Problems With Your Contact Lenses: Who to Contact

Who To Contact If You Have Problems With Your Contact Lenses

Wearing contact lenses can offer you a wide range of benefits, such as an unrestricted natural field of view, feeling more comfortable or at ease during physical activities, and aesthetic appeal. However, like all medical devices, issues can arise. If you experience complications or discomfort with your contact lenses, it's essential you know when to reach out for help and who to reach out to.

1. An Optometrist

Your first point of contact should always be an optometrist. They are eye care professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent conditions of the eyes. Here's why reaching out to them is critical:

• Initial Diagnosis: If you are new to wearing contacts and experience discomfort, an optometrist can determine whether the problem is due to a fitting issue, an allergic reaction, or any other underlying concern.
• Professional Advice: They can offer advice on the proper care and maintenance of your lenses. This might include recommendations on cleaning solutions, wear schedules, or the suitability of specific brands or types of lenses for your eyes.
• Prescription Adjustments: Over time, your vision might change or you might find that your current lenses are no longer comfortable. An optometrist can assess whether you need a prescription adjustment or a different lens type.

2. Contact Lens Supplier

If you believe that your lenses are faulty or damaged upon opening them, you should contact the supplier or retailer from whom you purchased them. It's possible to get a defective batch or a damaged lens. In such cases:

• Replacement: Most suppliers will replace faulty lenses at no extra cost once you provide them with the necessary details of your purchase (We certainly do).
• Product Recalls: On rare occasions, contact lens batches might be recalled due to manufacturing issues. If you find out about a recall related to your brand and type of lenses, reach out to the supplier, or check the manufacturer's website for further guidance.
• Product Feedback: Reporting issues can help suppliers improve their quality checks and alert them to potential problems with their inventory.

3. Eye Emergency Services

In rare cases, you might experience severe pain, sudden vision loss, or other alarming symptoms while wearing your contact lenses. These can be indicators of severe problems like infections, corneal ulcers, or other emergencies. If this is the case, it's essential you: 

• Remove Your Lenses: If it's safe and possible, remove your contact lenses immediately.
• Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Head to an emergency room or an urgent care centre that specialises in ophthalmology. Waiting or hoping the problem will go away can worsen the issue and lead to more severe complications.

In Conclusion

Wearing contact lenses can be a liberating experience, but they come with the responsibility of proper care and handling. Recognising potential problems early on and knowing who to turn to and when can prevent minor issues from becoming major complications.
When in doubt remove your lenses and seek medical advice, your eye health should always be the priority.