Many people who visit Carter Eye Center for LASIK surgery or other types of vision correction are under the mistaken impression that contact lenses are safer than vision correction surgery. In reality, contact lenses pose potential hazards serious enough that the federal government warns you to be careful when using them.
According to www.fda.gov, contact lenses may be the cause of:
- Discomfort or pain
- Discharge or excess tearing (watering eyes)
- Light sensitivity
- Burning, itching, or a feeling of grit in your eye
- Redness or swelling
- Blurred vision
The FDA warns that these may be the symptoms of injury or infection and you should discontinue using your contacts if they occur, but keep your contacts so your ophthalmologist can use them to determine the cause of your discomfort, if necessary. The FDA further recommends that you:
- Clean your contacts daily as recommended
- Never expose your contacts to water (the organisms and chemicals in water, even bottled water, may harm your eye if caught under the contact lens)
- Discard your contact solution after each use
- Replace your contact case every 3 to 6 months
- Remove your contact lenses before swimming
To learn more about the benefits and risks of contacts or of LASIK treatment please contact Dr. Harvey Carter at Carter Eye Clinic today, serving Dallas, Texas.
