More than four million people in the UK wear contact lenses daily, yet many remain unaware of the potential risks . These vision correction devices seem harmless, but they increase the chances of eye infections . The numbers tell an interesting story – yearly infections affect about 4 out of 20,000 people who wear contact lenses daily .
Your eyes could suffer damage from long-term contact lens use. A woman’s recent case proves this point – she lost her vision due to acanthamoeba keratitis, an eye infection that likely developed after her contact lens came into contact with water . The risk percentage might look small on paper, but the collateral damage can be devastating for those affected. Blindness or the need for a corneal transplant can result from severe cases of keratitis .
Anyone experiencing blurred vision, sore, red, or swollen eyes while wearing contacts should immediately visit an eye doctor . Precision Vision London’s expert surgeons provide state-of-the-art alternatives to contact lenses. These options include laser eye surgery, lens replacement surgery, and ICL surgery all delivered with personalised care.
The Hidden Dangers of Wearing Contact Lenses
Contact lens users often don’t know about possible complications, even as research shows growing risks. These risks go beyond minor irritation and can cause serious eye conditions that might damage your vision permanently.
Are contact lenses dangerous or just misunderstood?
People often think contact lenses are risk-free vision correction tools, but that’s not true. These lenses interact with your tear film, eye surface, skin, and environmental microorganisms, which can lead to specific diseases. Your risk of serious conditions like eye infections and corneal ulcers goes up when you wear contact lenses, even with proper care. These conditions can be very serious and in rare cases lead to permanent blindness. Research shows contact lens wearers are about 80 times more likely to develop microbial keratitis than people who don’t wear them. People who wear extended-wear contact lenses face a substantially higher chance of getting corneal ulcers.
Infections, ulcers, and long-term vision risks
Corneal ulcers are among the most worrying complications. Infections usually cause these open sores on your cornea’s outer layer. You’re about 10 times more likely to get a corneal ulcer if you wear contacts compared to those who don’t.
Contact lens use over time can cause:
- Corneal degeneration from microtrauma and poor healing
- Less oxygen supply that creates perfect conditions for bacteria
- Problems with meibomian glands that lead to dry eye syndrome
- New blood vessels growing into your cornea (neovascularization)
Your risk goes up faster when you sleep with lenses – about 100 times more likely to get corneal ulcers than non-wearers. On top of that, wearing lenses while showering makes you 3.3 times more likely to get microbial keratitis.
UK statistics on contact lens-related complications
Half of all people who wear contact lenses have faced at least one problem from using them. Common issues include eye infections, dry eyes, vision problems, and eye area inflammation. UK data shows 2-5 cases of microbial keratitis per 10,000 daily wear soft lens users each year, compared to 9.2-20.9 cases in overnight wear users. Users of reusable soft contact lenses have 3.8 times higher chances of getting Acanthamoeba keratitis than those who use daily disposables. Precision Vision London’s experts say laser eye surgery, lens replacement surgery and ICL surgery are safer long-term options than contact lenses for people worried about these risks.
Why Contact Lens Hygiene Matters More Than You Think
A shocking survey shows that only 1% of contact lens wearers follow all recommended hygiene practises. This careless approach creates serious risks that many users don’t realise.
How poor hygiene guides to microbial keratitis
Microbial keratitis remains one of the most common and serious contact lens-related infections. Contact lens wearers face an 80 times higher risk compared to non-wearers. Bad lens hygiene creates ideal conditions for harmful microorganisms to grow on your lenses and move to your eye. Your cornea’s natural defences weaken when you wear contact lenses. Between 23% and 94% of contact lens wearers then report discomfort and eye problems from their lenses.
The danger of topping off old solution
“Topping off” adding fresh solution to used solution in your lens case, puts your eyes at risk, yet many people do it. This practise makes the solution much less effective at disinfecting your lenses. Bacteria grow quickly in used solution, which creates an unsafe environment for your lenses. Eye care professionals suggest you should always throw away leftover solution after each use. Fresh solution helps remove deposits, debris, and germs from the lens surface effectively.
Why water and lenses don’t mix
Water should never touch your contact lenses. Even tap water has microorganisms that can cause severe eye infections. Acanthamoeba, a tiny organism found in tap water, poses a big risk. Contact lens wearers make up about 85% of Acanthamoeba keratitis cases, and at least 30% of patients suffer permanent vision loss. This painful infection resists treatment and might need a year or more to heal. Precision Vision London understands these risks and provides safer options like laser eye surgery, lens replacement, and ICL surgery.
When to Consider Giving Up Contact Lenses
Your eyes send clear signals that indicate problems with contact lenses. Early detection of these warning signs helps prevent serious complications.
Signs your eyes are reacting poorly
Red, swollen eyes or blurred vision means you need to remove your lenses right away and see an eye doctor. A yellow or white spot appearing in your eye’s coloured part needs immediate medical attention as it could signal an infection. Watch out for these warning signs:
- Dry eyes with a gritty feeling that won’t go away
- Redness that persists even after using drops
- Vision that stays blurry or foggy after wearing lenses
- Eyes that get infected often or become sensitive to light
Daily discomfort signals a warning
The original experience with contact lenses should feel comfortable all day. Your eyes might reject contact lenses if comfortable wearing time drops from 12 hours to 8, then 6, or even less. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience – your eyes are telling you something’s wrong.
Contact lenses can affect your eyes over time
Yes, it is true that wearing contact lenses for years can alter corneal thickness, curvature, and sensitivity. Changes in eye function include reduced corneal sensitivity, vision problems, and light sensitivity. People who wear contacts for extended periods might develop corneal exhaustion syndrome, which causes endothelium problems like oedema and irregular mosaic patterns. Precision Vision London provides better options such as laser eye surgery, lens replacement surgery, and ICL surgery that help you avoid contact lens complications.
