After using contact lenses, I have dryness in eyes with soreness. How to treat it?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 23 years old and I suffer from dry eyes for many years due to contact lenses. One of my eyes started to have soreness with bloodshot now and then. It looks as if my skin on the eye got abraded.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I went through your image (attachment removed to protect patient's identity).

I have some questions to ask you. The abraded looking skin near the ridge of the nose is unusual.Please mention whether you have this for the first time and there is any pain during touching. Please mention whether you rubbed the area vigorously and any numbness or tingling in that region. Please mention whether you got chickenpox during childhood. Please share a photo of your whole face and it helps me to determine the extent of inflammation on the face.

Dryness of the eyes can be managed by using lubricating eye drops like Refresh Liquigel (Carboxymethylcellulose). Wearing contact lenses tends to aggravate dry eyes. The material of the lens absorbs the water content of the tears. If there is redness with yellowish sticky discharge in one eye, then there is a chance for you to have bacterial conjunctivitis. It needs to be treated by using antibiotic eye drops like Moxifloxacin five times a day for a week. If you develop rash-like inflammation on one side of the face, then you need to consult a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and regards.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Thanks for your follow up query.

I doubt if it could be infected. It is more likely that you have developed longstanding dry eyes and hence intolerance to contact lenses. You might want to consider switching to spectacles or getting a refractive surgery done.

Application of Visine (sympathomimetic amine) eye drops can cause a temporary whitening of the eyes. You can apply it three times a day for five days. In place of Refresh eye drops you can switch to Systane Ultra eye drops 3 to 4 times a day. These eye drops are free of preservatives and should be more soothing to your eyes. You should also consider the fact that the climate you are in is also a factor that might aggravate the condition. Do let me know if you have any more questions.

Kindly consult a specilaist, talk with them,a nd take medicines with their consent.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and regards.