Contact lens intolerance (CLI) is a common condition in which contact lenses cause pain and discomfort in the eye when worn. If you’re a contact lens wearer, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced some degree of CLI in your quest for better vision.
From allergies to bad lens care, there are many causes of CLI. While you may be wondering how to cure contact lens intolerance, the good news is the condition isn’t permanent, and you have several options for easing your discomfort. Here are five ways to fight contact lens intolerance.
1. Correct Your Vision & Ditch the Lenses Altogether
LASIK surgery is the most radical cure for CLI. It’s also the most permanent. Instead of treating the pain and discomfort caused by contacts, LASIK treats the root of the problem—your vision. By correcting your vision, contacts typically become unnecessary. And where there are no contact lenses, there is no intolerance.
2. Wear Your Backup Glasses for a While
For some people, glasses are as much a fashion statement as a tool for vision. For others, they’re the only choice. If you are struggling with irritation caused by contact lenses, switching to glasses until your eyes calm down can be a source of relief.
3. Use Artificial Tears
We’d choose eye drops and fake tears over real tears caused by CLI any day. Unfortunately, artificial tears may only provide temporary relief and may not be suitable for all cases.
4. Eat Eye-Healthy Foods
What do food and nutrition have to do with lens intolerance? Maybe more than you think. The body’s natural defense against eye discomfort is the production of tears, and the food you eat and the nutrients you receive affect the amount and quality of those tears. Talk to a doctor or nutritionist for help identifying tear-inducing foods and supplements, and check out our Healthy Recipes for Healthy Eyes post.
5. Pay Attention to How You Care for Your Lenses
Oftentimes, CLI is a direct result of how we wear and take care of our contacts. Wearing your contact lenses for too long and not properly cleaning or disinfecting them will almost certainly lead to symptoms. In some cases, the side effects of improper wear and care can be dangerous. Always follow your doctor’s instructions on how to store, clean, and wear the contact lenses prescribed to you. Get contact lens care tips from the American Optometric Association.
Ease CLI With Our Eye Care Specialists
Many contact lens wearers just accept CLI as a fact of life. But the good news is, relief is possible! Imagine waking up and facing the day without the irritation and hassles associated with daily contact lens wear.
If that thought brings a tear to your eye, call (405) 842-6060 or click to schedule a FREE LASIK consultation with nJoy Vision in Oklahoma City to see if laser vision correction is the answer you’re looking for.
Alternatively, you can complete our LASIK-PRK self-evaluation test online, and one of our patient coordinators will get in touch about whether LASIK or a similar procedure may be right for you. Our knowledgeable, friendly eye specialists are here to help!
