What's the burning sensation in the eyes when wearing contact lenses?

Every time you wear contact lenses, it feels like your eyes have been touched by a chili pepper. It's hot and burning and painful. If you've ever had this experience, don't think it's normal for first-time wearers to endure it. These reactions are signs that your eyes are being hurt, and they're getting to the point where you can't ignore them!

Although contact lenses are thin, they contain subtle design flaws that can cause discomfort. The burning or pain sensations often stem from issues with the lenses themselves. If cleaning isn't thorough enough or if expired lenses are used, protein deposits may form tiny particles on the surface. These particles can irritate the delicate eyeballs when worn, leading to noticeable pain.

While most people prioritize eye health and follow strict guidelines when choosing contact lenses, they often overlook the critical importance of proper lens care solutions. Using expired solutions or applying any random alternative products can lead to bacterial overgrowth on the lenses. This bacterial buildup may cause eye inflammation and sudden onset of burning sensations when worn.

Furthermore, the objective environment may also be to blame. Spending extended hours in air-conditioned rooms combined with unstable tear film stability caused by contact lenses can lead to rapid tear evaporation. This leaves the lenses without lubrication, causing them to stick tightly to the eyeball. Alternatively, the eyes may absorb excessive tears to replenish moisture, resulting in a gritty sensation during blinking that feels like sandpaper is entering the eye.

Whenever you experience a burning sensation in your eyes, never endure it. Immediately remove the contact lenses and soak them in lens care solution. Rinse your eyes with running water and use artificial tears if needed. If symptoms subside after a few minutes of rest, you can inspect the lenses and re-clean them before resuming wear. However, if redness and pain persist, seek immediate ophthalmic care. Never delay treatment to avoid complications.