New Contacts, curious if allergic?

Question

Hey everyone, I just got contacts (hurray!).  I've had them for a couple of days now and I'm concerned I might have some kind of allergy to them.  They are Acuvue Oasis contact lenses.  After where them for awhile, my eyes started feeling very itchy, and my sister told me my eyes looked dry.  I took them out, and the next day I put them on.  Still itchy.  A day ago I put them on and went to work.  They became so irritating and burning, that I had to leave work to go home and take them out.  It was unbearable.  Today, I haven't had much issue, but I'm worried I might have some allergy to the material.

Are these suppose to be simple side effects when you first start wearing contacts, or is something wrong with this brand?

otis_hobson · Accepted Answer

Avoid using dry eye drops.  All they do is close the capillaries in your eyes, making the redness go away, but also making it harder for your eyes to breathe, making them itch more, making you use more drops, ... ad nauseam.

Oasis were designed to let air flow better to the eye, so it is less likely that you are allergic to the lenses, but more likely that the lenses are dirty, or you are allergic to your solution.

While all solutions say preservative free, if it comes in a plastic bottle it has preservatives (FDA rules).  You can get a cleaning solution that requires a special case to neutralize it (e.g. Clear Care, or other Hydrogen Peroxide systems, see http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/caresoftlens.htm#prod).  Also, use a rinsing saline that comes in a metal can, preserved with pressure, not a chemical (e.g. Blairex,  http://www.salinesolutionsite.com/).

Multipurpose solutions often cause people to stop wearing contact lenses because of discomfort.  If a solution cleans well enough for your lenses to be really clean, it should hurt if you get it in your eyes (just like soap).  If a solution is safe enough to rinse with and put in your eyes, it can't be doing a good job of cleaning (you wouldn't rinse your dishes with soap).

Try different solutions (they cost more, but they will be much more comfortable), and see if it doesn't get better in a few days.

beach babii&lt;3 · Answer

i have acuve contacts im not sure if its oasis though and from what i can remember i have never been itching or hurting they are so comforatable i forget i have contacts in fact a couple days ago i slept in them because i completly forgot they were even there ( i know thts really bad to do though) but even when i slept in them my eyes wernt red ictchy or anything and i have been useing acuve for about 2 years now. i think you are allergic and should see an eye docter right away. 

although if it is ur first time wearing contacts ever then mayb ur eyes arnt used to it and i would maybe give it one more try but if it continues tht is not normal symptoms and call ur eye docter. you may just need another brand 

goodluck

Anonymous · Answer

I've had something similar happen to me, so don't feel alone!
Okay, so this happens sometimes.  It's unlucky for you that it happened when you first got them, but at least you'll know what to do.
First, you have to go to the eye doctor to get a certain kind of drops.  These drops contain two medicines that will help this.
If your eyes start to get red, this is a huge sign that you'll need to these drops.  It helped me a lot!  Trust me, I've had this happen to me multiple times and it works quickly!  Hope this helps!:)

Alexis · Answer

just look for some dry eye eye drops they should work

New Contacts, curious if allergic?

4 Answers