Contact lens wearers may experience red, itchy, and watery eyes due to allergies caused by irritants such as pollen, dandruff, and protein buildup. Proper hand washing and lens care can help, as can wearing disposable lenses or switching to sensitive eye contact solution. GPC, caused by protein buildup, can also lead to allergic reactions.
Some people who wear contact lenses find that their eyes become red, itchy and watery during use and this could indicate an allergic reaction to the contact lenses. One of the most common reasons for this problem is that common irritants, including pollen and dandruff, can build up under a lens, meaning allergens are constantly rubbing against the eye. Some people are also allergic to contact lens solution or the lens material itself. Additionally, protein buildup on the contacts can cause giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), in which bumps appear on the conjunctiva because the surface is so irritated, leading to symptoms similar to those of an allergy.
Contact lenses tend to pick up various irritants every day they’re used, especially when people who wear them don’t properly wash their hands before putting them in their eyes. For example, many people have allergic reactions to pet dander and pollen, and mold and dust also tend to cause negative reactions. Those who notice an allergic reaction to contact lenses while keeping their hands clean and washing their lenses properly each day may find it helpful to wear disposables on a daily basis. These are usually meant to last for one day, after which they should be thrown away so that fresh lenses free of irritant buildup can be used the next day.
It is possible to develop an allergic reaction to contact lenses resulting from certain products used during use. For example, some people’s eyes are bothered by the materials in the lens itself. If this is the suspected problem, you should probably look for a different type of lens or stop wearing contact lenses. Similarly, some people are allergic to the contact lens solution they use to clean and store their lenses. Switching to contact solution for sensitive eyes can help alleviate this problem.
One of the main causes of an allergic reaction to contact lenses is the gradual buildup of protein on the lenses, called giant papillary conjunctivitis. This often allows the protein to irritate the eye enough to cause bumps on the conjunctiva, a mucous membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Some of the more common signs of an allergic reaction to contact lenses that result include redness, itching, and discharge from the eyes. People who don’t wash their lenses thoroughly, sleep in them, or wear contact lenses longer than recommended tend to be more at risk for GPC, because all of these actions allow the protein to build up.
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