More and more girls are wearing contact lenses for beauty, but many may not realize that improper use and incorrect habits can harm their eyes. In our ophthalmology clinic, we see almost 5-6 female patients daily who suffer from corneal infections due to improper contact lens wear, which not only affects their work but also causes vision damage.

Xiao Lin has 200 degrees of myopia and has worn annual disposable contact lenses daily for five years. In recent years, she switched to colored contact lenses. Due to work requirements, she travels out of town weekly and often wears her lenses overnight. Last Sunday, after returning from a business trip, she experienced redness, pain, tearing, and difficulty opening her eyes. Upon visiting the ophthalmology clinic, slit-lamp microscopy and corneal staining revealed grayish-white corneal ulcer lesions in both eyes, leading to a diagnosis of bilateral bacterial corneal ulcers.

Medically, contact lenses are referred to as "corneal contact lenses." They are transparent or tinted lenses designed to match the curvature of the human cornea and are placed directly over the cornea to correct vision, enhance appearance, or serve therapeutic purposes. Without the obstruction of frames, contact lenses overcome optical drawbacks such as image magnification, reduction, and prism effects associated with eyeglasses, providing wearers with a broader field of vision. They offer an aesthetic, natural appearance that is less noticeable, bringing comfort and convenience to many individuals with refractive errors.

However, even with high-quality lenses and excellent oxygen permeability, contact lenses can impede the eye's need for oxygen, as the cornea breathes directly from the air. Contact lenses are foreign objects placed on the cornea, and each blink creates friction between the lens and the ocular surface. Additionally, by covering the cornea, they hinder its ability to absorb oxygen directly from the air. Prolonged or continuous wear can lead to persistent corneal hypoxia, causing corneal epithelial edema and erosion. If bacteria or viruses are present, this may result in keratitis or even corneal ulcers. Furthermore, insufficient oxygen supply can cause neovascularization from the peripheral conjunctiva to grow into the transparent cornea, compromising its clarity once new blood vessels form. Corneal ulcers are a severe complication of contact lens wear. Other common complications include conjunctival allergic reactions, giant papillary conjunctivitis, superficial punctate keratitis, corneal endothelial changes, and dry eye syndrome.

Therefore, wearing contact lenses must prioritize health and hygiene. It is also important to emphasize that the prescription for contact lenses should not be determined solely based on computerized refraction data. Standardized medical refraction is recommended for accurate fitting. Many myopic individuals who wear contact lenses often use lenses with excessively high prescriptions, which can exacerbate eye strain and discomfort.