Red eye with contacts

Hi,

I've had red eyes whenever I wear my soft contacts for a while now. The entire eye does not turn red, but I can see veins and some redness under my contacts. The thing is that I haven't had this happen to me before, and my soft contacts have been the same brand that I have been using for many years now.

There was an incident in which I went swimming in a lake wearing them a few weeks ago, which could be why this is happening - the water was quite dirty. But it also could be that the bug repellent/makeup I was wearing on my face was washed into my eyes as well. I'm not so sure.

My eyes don't water, there isn't any discharge, and they don't itch. I've been adding some eye drops at times too (for dry eyes) to wash out anything, but I don't think it helps much.

As a precaution, I've thrown out that pair of contacts and got new ones of the same brand. So, I haven't been wearing any contacts for a few weeks, but the problem hasn't been solved. If I put contacts in, the eyes will still turn red.

Any idea on what I should do? Or if there is anything I should look for as terms of symptoms? I can't tell if my eye is infected or anything because I don't know what to look for.

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

Anyone reading this----don't wear your contact lens when you go swimming, especially in a creek, river or stream. I am currently treating a young father for an ultra-severe corneal ulcer related to swimming in contact lens.

Blackrose2, since it's been several weeks since you went swimming and you have left the contact lens out its unlikely you have the same problem.  You will need to return to whomever you had fit your contact lens for a re-evaluation and re-measurement of your eyes for proper fit and compatibility. Remember that people lose the ability to wear contact lens all the time and a reason or cause is often difficult or impossible to pin down. Loss of contact lens tolerance is a major reason for people seeking LASIK surgery in the USA.

JCH MD Eye Physician & Surgeon