Why do my contact lenses feel uncomfortable?

Contact lenses should be comfortable to wear, even when you first put them on. However there may be times you feel slight discomfort and although they may not necessarily ring alarm bells, it is important to know the symptoms that put your vision at risk. 

There are many reasons why contact lenses are uncomfortable. For contact lenses to work effectively, we must first provide proper care and hygiene to them. Below are some symptoms that may not be uncommon to wearers but they do provide an indication that your contact lenses may require more TLC, or that you may need to relook at other brands of contact lenses.

• Burning, stinging, irritation, or other types of eye pain
• Decreased comfort levels 
• Excessive (watering) tearing
• Unusual secretions from the eye
• Eye redness
• Reduced visual acuity
• Rainbows, halos, or blurred vision
• Photophobia or sensitivity to light
• Dry eyes

If you experience any of the above symptoms, remove your contact lenses immediately. Ensure your hands are washed, cleaned and dry before touching your eyes. Check your lenses carefully for any scratches or tears, clean and rinse them (with contact lens solution, not water) before returning them to your eyes. If the problem persists, you should remove the lenses and revisit your optometrist for a follow up. In the meantime while waiting to visit your optometrist, you should refrain from wearing contact lenses to prevent any eye condition from worsening or developing. 

There are other causes of contact lens discomfort and they may not pose as a risk to your eye health however it may prevent you from enjoying comfortable vision. 

Some of them include: 

1. Poor Fit 
Our eyes are shaped differently and uniquely, this is why it is always important to have your eyes checked before trialing contact lenses. Your optometrist will assess your eyes and perform a series of measurements in order to best recommend the type of lenses that suits you best. If you continue to wear ill-fitting lenses, it may lead to abrasion of your cornea. 

2. Dry Eyes 
If you experience dry eyes, you may not be producing enough tears or moisture to keep your contact lenses hydrated. You may require lenses that have higher moisture content levels or you may need to use eye drops to keep your eyes lubricated and moist. 

My contact lenses is moving or falling out. 

First, Stay Calm! Your contact lenses can't go very far so don't panic. 
If you feel your contact lens is moving around your eye or falling out, you may have worn them inside out and that's easy to solve. With clean and dry hands, remove the contact lenses from your eyes and flip them around. Moist them with saline and pop them right back. 

If it still feels like your lenses are swimming in your eyes, you may be rubbing your eyes too much or have a fitting problem. You may also be using a contact lens that is not suited to your eye shape and size. Head back to your optometrist and get your lenses fitted again. Properly fitted contact lenses should stay stabilised in the centre of your eyes and never move around. 

Whatever the discomfort, stay calm and call your optometrists if you require any quick clarifications.