Contact lenses side effects are not uncommon, but they are associated with improper use and care of the contact lens.

Getting your first set of contact lenses would feel like an amazing upgrade to eyeglasses. You can see the world more clearly just by popping them in and you would look good too! They can fit in easily onto the eye and allow you to perform numerous tasks that might be uncomfortable in glasses such as traveling, exercising, etc.

However, if you do not use contact lenses properly, you will be exposed to some side effects which could even affect your vision in the long run.

8 RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF USING CONTACT LENSES

1. Blockage of Oxygen Supply to the Eyes

Since contact lenses lie directly on the eye and cover the entire cornea, the amount of oxygen reaching your eyes will decrease. Good oxygen supply is absolutely critical to keep the eyes healthy.

Choose soft or silicone hydrogel lenses as they transmit more oxygen than the conventional soft contact lens materials. They will even be better for your eyes in the long run. Avoid wearing contact lenses for long hours at a stretch.

2. Dry Eyes

Contact lens reduces the quantity of tears getting on the cornea as they absorb most of our tears to keep itself soft. This lack of tears causes dry eye syndrome leading to itchiness, burning sensation and redness of the eyes. If the eyes get too dry, it will lead to the scarring of the cornea which can be extremely painful.

If you suffer from chronic eye dryness, use eyedrops to lubricate the eyes to provide some relief to them.

3. Irritation when Combined with Medication, especially Birth Control Pill

Concurrent use of contraceptive pills and contact lens together will result in chronic dry eyes and irritation. You will experience changes in the tear film, which primarily consists of three main layers which come together to protect, bathe and nourish the eye surface.

The combination of birth control pills and contact lenses will upset this balance in the tear film and cause excessive tearing, burning eyes and a gritty foreign body sensation in the eye. The restricted flow of oxygen to the eye will aggravate the condition.

Avoid using lenses as long as you are on the pill.

4. Diminished Corneal Reflex

Using contact lenses may cause diminished corneal reflex in the eye. Corneal reflex is a protective mechanism of the eye where the brain signals the eyelids to drop down to protect our eyes whenever the slightest amount of pressure is applied to the cornea. Corneal reflex makes sure that we close our eyes if something may cause a direct trauma to them, like a flying object coming towards our eyes or if someone tries to poke us.

When you use contact lenses constantly, you teach your body to ignore the natural corneal reflex. This may dull the eye’s response to corneal reflex, which could lead to the eye being damaged if you can’t shut your eyes fast enough in case of danger.

Keep the usage of the lenses to a minimum. Use glasses when you are at home to ensure that corneal reflex isn’t diminished too much by constant use.

5. Corneal Abrasion

There is a possibility of the contact lenses scratching your cornea, causing corneal abrasion if they are not fitted properly or when your eyes are too dry.

Never sleep with contact lenses in as the risk of abrasion will increase. The lenses will trap particles like dirt and sand and rub against your cornea. These abrasions will create an opening for bacteria and virus to seep through and give birth to eye infections, which can result in loss of vision too.

You may even scratch your cornea when you insert or extract contact lenses carelessly. Ensure that you fit the lenses carefully and you never sleep in them.

6. Red Eye or Conjunctivitis

There will be a high risk of conjunctivitis and stye if you wear contact lenses for long hours at a stretch, especially through the night. They provide a moist environment which acts as a potential breeding ground for microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. Additionally, since less oxygen reaches the cornea when you wear lenses, the body doesn’t fight off an infection that is caused by bacteria or viruses as effectively as it should.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is the most common type of conjunctivitis that contact lens wearers get due to repeated irritation from the contact lenses.

Always, always, always remove your contact lens before sleeping.

7. Ptosis

Ptosis is a condition where the eyelids start drooling and the affected individuals are unable to open their eyes fully.

If you use contact lenses, they may move into the eyelid tissues causing scarring and contraction, which further leads to a lid retraction. This especially holds true for hard contact lens wearers as the eyelid is repeatedly stretched during lens removal.

Switching to soft contact lenses would be a good idea.

8. Corneal Ulcer

This occurs when an open sore caused by fungus, bacteria, parasite infection or viruses is formed in the eye’s cornea. A corneal ulcer can cause permanent blindness if it is not treated quickly. If it does lead to blindness, a corneal transplant will probably be the only way to restore vision.

PREVENTING SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY CONTACT LENS

Do not over-wear your contact lenses and discard/replace them as directed by the doctor. Remember that lens deposits will continue to build up on your contact lenses over a period of time. The longer you go without replacing the lenses, the more will be the lens deposits — this will reduce the oxygen supply to the corneas, eventually damaging the eyes.

Do not miss your routine contact lens eye exams. Being regular with the check-ups will help your eye doctor detect problems caused by the contact lens in the early stages and prevent them from getting serious by giving you timely treatment.

If your current contact lenses are uncomfortable, try changing them or get an updated prescription. This will help in relieving contact lens irritation. Moreover, you can consider LASIK as a permanent solution to contact lens discomfort.

