Major Contact Irritation

I've been wearing contacts for approximately 5.5 years now and never had any problems.  Last June I had a bad eye infection and had to be out of my contacts for 2 - 4 weeks.  After the infection cleared up, I wore my contacts again and things were fine.  However, I noticed my eyes getting irritated more often and couldn't wear my contacts for a full day anymore because my eyes would get extremely red, dry, and hurt...A LOT.  It is to the point now, where I can't even put my contacts in for 5 minutes (even with a brand new, never worn set of contacts).  What should I do, I miss wearing contacts...I've been to the eye doctor and everytime they just give me drops that help for a little bit, but then the same thing happens.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Stop wearing contacts and make your peace with glasses or see an Ophthalmologist about LASIK

JCH MD

[JodieJ]

Before you give up on contacts, get a second opinion from a different eye care provider.  A good choice would be an experienced optometrist who specializes in contact lenses for the hard-to-fit patient.  If there is a college of optometry in your area, they might be able to provide a referral for you.  For whatever reason(s), your current brand of contacts no longer works for you, and you should not attempt to wear these lenses.  Possibly, a different brand of contact lenses made of a different material would work.  And maybe a change of wetting/soaking solutions would help, too.  I've experienced contact lens crises similar to yours during my many years of contact lens wear, and somehow I was always able to find a contact which would work for me.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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