$Unique_ID{BRK01376}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{The Dangers Involved With Contact Lenses}
$Subject{eyes vision contact lens sense senses lenses eye sight see seeing
contacts farsighted nearsighted astigmatic infectious keratitis extended-wear
soft acanthamoeba giant papillary conjunctivitis lens-care saline solution
solutions}
$Volume{F-21}
$Log{
Conjunctivitis of the Eye*0010401.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


The Dangers Involved With Contact Lenses


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QUESTION:  I am on the verge of changing my entire allure, and the question of
contact lenses has come up.  I think they may do a great deal for me, but I
have heard a bit about the dangers involved with their use, and could use some
good information.  Would you please oblige me?

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ANSWER:  We've come a long way in eye care.  Contacts seem to be the therapy
of choice for a majority of the farsighted, the nearsighted, and even the
astigmatic.  I'm sure we've all been jolted once or twice by the fact that our
old brown-eyed friend suddenly is sporting eyes of aquamarine like an island
sea--due to the fact that contacts cannot only correct your vision, but also
cosmetically can change your look.
     But the dangers are real and one of them is called infectious keratitis.
This usually occurs in extended-wear soft contacts.  Another problem is
acanthamoeba infection, also a danger in chlorinated swimming pools or hot
tubs.  Giant papillary conjunctivitis seems to be a disease that is a direct
response to the lens itself, a hypersensitivity to it.  A common factor for
all of these eye diseases related to soft-lens wear is improper caring of the
lenses themselves.  People may become sensitive to commercial preparations for
lens care and substitute homemade saline solutions, a real no-no unless all
the proper precautions for sterility are observed.  Cold disinfection has
become more popular for extended-wear users.  So it seems the solution to
stopping infection with contacts is good lens care.  Excessive deposit
formation on the lenses might also be involved in infection.  All
extended-wear users troubled by excessive deposits should be told to remove
and clean their lenses more frequently.  Patients with dry eyes, allergies, or
the inability to comply with lens-care directives should not even think of
contacts.  Methods and time of cleaning and disinfecting should be thoroughly
discussed and compliance is absolutely essential.  The latest development in
disposal lenses offers even another choice.  So go ahead with your planned
"redo" (possibly even changing eye color in the process), but make sure you
have a full understanding of the care your lenses will need to avoid problems.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.