over time. That said, persons with late-stage disease may not be able to wear contact lenses. If the cornea changes shape, it may feel uncomfortable to wear contacts or they may not fit properly.
If you have keratoconus, contact lenses may still be an option. Your eye care provider may recommend you try hard contact lenses. This type of contact lens can provide sharper vision than soft lenses, particularly when the cornea is unevenly shaped.
Other treatments for keratoconus may include:
Frequent Eye Infections From Wearing Contacts
People who wear contact lenses are at higher risk for developing eye infections. Symptoms of an eye infection include:
You may be at greater risk for infection if you:
Frequent or severe infections can lead to scarring of the cornea, which may permanently affect your vision. If you are at high risk for this complication, contact lenses may not be right for you.
If you have a history of getting eye infections from wearing contact lenses, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk:
If you have a moderate or severe eye infection, it’s generally recommended that you refrain from wearing contact lenses until it has resolved. That’s because the lens can further irritate the inflamed eye.
That said, some types of infection can lead to serious vision loss and even blindness. To avoid such complications, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. If eye infections are a common problem for you, speak to your eye care provider about alternatives to contact lenses.
You Work in a Dusty or Dirty Environment
It may be hazardous to wear contact lenses in certain work environments. This includes situations that involve:
If you are exposed to such conditions, it’s possible for chemicals or small particles to become trapped behind the contact lens and cause damage to the cornea. Another concern is potentially losing a contact lens while on the job. This can impact one’s ability to see and may pose a safety hazard.
If there are hazards to wearing contact lenses at work (or any environment), plan to wear glasses instead.
Signs Contact Lenses Are Irritating Your Eyes
Symptoms that contact lenses are irritating your eyes include:
If you experience significant eye discomfort while wearing contact lenses, its important to take them out immediately to give your eyes a break. If you continue to have bothersome symptoms, see your eye care provider right away.
Summary
Not everyone is a suitable candidate for contact lenses. For some people, it may be difficult or nearly impossible to wear them. This may be due to a variety of reasons such as having allergies, dry eyes, a history of eye infections, or a poor lens fit. Fortunately, it’s possible to treat and/or manage many of these underlying causes. If you are having problems with wearing contacts, let your eye care provider know—they may be able to recommend a solution.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Optometric Association.Treating Dry Eye Symptoms in Contact Lens Patients.All About Vision.Contact lenses for dry eyes.Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective. Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795Oleñik A, Mahillo-fernández I, Alejandre-alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470Merck Manual Professional Version.Blepharitis.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye Allergy.Urgacz A, Mrukwa E, Gawlik R.Adverse events in allergy sufferers wearing contact lenses. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2015;32(3):204-9. doi:10.5114/pdia.2015.48071Eye Center of Texas.How to relieve contact lens intolerance.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is keratoconus?Boyd K.Eye infections from contact lenses.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.Prevention and control hazards: contact lenses at work.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Contact lens risk.Additional ReadingClinical Manual of Contact Lenses, Bennett, Edward, Henry, Vinita, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2015.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Optometric Association.Treating Dry Eye Symptoms in Contact Lens Patients.All About Vision.Contact lenses for dry eyes.Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective. Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795Oleñik A, Mahillo-fernández I, Alejandre-alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470Merck Manual Professional Version.Blepharitis.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye Allergy.Urgacz A, Mrukwa E, Gawlik R.Adverse events in allergy sufferers wearing contact lenses. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2015;32(3):204-9. doi:10.5114/pdia.2015.48071Eye Center of Texas.How to relieve contact lens intolerance.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is keratoconus?Boyd K.Eye infections from contact lenses.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.Prevention and control hazards: contact lenses at work.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Contact lens risk.Additional ReadingClinical Manual of Contact Lenses, Bennett, Edward, Henry, Vinita, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2015.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Optometric Association.Treating Dry Eye Symptoms in Contact Lens Patients.All About Vision.Contact lenses for dry eyes.Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective. Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795Oleñik A, Mahillo-fernández I, Alejandre-alba N, et al.Benefits of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation on health-related quality of life in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:831-6. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S62470Merck Manual Professional Version.Blepharitis.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye Allergy.Urgacz A, Mrukwa E, Gawlik R.Adverse events in allergy sufferers wearing contact lenses. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2015;32(3):204-9. doi:10.5114/pdia.2015.48071Eye Center of Texas.How to relieve contact lens intolerance.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is keratoconus?Boyd K.Eye infections from contact lenses.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.Prevention and control hazards: contact lenses at work.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Contact lens risk.
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American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Eye Allergy.
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Eye Center of Texas.How to relieve contact lens intolerance.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is keratoconus?
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Clinical Manual of Contact Lenses, Bennett, Edward, Henry, Vinita, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2015.
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