Contact lenses are used by a large number of people across the world, but proper hygiene and safety measures are rarely taken. This can result in various medical conditions affecting the eye, including corneal ulcers. The cornea is the front portion of the eye which is transparent, and light enters through this area to get focused onto the back of the eye or the retina. The cornea further covers the pupil, which is the opening at the centre of the eye, the iris, and the anterior chamber or the fluid-filled region inside the eye. The main function of the cornea is to refract and bend the light which reaches it after reflecting off an object. When the users of contact lenses do not follow the instructions given by eye specialists in Dubai, there is a chance that they may contract corneal ulcers. Some of the causes of this disease are the constant wearing of contact lenses, using it overnight, smoking, dry eye, and bad hygiene.
How Corneal Ulcers Develop
The presence of corneal ulcers happens when the corneal epithelium happens to break. Usually, in a healthy eye, there is constant lubrication of the cornea through the presence of the tear film. Along with providing the right amount of moisture, tears are vital when it comes to oxygenating the cornea. At night, when a person sleeps without removing the contact lenses, there is less oxygen being delivered to the cornea because of the lack in the flow of tears. This, in turn, results in hypercapnia and hypoxia of the corneal epithelium. The constant wearing of contact lenses can also cause a bacterial infection where there is a presence of biofilms formation, which can lead to a collection of microorganisms to the smooth surface of the cornea.
Symptoms To Look For
The most common and one of the main symptoms which a contact lens user experiences is dry eye. Under humid conditions, the tear film in the eye evaporates at a higher rate when the contact lens is used for an extended period. The material of the lens and its design, along with how long the user wears it, and hygiene habits or allergies can all result in damaging the cornea. Depending on the progression of the corneal ulcer, the symptoms which manifest can vary from one individual to the other. A certain discomfort in the eye or sensation of the presence of a foreign body, watery eyes, and swollen eyelid can all indicate that the patient may have corneal ulcers. When the condition worsens, more symptoms may surface like redness in the eye, severe pain, blurred vision, and discharge from the eye.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The condition of corneal ulcers can often lead to permanent blindness if not diagnosed and treated at the right time. Also, a normal eye exam may not help the ophthalmologist at the eye hospital in Dubai detect this disease. If a patient is suspected of having corneal ulcers, a comprehensive eye examination is required to help in the diagnosis. The best way to know if a person has this condition is with the help of a slit lamp microscope test after staining the cornea with dye. It is common practice to get the epithelial samples of the infected cornea through corneal scrapping for culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests. The first part of treating corneal ulcers is to stop using the contact lenses that resulted in the situation. Topical and intensive antibiotic or antifungal treatment is generally the mode of treatment for corneal ulcers. In order to reduce the pain in the eyes, the doctor may also prescribe eye drops that dilate the pupils and painkillers.
Prevention & Best Practice
The best way to treat the condition of corneal ulcers is to prevent them from ever happening through a proper channel of education. The users of contact lenses should be made aware of the serious dangers that can occur when poor hygiene is practised, or these lenses are not removed at night. Professionals in eye care at the eye clinic in Dubai must regularly reach out to their patients and inform them on proper contact lens etiquette. If the lens wearer starts to notice any of the mild symptoms of corneal ulcer mentioned above, it is critical that they visit an ophthalmologist for an in-depth analysis.
At Ebsaar Eye Surgery, we are committed to providing you with the most advanced diagnostic and treatment methods available in the UAE. Along with state-of-the-art technology and staff that includes highly qualified professional eye surgeons, we can help in the detection of corneal ulcers and help manage the treatment procedure.