Post # 1
Member
1871 posts
Buzzing bee
I apologize if this is Too Much Information, but I can’t get to the optometrist at 8:30 at night, so…
Lately my eye has been red and itchy–the exact feeling when you’ve got a contact that’s slipped and somewhere else on your eye. But I kept looking and couldn’t find anything. I figured it was an eyelash or some dust particle and eventually my eye would expel it.
So today I was removing my lens (I wear soft Acuvues)… and all of a sudden I caught sight of a strange viscous-y thread…I don’t know how exactly to describe it except that when I managed to pull it out, well, I think that it was part of an almost-disintegrated contact lens! The problem is, I didn’t get all of it and my eye is still itching. I’ve been rubbing my eye trying to see if I can get at anything else but…nothing. Can this really happen–can you forget a contact lens and have it disintegrate in your eye? I mean, is that possible? Am I going to go blind??! Ack!
Post # 3
Member
404 posts
Helper bee
I’m pretty sure contacts don’t dissolve in your eye- the longest I’ve ever had one trapped behind my eye is an hour, I think- they usually tend to work themselves to the surface pretty fast. That being said, definitely go to the optomotrist as soon as you can- there may be a scratch/infection causing your redness.
Too Much Information as well, I’ve had surprising amounts of… what can only be described as eye goop come out of my eyes sometimes. I especially notice it if I haven’t been as vigilant in tossing out my pairs every two weeks, like I’m supposed to.
Post # 4
Member
648 posts
Busy bee
I honestly am not 100% sure if it could happen, but I’ve never had it happen in the 13 years that I have worn contacts. I will also say I am horrible about remembering to take them out and often fall alseep in them, not good but it happens. I’ve had times when my eye has become infected and I will take them out and there will be a nasty trailing thing. I leave them out until everything clears up and put new ones in.
I even had a time when my contact folded up and was under my eyelid. Man did that hurt, but no disintegration. I would leave them out, do some eye drops, and get in to the dr. tomorrow. Hope this helps and hope your eye is ok.
Post # 5
Member
1184 posts
Bumble bee
are they dailies? those are the only ones i could see being thin enough to break down like that. i haven’t worn them in years, but when i wore contacts i completely abused my eyes (left them in for days on end, wore 2 week pairs for a month) and my eyes are still fine. i don’t think you’ll go blind 🙂 but if your eye doesn’t feel better by tomorrow then a visit to the optometrist is probably in order.
Post # 6
Member
3004 posts
Sugar bee
That sounds more to me like maybe an eye infection. Does it hurt to look in the sunlight at all or is it oozing icky stuff on the corners of your eyes? I’m just mentioning it because one time when I was in HS I didn’t properly wash my hands before I touched my eye and got a HORRIBLE eye infection. It actually caused a scar in my eye and now sometimes it hurts to look in the sun.
I would reccomend not wearing them and trying to get to an eye dr. as soon as you can (especially if they have the same symptoms as above) because if it is an eye infection it causes swelling in the eye and can cause permanent impairment of your vision. (I’m sorry if that scares you). My mom always claimed she could lose a contact in her eye but I don’t think that they could disintigrate.
Also another idea is that maybe if you did get something in your eye (like a hair or something) your eye tends to make mucusy stuff to try to get it out. Maybe that is what you pulled out of your eye.
Post # 7
Member
1871 posts
Buzzing bee
PB&J–they’re weeklies, not dailies, but I think you’re right. I’ve also been less than a model contact-user, especially when I travel! Yeah, I don’t *think* I would have forgotten about a contact lens. Probably just a scratch or something.
Okay, I feel MUCH better–you know when you’re pacing around thinking freaking out solely because you can’t see a doctor? That was me. Thank you bees!
Post # 8
Member
58 posts
Worker bee
I am a contact wearer also and i work for a Retinal Specialist. #1 relax #2 i suggest you go to the store use buy lubricating drops. My suggestion is Soothe XP. Love them use them with my contacts all the time. It’s a possibility your eye is just dry, which feels like something is in your eye.
Sometimes for when people get corneal abrasion we put in a contact that is suppose to stay in the eye until the abrasian is healed which can be a week or so.
It’s possible what you pulled out of our eye is discharge. Use the drops if your eye continues to discharge, still itches and the veins become red and inflammed, you could have conjunctivitis or an infection associated with contact usage.
If you are really concerned, try to make and appt. with your regular ophthalmologist.
Post # 9
Member
3004 posts
Sugar bee
Hey I’m so so sorry if I worried you!!
Post # 10
Member
1871 posts
Buzzing bee
Thank you Mrs. JJ! Will make an appointment tomorrow…
Sweet Rose, you didn’t worry me. I appreciate your comment–and it probably IS mucus or something gross like that.
