8 Reasons Your Contacts Are Giving You Red Eyes

If you develop red eyes while wearing contact lenses, consider it a warning sign. A contact lens may seem small and harmless. But keep in mind that it is an object resting on the surface of your eye.

Red eyes from contacts may mean you are simply wearing them too much and need a break for a while. However, there are many conditions that can cause increased eye redness while wearing contacts.

Keep reading to learn the top eight reasons why your contacts may be causing red eyes.

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is a condition usually found in people who wear contact lenses. GPC is a type of inflammation caused by having a foreign body in the eye.

It occurs because contact lenses can sometimes irritate the surface of the conjunctiva, the clear tissue that covers the white of the eye. It can also occur from overwearing contact lenses or not cleaning them properly.

GPC should be treated right away to prevent damage to the eyelid or cornea. Treatment options for GPC include the following:

• Avoid wearing contact lenses for a few weeks to give the eye time to heal.
• Limit the amount of time you wear contact lenses each day.
• Use eye drop medicine or ointment prescribed by your ophthalmologist to reduce itching and swelling.
• Change the type of contact lenses you wear.
• Use only lens solutions that are unpreserved salt solutions.
• Don't sleep with contact lenses on.

CLARE

CLARE stands for "contact lens-induced acute red eye." Caused by bacteria, CLARE is a reaction to the toxins that normal bacteria create in your eyes. Toxins that would normally be flushed out of your eye by blinking can stick to a contact lens.

These toxins build up and can create a very unhappy red eye. CLARE is found more commonly in people who take long naps or sleep in their contact lenses.

Not wearing contact lenses until CLARE resolves may be the only treatment needed. In some cases, steroid eyedrops, antibiotic eyedrops, or a combination of both may be needed.

Contact Lens Solution Use

If you are not using contact lens solution properly, such as reusing old solution from the night before and thus putting the same bacteria and other particles back into your eye the next day, your eyes can become irritated.

If your eyes are red, you may have an allergy to the disinfecting contact lens solution you are using. An allergy can develop at any time, even if you have used a particular brand of solution for several years.

Treatment involves the proper use of contact lens solutions and for allergic reactions to the lens solution treatment may include:

• Using products labeled “Sensitive Eyes” or “Thimerosal-Free”
• Ensuring preservatives have been removed from contact lenses
• Buying a new pair of contact lenses
• Consider daily-wear disposable contact lenses if the problem persists

Seasonal Allergies

People who have allergies sometimes have a difficult time wearing contact lenses. The constant itching, eye rubbing, and tearing caused by allergies can be miserable. But having a contact lens in your eye can make your eye allergy symptoms even worse.

Contact lenses collect pollen and allergic particles that float in the air around you. These substances can stick to your lenses. This makes your allergies worse.

Treatment may include allergy medications to reduce allergy symptoms and considering daily-wear disposable contact lenses to prevent the build-up of pollen and other particles on the lenses.

Keratitis

Keratitis is inflammation or irritation of the cornea.

Improper contact lens use, such as wearing them for too long, not cleaning them properly, or wearing them while swimming can lead to keratitis.

Complications from keratitis can include:

• Corneal scarring
• Open sores on your cornea, called corneal ulcers
• Temporary or permanent reduction in your vision
• Blindness

Treatment will depend on whether you have infectious or non-infectious keratitis. Antibiotic, antiviral, or anti-fungal eyedrops and sometimes oral medication are used for infectious keratitis. Artificial tears, anti-inflammatory eye medication, and an eye patch to shield the eye are used to treat non-infectious keratitis.

Corneal Ulcer

Corneal ulcers are open sores on the surface of the eye. They're most commonly caused by an infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi, or a parasite.

Eye redness is often the first sign of a developing corneal ulcer. You may also feel like there is a foreign body in your eye. You may even have increased light sensitivity, tear production, and pain.

Corneal ulcers are always taken seriously in the eye care field because they can cause complications quickly if not treated. If you have these symptoms, seek care immediately. Corneal ulcers have the potential to cause corneal scarring. They can permanently reduce vision and sometimes cause blindness.

Corneal ulcers can develop due to improper wearing schedule, overuse, or extended wear.

Treatment for corneal ulcers and infections depends on the cause and may include:

• Corticosteroid eye drops to reduce swelling and inflammation
• Eye drops that treat bacteria, herpes, other viruses, or a fungus
• Pain medication

Poorly Fitted or Defective Lenses

It is important to see your eye doctor for a contact lens follow-up appointment after you get your new set of contact lenses. They can check to make sure the lenses are not defective, you have the right prescription, and they fit properly.

Lenses that are too tight can restrict normal tear flow underneath your lenses. They also reduce the amount of oxygen getting to your corneas. Occasionally, a compression ring or red ring around the cornea is visible in the examination room.

Your eyes may seem fine in the morning, but as the day goes on, they may become red and begin to ache.

Contact lenses that are too loose may cause redness as well. A loose lens moves with every blink. It can create redness and it feels like a foreign body is inside your eye.

Removing the contact lenses should alleviate symptoms, along with getting new lenses if they were defective or being re-fitted with new contact lenses.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Even if you have absolutely no symptoms of dry eye syndrome, you may have very dry eyes when wearing contact lenses. To be a successful contact lens wearer, you must have a fairly healthy tear layer.

A contact lens can soak up every tear you have. This does not allow lubrication of your eye or the lens.

Dry eye symptoms often increase as the day goes on. Your eyes may become red, and they might feel scratchy. If your eyes are extremely dry, you may not be able to wear your lenses for more than a couple of hours at a time. You might also consider not wearing contact lenses and just wearing glasses.

Treatment for dry eye may include over-the-counter (OTC) lubricating eye drops, called artificial tears, and lifestyle changes such as:

• Using a humidifier
• Drinking plenty of water
• Limiting screen time and taking screen breaks
• Trying to avoid smoke, wind, and air conditioning
• Getting plenty of sleep

How to Soothe Red Eyes From Contacts

There are several ways to relieve eye redness and irritation:

• Remove contacts for several days.
• Use OTC artificial tears.
• Use OTC antihistamine eye drops if you have seasonal allergies.
• Place a cool compress or washcloth on your closed eyes a couple of times a day.
• Avoid triggers or irritants (smoke, fumes, pollen, dust, chlorine, or pet dander).

Red eyes shouldn't last more than a day or two if it's a minor irritation. More serious infections may cause redness and eye irritation for one to two weeks.

Summary

If you wear contact lenses and have red eyes, your eyes are trying to warn you that there may be a problem. Sometimes eye redness may mean you're wearing your eye contacts too much, not cleaning them properly, or not changing them properly.

Allergies could be the cause as well. Sometimes red, irritated eyes are because of dry eye syndrome or poorly fitted contact lenses.

Eye redness can also be a sign of a more serious issue. A corneal ulcer, for example, needs treatment immediately. It's important to see your doctor so they can determine the cause of your eye redness.