Broome Optical optometrist Dr. Jimmy Martin describes keratitis as an infection that affects the cornea of the eye causing to become inflame. Keratitis can lead to blindness according to Dr. Martin. Among the symptoms of this eye infection are light sensitivity, pain, redness of the eye and having discharges coming from the eye.
According to the CDC report, $175 million is being spent annually on health care cost due to keratitis when in fact, it can be avoided. One of the most basic way of protecting your eyes and your lenses is to wash hands before putting and removing your contacts, the CDC said. Dr. Martin also advises contacts wearer to avoid wearing it for too long or sleeping with your contacts on. Wearing contacts for a long period can deprive the cornea of oxygen. When the cornea is not getting enough oxygen, then keratitis sets in. One sign that the cornea is being deprived of oxygen is when it starts to become red. Removing your contacts from time to time can fix the problem right away.
Dr. Martin also advises changing contact case once in a month.
'We really recommend you replace those cases once a month, but sometimes people don't,' said Dr. Martin. 'In fact, most people don't. They don't really think about what's building up inside that case.'
In addition, Der. Martin suggests cleaning contacts using water is not advisable at all. there are specific solutions that can be used to do to avoid infection. 'You introduce pathogens from our water supply on to the contact, you're then putting it on to your eye so you're opening yourself up to more types of infectious processes,' Dr. Martin explains.
