Redness Outlining the Edge of My Iris

[herman345]

Hello,

I'll try to be brief here. I wear Acuvue Oasys 2 week contact lenses. I have been wearing contacts for about 9 years now. About 2 months ago, I noticed that there was redness outlining the outer-edge of my Iris in my left eye. It didn't go all the way around -- just about half way from top to bottom. There was no pain, itchiness, vision problems, or anything else that would have indicated a problem. I only noticed it when I looked in the mirror. My eye was slightly more bloodshot than usual, but the biggest concern for me was that this red "half-circle" seemed to be very concentrated (for lack of a better word.) It looked as if somebody took a red colored-pencil and traced the outer-edge of my iris with it.

When I take my contacts out, the problem goes almost completely away over night, but after a couple days in a row of wearing my lenses, (I do take them out in the evening) the half-circle returns. I have replaced the lens, and even used a lens meant for my right eye in my left eye -- it's a different prescription, so I figure it might rule out an ill-fitting lens. The problem seems to come on pretty quickly when it strikes, too. I look in the mirror in the morning and my eye looks fine, then after a couple of hours I look in the mirror and there it is. Again, I have no itching, pain, blurred vision, or any other indications of a problem -- it's JUST this damn redness!

Has anyone ever experienced something like this? Should I try another brand of contacts? I don't have the option of speaking with and eye doctor as I'm currently living in China and I've been told by multiple people, even Chinese people, that there aren't really any qualified eye doctors anywhere in my city.

Thank you,

-Herman

[Doreen Fazio, M.D.]

The redness most likely reflects a poor lens fit, probably a tight lens.  Go to a major medical university; they must have an ophthalmology department.  Ask to see a doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) who specializes in fitting contact lenses.  Redness around the cornea is called ciliary flush, and indicates internal inflammation.  This is often accompanied by pain or light sensitivity.  Since you do not have these symptoms, I believe the lens fit may be at fault.

[herman345]

Thanks, Dr. Fazio. I will talk with some people I know and see if I can get myself in to see someone at one of the universities near where I live.  

Do you think it's possible that the problem is being caused by the brand of contacts? I have heard other complaints about Acuvue Oasys, but I don't know valid they are.

[herman345]

Also, I have been wearing the Oasys lenses for quite a few years now.