Long-Term Contact Lens Wear: Risks, Benefits & Eye Health

Contact lenses have become a welcome alternative to wearing prescription eyeglasses. But, concern has grown over the years about long-term contact use and its effects on overall human health

Function

• For those who have eyesight problems, contacts can help to clear vision by adhering to the outside of the eye, typically during the hours a person is awake. You can wear other contacts, such as extended-wear types, while sleeping.

Considerations

• Doctors are seeing various issues for long-term wearers of contacts. Some patients are experiencing vision loss due to bacteria that has contaminated the lens. Others are developing thinness of the cornea and aberrations in the eye surface.

Prevention/Solution

• Though not an answer for every patient, laser eye surgery has evolved into a common procedure that can help vision and possibly allow the patient to forego using contacts. For a backup plan, you can always wear eyeglasses as a safe alternative.