Contact lenses are medical devices designed to help you see clearly. It’s critical to follow your doctor’s prescription on how to wear your contact lenses for the best possible vision and comfort.
When you don’t wear your contacts appropriately, your eyes can suffer.
Your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy. The cornea, the ‘Clear part of the eye’ is avascular or without a blood supply. It’s avascular otherwise it wouldn’t transmit light without distortion. As a result of this living tissue being avascular, it’s necessary to obtain oxygen from the atmosphere. The wearing of a contact lens interrupts the flow of oxygen to the cornea and due to changes in the metabolic pump of the cornea cells – the tissues thicken, called Oedema.
The risks of wearing contacts too long Contact lenses that are left in too long can lead to the following conditions:
- Corneal ulcers (infectious keratitis): An open sore in the outer layer of the cornea.
- Hypoxia or the lack of oxygen can lead to abnormal blood vessel growth into the cornea.
To learn more about contact lenses, schedule a contact lens exam with one of our eye doctors.
