Da Vinci’s Health Hub- Danger: Expired Contact Lenses!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 0:04
Health Hub, Health Tips, Secrets & Tips |
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5 comments

It says right on the directions that you shouldn’t wear your contacts any longer than two weeks. You’re going on your six or seventh – you’ve lost count. What REALLY happens when you wear contact lenses longer than recommended?

Step 1:: Best Case; Your contacts will will get coated with germs and protein, your eyes will get red and irritated, and you’ll have to wear glasses until your eyes feel better.
Step 2:: Worst Case; You’ll develop an infectious corneal ulcer that may lead to scar tissue which can lead to vision loss, and even blindness. Symptoms of an infectious corneal ulcer include squinting, redness, pain, tearing, and small pupil size.; Cleaning and disinfecting disposable contacts won’t make a difference. After you’ve worn them for the recommended time period, they’re done. You have the facts, now you make the call.

Tags: contact lenses, Health Tips

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5 Comments on “Da Vinci’s Health Hub- Danger: Expired Contact Lenses!”

Lauren wrote on 5 August, 2008, 11:42
Thanks for the warning…more people do need to take heed to this I know sometimes I’m guilty of over using them myself
Karen wrote on 6 August, 2008, 7:15
you can find further information on the pros and cons of contact lens wear v. Lasik at http://www.seewithlasik.com/docs/lasik-contact-lens.shtml.
John wrote on 13 April, 2009, 13:41
Here’s a dirty little secret: Your contact lens case is dangerous and must be replace.

There are over 38 million contact lens wearers in the U.S. and children are the fastest growing segment. The contact lens industry is enjoying great success, but there is danger growing under those lenses.

Danger in the form of hard to pronounce words like fusarium keratitis and acanthamoeba keratitis. These are nasty words that are causing eye health complications from minor eye infections to blindness. Thousands of patients will visit their doctors today, unnecessarily.

And the culprit? Up to 80% of all complications are traced back to poor patient compliance. More often than not, contact lens problems are simply caused by their owners’ lack of awareness of proper care techniques. Most contact lens wearers simply don’t know the basic rules. Basic rules like throwing away lens cases frequently. A frightening reality when the end result can cause blindness. Frightening statistics – Contact lens cases need to be replaced at a minimum of every 3 months and monthly replacement is strongly recommended. Lens cases are hotbeds for dangerous bacteria and fungi. Yet over 70% of cases are contaminated from overuse and 23% (nearly 1 in 4) of all contact lens wearers never replace their lens case. Never. Also, over 60% of contact lenses are worn past their expiration date – a recipe for disaster.

These are unacceptable statistics. Contact lenses and lens cases are medical devices not fashion accessories, yet most patients get the impression that contact lenses are non-prescriptive and lens care is irrelevant.

The chair of the American Optometric Association, Paul Klein, O.D., recently wrote to the 36,000 professional members of the AOA.

“Doctor, look in the mirror. When was the last time you told a patient that is was positively not OK to stretch the discard cycle of a two-week lens to three or four weeks? . . . When was the last time you interrogated your patients about their exact hygiene and lens care methods? When was the last time you insisted on lens case discard on a regular basis? . . . Unless and until we recognize our part in the problem, we should not be surprised at the absence of a solution.”

But doctors can only do so much. The typical contact lens wearer only sees their doctor once a year during their annual exam and lens care is usually quickly forgotten.

In June 2008, the FDA stepped in and held a conference with industry leaders to discuss how to reduce the risk of infection caused by contact lens products. Major recommendations included: clear labeling of discard dates, frequent replacement of contact lens cases, and better communication of basic care instructions.

So what is the solution?

Contact lens and solution manufacturers need to wake up and solve basic dangers through effective communication. It is unacceptable to sell a medical device and have customers be so in the dark about basic care. Millions can reduce their risk today by replacing their dirty contact lens case. Millions can reduce their risk today by replacing their lenses on schedule. It shouldn’t be difficult to dramatically change frightening compliance statistics.

There are new products and services available to help lens wearers with their lens care. We like the LensAlert Contact Lens & Case Timer, because it not only keeps track of your contact lens replacement schedule, it also lets you know when to replace your dangerous contact lens case. Simply set the timers and when the display flashes “0” it’s time for a change. Visit lensalert.com for more information.
Jeff wrote on 1 June, 2009, 5:15
It is the responsibility of the person who prescribes the lenses to cleary indicate what lens to buy and until what duration to wear. Plus how to ensure that the lenses do not get contaminated in any way. I think a mandatory session should be held for everyone prescribed with lenses in which they are educated about the proper use and disposal measures.