Contact Lenses Trapping Your Allergies
Published by on May 5, 2015
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that 50 million people in the United States have seasonal allergies, and this prevalence is only increasing – affecting up to 30 percent of adults and up to 40 percent of children. The majority of people with allergies suffer from itchy eyes, watery eyes, red eyes, and swollen eyelids. Allergy sufferers are familiar with these common symptoms. Typically harmless substances that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. The most common allergens to affect the eye are:
- pollen
- mold
- dust
- pet dander
These allergens also love contact lenses! The pesky particles cling to contact lenses causing irritation, which unfortunately only escalates over time. You know how uncomfortable these common allergens can make wearing your contact lenses, as well as seasonal allergies of sneezing, coughing, and red, itchy eyes. Eye allergies can even be caused by your reactions to eye drops, contact lenses, and solutions. Whatever eye allergies you experience can make contact wear seem almost impossible!
Springtime Allergy Tips for Relief
To relieve yourself of your itchy, watery eyes, you can take a few approaches: avoid allergens, stop rubbing your eyes, and opt for LASIK. First, it is important that you try your best to avoid allergens. One of the best approaches to control and avoid your eye allergy symptoms is to limit your exposure to common allergens. This could be very challenging if you have a lovable pet you adore and couldn’t imagine life without! 
Don’t rub your eyes!
There always seems to be an itch that you want to scratch. Not only will rubbing only further irritate the eye, it is not advised to rub your eyes because there’s evidence that suggests it is connected to Keratoconus, which changes the shape of your cornea and negatively impacts your vision. Contact lens discomfort is a common complaint of many people during allergy season.
In fact, the American Optometric Association says that more than 75% of contact lens wearers complain of eye pain and irritation. Since allergens have a special attraction to contact lenses, it is important for you to consider removing your contacts during allergy season. The surface of contact lenses attracts and accumulates airborne allergens. Contacts are like large sponges. They collect allergens and trap them in the eye. Unfortunately, they also prevent using medications you might want to apply. Some suggest the better option is not wearing contacts during allergy season and resorting to your old pair of glasses instead. Some people even develop allergies to certain contact solutions!
These allergies can cause redness, discomfort, itching, and inflammation in your eyes. Certain chemicals in contact solutions can cause reactions. Anyone can develop allergies to contact solutions at any time, even after using the same contact lens products for months or years. Since contact lens wear often amplifies allergy symptoms, it is beneficial to use eye drops designed to help fight those symptoms. Another option would be switching to daily disposable contacts that are discarded after a single use to avoid the buildup of allergens and other debris trapped in your lenses; however, disposable lenses are very costly and you will still be dealing with the hassles of glasses and contacts.
LASIK: Your Best Option as an Allergy Sufferer
To ensure your eyes are healthy, make sure to have your eyes examined once a year. Depending on your eye health and the severity of your allergies and related symptoms, you may need more frequent visits. Refractive surgery, such as LASIK, is an amazing option for allergy sufferers.
If you are suffering with the hassles of wearing glasses or contacts during allergy season, please call 402.558.2211 or contact us here to find out more about LASIK. LASIK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It is safe and has an extremely high patient satisfaction rate. LASIK will allow you to have a life without barriers– no more glasses and no more contacts trapping your allergies!
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
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