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Effect of Groundnut on the Eyes

Groundnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which boost your eye health and protect the eye’s cells from “free radicals” that could break down the eye’s tissue

We all know that our eyes require vitamin E to prevent the development of cataract. Groundnut contains this vitamin and can help you to protect your vision from being damaged.

It is also believed that groundnuts include resveratrol. This is an exciting element that can potentially slow down the ageing effect and keep your vision good for a long while.

Nutrition facts

Here are the nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw peanuts:

• Calories: 567
• Water: 7%
• Protein: 25.8 grams
• Carbs: 16.1 grams
• Sugar: 4.7 grams
• Fiber: 8.5 grams
• Fat: 49.2 grams
  • Saturated: 6.28 grams
  • Monounsaturated: 24.43 grams
  • Polyunsaturated: 15.56 grams
  • Omega-3: 0 grams
  • Omega-6: 15.56 grams
  • Trans: 0 grams

Other Benefits of Groundnuts

Here Are Some Amazing Benefits of Groundnut Or Peanuts

1. Promote Heart Health

According to researchers, people who regularly eat groundnuts were far less likely to die of heart stroke or disease. Peanuts and other nuts can also lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. Bad cholesterol can lead to plaque development on the blood vessels & peanuts can prevent this.

Groundnut can also reduce the inflammation that can cause heart disease. The resveratrol in groundnuts also helps fight heart problems.

2. Boosts Memory

Peanuts contain vitamin B3 or niacin content whose many health benefits include normal brain functioning as well as boosting memory power.

3. Promotes Fertility

Groundnut also contains a good amount of folate. Several studies have shown that women who had a daily consumption of 400 micrograms of folic acid before & during early pregnancy reduced the risk of having a baby born with a serious neural tube defect by up to 70 percent.

4. Helps in Weight Loss

Peanuts or groundnuts are called energy-dense foods. If you include them as a snack then it will make you eat fewer calories later in the day. Compared to consuming them with a meal, groundnuts elicited stronger feelings of fullness when eaten as a snack. This will ultimately help with weight loss.

Including groundnut or other nuts in your diet is a great way to enhance palatability & nutrient intake without causing weight gain.

5. Prevents Gallstones

Consumption of peanuts is also linked to a lowered risk of gallstones. Men having 5 or more units of nuts that include groundnuts in a week had a low risk of gallstone disease. Likewise women who consume 5 or more units of nuts in a week had a reduced risk of cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder).

6. Helps Fight Depression

Groundnuts are good sources of tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that is important for the production of serotonin, one of the important brain chemicals involved in mood regulation. When depression takes place, a decreased amount of serotonin may be released from the nerve cells in the brain. Tryptophan can increase serotonin’s antidepressant effects when there is an increased amount of serotonin in the blood.

7. Boosts Hair Growth

Few researchers believe that as peanuts contain all the amino acids & protein, they could be a good supplementation to a diet for hair growth.

The side effects of Groundnuts

It must be noted that peanuts should not be consumed in excess as it can be harmful for the body. Some studies reveal that peanuts might cause allergies to some people.

Itchy Eyes

When your eyes become itchy and red, you’ll do just about anything to relieve the irritation. But knowing the cause of your itchy eyes can help you find the right treatment and get some relief.

The differences between symptoms of allergy and infection, for example, is important to understand so you don’t make your condition worse.

The following are eight causes of itchy eyes and some possible treatment options, including home remedies and prescription medications.

Causes of itchy eyes

Most of the time, itchy eyes are caused by some type of allergy. An irritating substance (called an allergen) — such as pollen, dust and animal dander — causes the release of compounds called histamines in the tissues around the eyes, which results in itching, redness and swelling.

1. Seasonal allergies

If you get itchy eyes around the same time every year, you may have a seasonal allergy to ragweed or something else that blooms and releases pollen during certain times of year.

One way to tell if you’re dealing with an allergy, as opposed to an eye infection, is that you’ll have other allergic reactions, such as sneezing and nasal congestion.

Allergic symptoms are triggered by histamine, a compound released by cells to defend against allergens. Histamine causes an inflammatory response, and itchy eyes are among the common signs of histamine at work. One way to reduce symptoms is to avoid contact with seasonal allergens. Strategies include:

• Pay attention to local weather reports and stay indoors when pollen counts are high.
• Keep home and car windows closed during pollen season.
• Take showers and wash clothes more frequently to help keep pollen away from your airways.
• Wear a pollen mask when you have to be outside.
• Over-the-counter antihistamine medications can be helpful in controlling symptoms.

If your symptoms are especially serious every year, you may benefit from a prescription allergy medication. Because these medications can take some time to be effective, your doctor may recommend that you start taking them a few weeks prior to the onset of your allergy season.

2. Perennial allergies

Unlike seasonal allergies, perennial allergies are those you may have all year long. Things like mold, dust, and pet dander are among the more common perennial eye allergies.