Advanced Vision Correction Options at Precision Vision London
Precision Vision London provides several innovative vision correction procedures that can free you from contact lenses. Your individual needs and eye health will determine the best option.
Laser eye surgery: modern technology and expert care
Laser eye surgery corrects short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. The procedure takes just 10-15 minutes and has an excellent safety record. Only less than 1 in 5000 patients need additional corrective surgery. Local anaesthetic drops make the procedure completely painless. You can choose from LASIK, SMILE, and surface laser treatments. Wavefront technology creates a tailored, three-dimensional image of your eye’s optical imperfections.
Lens replacement surgery: ideal for ageing eyes
Lens replacement surgery gives you a new artificial intraocular lens to replace your eye’s natural lens. The procedure takes 30 minutes and works best for patients aged 50 or over. You get two benefits – better vision and protection from future cataracts. Most patients recover in 3-4 days, and 95% of patients achieve vision at driving standard or better.
ICL surgery: a reversible and precise solution
Implantable Contact Lens ICL surgery places soft, flexible implants between your natural lens and iris. ICL preserves your corneal tissue and can be reversed if needed, unlike laser surgery. Patients with high prescriptions or thin corneas benefit most from this procedure. It treats prescriptions up to -18.00D for short-sightedness. Vision improves within hours after this 10-15 minute procedure.
Personalised consultations and aftercare you can trust
Your experience starts with a complete consultation. Our experts assess your suitability and create a tailored treatment plan. World-renowned surgical expertise and our unique approach will give a superior outcome. We prioritise your comfort and provide one year of ongoing eye care.
Conclusion
Contact lenses are a handy vision correction solution for millions of Britons. The evidence shows they bring serious risks that many users don’t fully grasp. Minor irritation might seem manageable, but serious complications like corneal ulcers and microbial keratitis can develop faster and cause permanent vision damage. Numbers tell the real story. Contact lens users face a much higher risk of infections, especially when they don’t follow proper hygiene rules. Nearly half of all UK contact lens users have faced at least one complication. This makes the need to find safer options more urgent than ever.
Modern vision correction gives us better choices without the daily hassles and health risks of contact lenses. Laser eye surgery fixes vision quickly and painlessly with proven safety records. People over 50 can benefit from lens replacement surgery that corrects vision and stops future cataracts. ICL surgery shows amazing results for patients with high prescriptions or thin corneas without removing corneal tissue. Your eye health is the main focus at Precision Vision London. The clinic’s world-class surgeons use innovative technology and create personal treatment plans that match your specific visual needs. On top of that, complete aftercare will give you the best healing and lasting vision satisfaction.
Take time to learn about these advanced vision correction options before you continue with risky contact lens wear. These procedures need just minutes to perform but give you decades of clear, hassle-free vision without the ongoing costs and problems of contacts. Clear vision without glasses or contact lenses isn’t just wishful thinking, it’s possible with the right expertise and technology. Contact lenses might seem convenient now, but your long-term eye health deserves the better care and lasting results that only advanced surgical correction can provide.
Key Takeaways
Contact lenses carry significant risks that many of the UK’s four million daily wearers underestimate, but advanced surgical alternatives offer safer, permanent solutions.
- Contact lens wearers are 80 times more likely to develop microbial keratitis and 10 times more likely to suffer corneal ulcers than non-wearers.
- Poor hygiene practises affect 99% of users, with water exposure and “topping off” solutions creating dangerous bacterial breeding grounds.
- Persistent discomfort, redness, or decreasing wear time signals your eyes are rejecting lenses and permanent damage may be occurring.
- Modern alternatives like laser eye surgery, lens replacement, and ICL offer permanent vision correction with superior safety records and no daily maintenance.
- Professional consultation can determine the best surgical option for your prescription, age, and corneal thickness, providing decades of clear vision without ongoing risks.
The evidence is clear: whilst contact lenses provide temporary convenience, they pose cumulative health risks that advanced vision correction surgery can eliminate permanently. Your long-term eye health deserves the superior safety and lasting results that only surgical correction can provide.
FAQs
Q1. What are the main risks associated with wearing contact lenses? Contact lens wearers face significantly higher risks of eye infections and corneal ulcers. They are about 80 times more likely to develop microbial keratitis and 10 times more likely to suffer from corneal ulcers compared to non-wearers.
Q2. How important is proper hygiene for contact lens users? Proper hygiene is crucial for contact lens users. Poor practises, such as exposing lenses to water or ‘topping off’ old solution, can create dangerous bacterial breeding grounds. Surprisingly, 99% of users don’t follow all recommended hygiene practises, increasing their risk of eye infections.
Q3. What signs indicate that I should stop wearing contact lenses? You should consider stopping contact lens use if you experience persistent discomfort, redness, blurred vision, or a decreasing comfortable wear time. These symptoms may signal that your eyes are rejecting the lenses and could indicate potential long-term damage.
Q4. How does ICL surgery compare to LASIK in terms of safety? ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) surgery is generally considered safer for people with thin corneas as it doesn’t remove corneal tissue. Unlike LASIK, ICL doesn’t weaken the cornea, making it a preferred option for those with high prescriptions or irregular corneas.
Q5. What are the long-term effects of ICL surgery? While ICL surgery is generally safe and effective, there is a rare potential for long-term effects such as cataract formation. The presence of the implantable lens may occasionally accelerate the natural ageing of the eye’s lens. However, careful pre-operative evaluation and post-operative care can minimise these risks.
