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Posted 5/18/2013 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone here wear lenses? I have been wearing them for years but lately, they sting so badly, I can't wear them. I hate wearing glasses but lenses have become so uncomfortable, I don't have a choice.

Any ideas as to what may be causing this?

I forgot to mention, I've tried new lenses, different brands of lenses, different solutions... the eye doctor saw me a few months ago and said everything looked good. I don't get it.
Posted 5/18/2013 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have for the past 2 years... no problems with them related to UC what-so-ever

Mind you I need to get rechecked as my last apt. resulted in a big leap in prescription, but I was flaring badly, as things are getting back under control, my glasses are feeling too strong. One of the doctors at the hospital suggested my vision might have been affected by how badly my whole body was inflammed..
Posted 5/18/2013 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
i've been wearing contact lenses for about 8 years and glasses for 12 years. i have the disposable lenses that you should change every week but i get a few months out of mine. i've never noticed any problems with them. i did have a problem with the color lenses so i stopped using those. i use biotrue solution and it works well. do your eyes only burn when you wear contacts? are they fine when you wear glasses?

not sure what the stinging could be from. i had HORRENDOUS burning in my eyes when i was on vancomycin, but my eyes are typically just itchy from allergies.
Posted 5/18/2013 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it's only when I wear lenses. If i wear glasses, I am perfectly fine. I use biotrue but I've tried a TON of different solutions, none helped. I recently switched to biofinity lenses from night and day. I was on acuvue before night and day and I seemed to do better with those but i have a feeling like those would cause my eyes to burn now too. Seems like I just can't wear lenses anymore. I feel like I need to get lasik if I don't want to wear glasses becasue contacts just aren't working for me anymore. I can wear them for 30 minutes or so but after that, they sting miserably.
Posted 5/18/2013 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
I have worn lenses since I was 14 and haven't really had a problem. I do notice some itching and burning this spring and last spring. Maybe you need a prescription eye drop for allergies. My eye doctor prescribed some few years ago but I don't remember what they were. Hasn't been bad enough yet this year for me to ask for some.
Posted 5/18/2013 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've worn lenses for almost 15 years, and only have had a few issues (Accutane, and about a year where I kept getting corneal ulcerations), none related to UC.

I switched from Acuvue to Air Optix, and I also started using ClearCare solution (the hydrogen peroxide solution). My contacts are much more comfortable now. I hope that helps.
Posted 5/18/2013 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe you're kind of allergic to them. Which kind of lenses did you wear the hard plastic ones or the soft ones? I know you mentioned some brand names but I'm not familiar with those.
Posted 5/19/2013 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
They are soft. I think they are Air Optix too. I just put them in CleanCare solution/case to see if it helps. If not, I will have to go back to the eye doctor, it's really uncomfortable.

I feel like I am allergic to lenses. It started a year ago, every few days they would sting, now it happens a few minutes after i put them in - every single time.
Posted 5/19/2013 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter has this problem because of her allergies. She uses daily disposables because she gets an allergic film and the dailies tend to prevent that. But I agree that perhaps you can try an allergy eye med such as OTC Clariten or Alaway.
Posted 5/19/2013 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, great idea Sherry. I didn't know Claritan made eye drops. I am totally buying them. I will try my lenses again today. I soaked in clearcare last night. Something has got to help.
Posted 5/19/2013 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
My contacts have been bothering me pretty bad lately as well. But I agree, I think its allergies. But I have bad astigmatism as well, so they're always moving and a pain
Posted 5/19/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ive got contacts too. Ive never had any issues and the UC/meds from it hasnt made it worse. Maybe drink more water overall?
Posted 5/19/2013 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
My eyes feel really irritated when my colon is bleeding. They don't sting, but they feel like I've had contacts in too long, even in the morning before I've put them in.

Have you changed your hand soap or laundry soap/ dryer sheets? If stinging is a new symptom, I'd first check whether it's something from your hands or towel that is transferring onto your lenses, especially if it's the same across multiple types of lenses and cleaning solutions.
Posted 5/19/2013 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I've been wearing contact lenses for many years. I just started having problems. My doctor told me I have dry eye. It happens sometimes when people get older. It could also be the weather or allergies.

You might try re-wetting drops.
Posted 5/19/2013 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I use Refresh Optive eye drops. I have worn contacts for probably 15+ years. I started having dry eyes a few years ago. These drops have helped a ton (I use 2xs/day). I can get them OTC at Target or the drugstore.
Posted 5/20/2013 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
I wore my lenses all day today without a problem. Maybe the clearcare helped? I am going to try it for a while longer and see :) I wore lenses for probably 15 years and all the sudden they are uncomfortable.
Posted 5/20/2013 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
I am wearing them again!! I am going to go buy another bottle of clearcare. Seems like maybe I am allergic to the other solution I was using.
Posted 5/21/2013 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you found the cause of your issues :)
Posted 5/21/2013 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Somewhat found the cause. I am still curious what exactly is causing the issue. it's something in that other solution, but what? I guess I will probably never know :( I am just thankful I can wear lenses again.
Posted 6/18/2013 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
If you've got regular allergies, that can be part of the issue. I know my contacts get itchy and gross just because my eyes get so dry from my nasal allergies.

Brand and lens solution definitely make a difference, especially if you, like me, have sensitive eyes. I tried using husband's store brand stuff once, instead of the opti-free I usually used, and my lenses felt horrible. I also can't wear any brands besides Accuve Oasys (especially since I have astigmatism and none of the daily disposables make toric lenses as far as I know.)
Posted 6/18/2013 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I was getting eye infections regularily from my contact solution as well. I was using Complete.. my eye doctor switched me to Clear Care and I have never looked back.
Posted 6/18/2013 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I would bet it is a combination of dry eyes and the ick that builds up on contacts.
Posted 6/18/2013 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
I wear acuvue 2 oasis and in my last eye exam, noticed my eyes were getting red while wearing contacts and that day, the examiner told me I had signs of glaucoma, swollen nerves in the eye and the examiner told me to see a specialist.

I haven't seen one yet.

I got scared.
Posted 6/19/2013 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I switched to clearcare solution - the one with peroxide - and things have been working out extremely well. It's frustrating because clear care costs more - you have to use almost twice as much to cover the lenses with their special case but it does work and my eyes feel so much better. I have no choice but to suck it up and pay if I want to use lenses. I had a gloucoma test last year and nothing worrisome appeared.

GCOUPE you should go get checked out.
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