contact lens overwear/eye has lost the ability to wear contacts

I've read from previous postings that the eye can lose its ability to wear contacts. I've been wearing contact lens for more than 10 yrs and it was only 3mos ago that i started having problems.I had mild corneal edema and I was prescribed Solocoseryl eye gel and Sodium Chloride. I rested my eyes from contacts and wore glasses for almost 2 mos. then I wore contacts  when i attended a friend's wedding. My eyes became bloodshot again and worse, i slept wearing them and my opthalmologist said that i may have contact lens overwear already. I dont like wearing glasses and i want to know if how long does contacts overwear last? Does this mean i can't wear contact lens anymore? Would appreciate your comments. thanks

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

The percentage of people that can wear contact lens successfully declines each year of life starting about age 25-30.  90% of people that wear contacts when they are 39 have stopped wearing them when they're 49. You may not gain the ability to wear contacts again. This is especially true of females due to hormonal changes.

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JCH MD

[indi1664]

Hi Cherry,
               Could be that yr eyes now may not accept Contact lenses....however...

1. As you stopped for 2  months there is good chance your contacts could be damged if you hadnt chnaged solution.

2.Were they completely immersed in solution...if not this could have dmaged permanently.

3.Prior to rewear did you disinfect with new solution say 24 hrs prior....and follow normal procedure...

You will be surprised ...how this all plays a big part...

The only other thing you can do is try a different manufacturer lens ...which your physician can advise on.....try...high oxygen contacts...much better.

Good Luck

[JodieJ]

Indi1664 has given you good advice.  I started wearing contacts as a teenager, and I can still wear some (but not all) brands of contacts comfortably all the time (but not to sleep) now that I'm in my 50's.  (My favorite is 1-Day Acuvue Moist.)  However, there were several times in the past that I had to give up contacts for short periods (i.e., a few weeks) due to over wear and other problems.

My best advice is to find an optometrist who specializes in contacts for the "hard to fit" patient.  I once drove for an hour to a distant suburb to see an optometrist whose ad claimed that "if you can't wear the contacts, the consultation is free."  (I happily paid for the consultation.)  You could probably get referral sources from an optometry school.

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

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[cherry403]

Thanks for your advises. After having rested my eyes from contacts for 2 months, i've used new disposable contact lens just to be sure but still got my eyes all red. I went back again to my opthalmologist and she found a slight edema only in my right eye. Strangely though, the edema has always been on the up most portion of my cornea (or under my eyelid) and not my whole eye. She suggested maybe to try contacts with a less concave base curve since the edema seemed to be localized only on the topmost portion of my eye. I haven't tried it yet though. Will it help? I'd appreciate your comments

[JodieJ]

I don't know if contacts with a different base curve will help, but they're certainly worth trying.  There are new contact lens materials and designs being introduced all the time.  It sounds like your ophthalmologist is willing to work with you, which is great.  Maybe she has some ideas for treating your corneal edema.  I don't think you should give up on wearing contacts again.