Ophthalmologist warned about the danger of improper wearing of contact lenses

Wearing lenses during a cold can be extremely dangerous. In recent years, the number of patients with inflammatory eye diseases and corneal ulcers caused by improper lens care has increased significantly. On April 25, the ophthalmologist, ophthalmic surgeon of JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), Candidate of Medical Sciences Irakli Behorashvili told Izvestia about the serious complications that may arise if the rules for using contact lenses are violated.

He noted that wearing lenses during colds is particularly dangerous. Viruses and bacteria easily penetrate into the corneal tissues, provoking the development of keratitis and ulcerative lesions. Equally serious consequences are caused by neglect of hygiene: many people forget to wash their hands before putting on or removing their lenses, which leads to infection.

"The use of expired lenses and solutions, as well as containers in which contact lenses are stored, is also prohibited. Lenses have a service life: one-day, two-week, monthly, and its violation is fraught with the proliferation of bacteria, as well as the loss of their properties," warned Behorashvili.

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He clarified that the same applies to solutions: over time, they lose their disinfecting properties, and some even cause allergic reactions. In addition, containers should be changed at least once a month, rather than washed with soap and other means, otherwise bacteria can multiply in them.

The doctor strongly recommends against storing lenses in ordinary water, which is an ideal breeding ground for microbes. The specialist paid special attention to the dangers of sleeping in contact lenses, because this often leads to inflammation of the cornea.

Among other factors affecting the deterioration of vision, the ophthalmologist named eye and head injuries, chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, as well as prolonged use of gadgets, provoking dry eye syndrome and the development of myopia in children.

The doctor explained that modern ophthalmology offers effective methods of vision correction, including laser surgery with a minimal risk of complications (less than 1%). However, before diagnosis for subsequent surgery, it is necessary to stop wearing lenses for at least a month to obtain accurate results.

Behorashvili urged not to ignore the alarming symptoms: redness, pain, decreased visual acuity, photophobia or a feeling of a foreign body in the eye. If such signs appear, you should never put the lens back on, because this may worsen the damage to the cornea.

The specialist recommends taking special care when the lens feels like it has curled up under the eyelid. In 85-90% of cases, the lens has already fallen out, and the discomfort is caused by a corneal injury. Attempts to "remove" a non-existent lens on your own can lead to additional damage.

Earlier, on March 6, Zarina Kurachinova, chief physician of the federal network of eye clinics World Vision Clinic, told Izvestia about the causes of glaucoma. According to the doctor, the information that glaucoma is a problem for people over the age of 60 is a myth. She noted that the disease is increasingly being diagnosed in young people, and sometimes even in adolescents. Kurachinova named genetics, high intraocular pressure, vascular problems and stress as its main causes.