Contact Lens and Possible Related Eye Conditions

It is very difficult in our world to draw the line between fashion and health when it comes to contact lenses. I had a roommate in my time at the university who always wore contact to class, parties, and everywhere possible. The only time she isn't putting on the contact lens is when she is asleep or when she is having her bath. I always believed that she was doing this for the purpose of correcting an eye defect, but the day I was confident enough to ask her why she wore contact lenses, she said she wore it for fashion, seeing that it gives her the color of the pupil, cornea, and iris she would want to have. While writing this post, it didn't strike me by surprise when I was going through a study carried out on 371 college students who wore contact lenses on a daily basis. 61.2% of the students wore the lenses for the purpose of comfort and convenience, while 42.9% wore it for cosmetic benefit.

Contact Lens Explained

Before we continue, allow me to describe what a contact lens is. A Contact lenses are artificial optical correction lens which is placed in the cornea of the eye. While there are a lot of cosmetic contact lenses available for purchases with no medical correcting purpose, contact lenses meant to correct eye defects could correct a variety of defects including Myopia, keratoconus, iris pathologies, anisometropia and so on. There are different types of contact lenses with FDA approval which people use. These lenses include;

• Soft Contact Lenses or hydrophilic lenses

As the name implies, the lens is made of soft, plastic that allows the flow of oxygen through the cornea.

• Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses

Just as it implies are rigid type lenses, that are durable, and prevent buildup of deposits, while giving crisper and clearer vision.

The both type of lenses can either be Extended Wear Contact Lenses, or Disposable (Replacement Schedule) Contact Lenses

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Contact Lens Epidemiology

People using contact lenses are at the risk of having certain eye condition (this doesn't mean that everyone that uses contact lens would have this conditions, but a very few might experience discomfort, irritations which could lead to certain eye conditions). These conditions would include;

Bacteria Keratitis
Bacteria keratitis is a bacterial infection that causes the inflammation of the cornea in the eye. It can be caused by bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa Staphylococcus aureus. The condition can be sight-threatening if not quickly diagnosed and properly treated. This could occur due to wearing of contact lens, but at the same time, people who do not wear contact lens could suffer the infection.

Bacteria Keratitis risk factor associated with contact lenses includes prolonged wearing of the lens, poor hygiene of the lens, sleeping with the contact lens, and using the contact lens above the expiry date. Patients with Bacteria Keratitis experience signs and symptoms such as red eyes, pain in the eye, blurred vision, Photophobia, and eye discharge. In complicated cases, it could lead to loss of vision, perforation, and ulceration.

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
Also known as contact lens-induced Papillary Conjunctivitis is an eye condition that has to do with the inflation of the conjunctiva. This condition is as a result of debris in the eye which could also be from contact lenses, causing bumps (papillae) in the conjunctiva. This could happen with contact lenses when the lens isn't clean/sterile, and extensive/prolong wearing of the lens. With Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, the eyes are red (conjunctiva hyperemia), it becomes itchy, irritation, swelling, and blurry visions.

Corneal Neovascularization
Corneal Neovascularization is the formation of new blood vessels in the cornea of the eyes. The blood vessel would extend from the limbus to the area of the cornea. Corneal Neovascularization occur as a result of inflammation, hypoxic injury, to toxin introduction to the cornea. People with contact lenses could develop this condition from prolonged cornea use, expired contact lens, sleeping with contact lens, improperly fitted lens.

Pinguecula

Pinguecula are yellowish nodule growth on the conjunctiva. It appears towards the bulbar conjunctiva close to the nose. Prolonged use of contact lens, and using Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses, can cause pinguecula.

Ptosis
Ptosis is a condition when the upper eyelid drops over the eyes, causing partial blocking of sight or complete blocking of sight. Ptosis is a possible condition with using contact lens due to friction from the lens against the eyelid over a period of time. People who use Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses are more likely to have ptosis compared to people who use other type of lens, prolong use of contact lenses could lead to ptosis, and contact lenses without fluids on dry eye could lead to ptosis.

Conclusion

Contact lenses are a good and therapeutic method of correcting eye conditions, but not using them correctly or not performing contact lens and personal hygiene could lead to having contact lens optical conditions. It is really painful that a lot of people who use contact lens do not know about these conditions and that properly changing your lens, and keeping it in its clean solution could help prevent these conditions.

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Reference

• Types of Contact Lenses
• Pattern of use of contact lens among college students: A cross-sectional study in coastal Karnataka
• FDA.GOV (Types of Contact Lenses)
• Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis
• Basics of Bacterial Keratitis
• Corneal Neovascularization
• Corneal neovascularization: updates on pathophysiology, investigations & management
  *What Is Ptosis?
• Pinguecula