Why Do My Contacts Hurt?

Contact lenses are a great replacement for wearing glasses — whether for daily use or special engagements. However, your contacts should never sting, itch, or burn while you wear them.

If you’re experiencing discomfort while wearing your contact lenses, here are some common reasons and what you can do to alleviate them.

Out of Date Prescription

If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, it’s possible that your contacts are not the right prescription. Wearing an incorrect vision prescription will not cause your vision to worsen, but it can cause eye strain and headaches.

Over-Wearing Your Contacts

With proper wear, contacts should feel comfortable enough that you barely feel you have them on. The problem is many patients tend to forget how long they’ve been wearing their contacts, or leave them in while they sleep.

Most patients can safely and comfortably wear contact lenses for 14 to 16 hours per day. You should remove them before you go to bed at night to give your eyes a chance to breathe without lenses in. Over-wearing your contacts can cause pink eye, dry eyes, and other conditions.

Poor Hygiene

In addition to limiting how long you wear your contact lenses, it’s important to use proper hygiene when putting them in and taking them out.

Always make sure you:

• Wash and dry your hands before touching your eyes.
• Clean your contacts according to directions from your optometrist.
• Only use fresh contact lens solution.
• Store lenses in a proper case.
• Remove lenses before swimming or showering.
• Never share contact lenses.

Allergies

If you have environmental allergies such as pollen, dust, or mold, allergens can become stuck to your contact lens and irritate your eye. It may be best to wear glasses during allergy season or treat your allergies to alleviate your symptoms.

Underlying Conditions

It’s possible that you have developed a contact-related infection or have an underlying condition that hasn’t been diagnosed. If you’ve ruled out the above reasons, it may be best to contact your eye doctor for an appointment.

How to Stop Discomfort

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort associated with your contact lenses, here’s what to do:

• Immediately remove your contacts, and put glasses on.
• Examine your contacts for any damage.
• Clean, rinse, and then reinsert your contacts (if they are not damaged).
• If the problem continues, make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible.

To book an appointment for an eye exam or to order more contacts, contact our team today: (214) 220-3937