You also may be allergic to certain products in your home. The contact lens solution you use may be irritating your eyes. Or, the soap or shampoo you use may be the problem.

If environmental allergens have been eliminated as the cause of your itchy eyes, try taking a break from a product that comes in contact with your eyes. It may be a process of elimination that leads to a solution, but it could be well worth your time.

To find out whether you have an allergy, an allergist can administer a skin test for specific allergens. Small amounts of allergens, such as ragweed or pet dander, are administered just under the skin to see if the skin around the injection site shows any kind of reaction. These tests are safe for most children and adults.

In addition to trying to reduce your exposure to an allergen, you can take medications, such as antihistamines or corticosteroids, to help reduce inflammation.

3. Airborne irritants

Some people are particularly sensitive to smoke, diesel exhaust, or even certain perfumes. Avoiding exposure to these irritants is the simplest solution. Soothing eye drops or a cool, damp cloth over your closed eyes may help you feel better fast.

4. Infection

Your eyes are vulnerable to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections — all of which can bring on itchy eyes.

One of the more common eye infections is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because the white part of the infected eye turns pink. It’s very contagious and often accompanied by drainage from the affected eye.

Another possible eye infection is called uveitis, an inflammation of the iris — the part of your eye with color. Uveitis can cause eye pain and an extreme sensitivity to light.

Both types of infections should be evaluated and treated by a doctor. Antibiotics may be used to treat conjunctivitis. Steroids also may be necessary. Anti-inflammatory eye drops may be enough to treat uveitis.

In more severe cases, immune-suppressant drugs may be needed. Uveitis, if not treated effectively, can lead to severe vision loss and complications such as glaucoma and cataracts.

5. Dry eye

Tears, which are a combination of water, oil, and mucus, keep your eyes moist and refreshed. For various reasons, your eyes may stop producing enough tears to keep your eyes from getting dry and itchy. One common cause is simply getting older. As you age, tear production tends to wane.

Likewise, conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to fewer tears. Certain medications list dry eyes as a possible side effect. Those include:

• antidepressants
• medications that lower blood pressure
• birth control pills
• decongestants

Your eyes can also dry out because tears are evaporating too quickly. If you’ve ever been outside in the wind for a long time or in an environment with very low humidity, you may have noticed your eyes getting dryer and itchier. Sometimes, a blocked tear duct or tear gland leads to dry and itchy eyes.

Treating dry eyes may be as simple as using over-the-counter artificial tears, which are available as drops. Follow the instructions carefully. If you experience chronic dry eyes, see an eye doctor. You may need medicated drops.

6. Eyestrain

Staring at a computer screen for a long time, or trying to read in a poorly lit area, can strain your eyes, causing them to feel itchy and tired. Driving for a long time, especially at night or on a bright, sunny day, can strain your eyes, too.

Eyestrain can also develop if you’re forcing yourself to keep your eyes open and remain awake when you’re tired. For some people, indoor heat or air conditioning can lead to strained, itchy, and irritated eyes.

The best treatment is to simply rest your eyes periodically. If driving is putting a strain on your eyes, pull over and close your eyes. Take a nap or switch drivers, so your eyes can focus on closer objects than a long stretch of highway or oncoming headlights.

7. Contact lens use

Keeping your contacts lenses in too long or failing to replace your lenses regularly can irritate your eyes, making them itchy and red.

If you wear contact lenses, remember to take them out at night and follow other basic lens care steps. Follow your doctor’s advice about how to care for your lenses and how often you should replace them.

8. Blepharitis

Red and itchy eyes may result from an inflammation of the eyelids known as blepharitis. It occurs when the little oil glands at the base of your eyelashes become blocked. Sometimes just keeping your eyelids clean is enough to resolve blepharitis symptoms, which may also include watery eyes and swelling.

Blepharitis won’t usually cause vision loss, but it can be a chronic problem that leads to conjunctivitis and other complications. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be necessary to provide relief and avoid further problems.

Home Treatments for Itchy Eyes

Here are two reliable home remedies that you can use to treat itchy eyes.

Always make sure to see a doctor if symptoms become severe enough to affect your day-to-day life.

Eye drops

Over-the-counter eye drops for itch relief are always helpful. Some are designed for allergies and redness, while others work like artificial tears for dryness. The best types are preservative free. Some help all these conditions in addition to itching.

Cold compress

You can also try a cold compress. A cold-water compress can relive the itch and have a soothing effect on your eyes. Simply take a clean cloth, soak it in cold water, and apply to closed itchy eyes, repeating as often as needed.

When to see a doctor

Most cases of itchy eyes don’t last very long, and they might even go away on their own.

To be safe, see a doctor if:

• you feel there is something lodged in your eye
• an eye infection develops
• your vision starts to get worse
• your itchy eyes turn into moderate to severe eye pain

If you experience any of the above, discontinue home treatments immediately and visit your doctor.