Contacts are one of the most commonly used methods of vision correction. It's estimated that around the world 71 million people wear them on a daily basis. While contacts have become widely known as an effective form of vision correction, they are not without their risks. When researching any form of vision correction, you should always take the time to understand and consider any potential risks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the daily use of contact lenses is linked to a higher risk of keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea. Many contact lens wearers tend to not care for their contact lenses and supplies as instructed, which increases their risk of eye problems such as keratitis.
Though poor care of your contacts is the primary cause of keratitis, there are many other forms of keratitis that can be contracted through daily contact use. Microbial keratitis can occur when germs invade the cornea. These germs—such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites—are more likely to invade the eyes when contact lenses are worn for too long or are not cared for correctly. Microbial keratitis is a serious type of eye infection that commonly affects contact lens wearers, and can even lead to blindness or the need for corneal transplant in the most severe cases.
Other complications that are commonly linked to contact lenses usually cause milder symptoms, or no symptoms at all. They may resolve through temporarily not wearing contact lenses, or with eye drops prescribed by an eye doctor. Some of these complications include:
- Allergies affecting the eyes
- Giant papillary conjunctivitis: bumps that appear underneath the eyelid
- Corneal abrasion: a scratch or scrape on the cornea
- Corneal infiltrates: irritation of the cornea indicating inflammation and possible infection
- Dry eyes
- Neovascularization: new blood vessels growing onto the cornea; sometimes causing redness
Benefit of Visian ICL
The key benefit of Visian ICL surgery is the permanent correction or reduction of your nearsightedness allowing you to see clearly at long distances without the daily hassle and potential risks of contact lenses. In addition to the improvement of your uncorrected vision (vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses), your best corrected vision (best vision with contact lenses/eye glasses) may be improved.
Start your journey to visual freedom by finding a doctor near you and learning more about Visian ICL today.