Contact Lens Intolerance
The topic of Contact Lens Intolerance is discussed by Dr. Emil Chynn :
Many patients come to us because they are becoming “contact lens intolerant.”
Typically, after wearing lenses for decades, the cornea does not get enough oxygen, and grows abnormal new blood vessels. Even the new contact lens materials, with higher DKs, which allow more oxygen to diffuse, still limit oxygen to your eye.
Also, contact lenses exacerbate symptoms of dryness and irritation.
According to Dr. Chynn, “After bladeless, no-cut, no-flap LASEK or epi-LASEK, our patients report relief since they get rid of their contacts!”
The abnormal blood vessels also typically regress, since the cornea now gets the normal amount of oxygen.
Symptoms of dryness are relieved because our non-cutting procedure does not cut into any corneal nerves.
We also insert dissolving collagen punctal plugs in 99% of our patients to temporarily block outflow and increase tear retention.
LASEK and epi-LASEK are safer than the cutting LASIK and i-LASIK and intraLase procedures. So safe, that, statistically, they are actually SAFER THAN LONG-TERM CONTACT LENS WEAR.
In other words, every year you wear contacts you assume a small risk of losing vision from overwear, infections, etc.
This risk accumulates year after year, and never goes away, for as long as you wear contacts!
Whereas with LASEK or epiLASEK, you take the (small) risk all at once but then you start saving risk each and every year, as after 1 month your risk is essentially none.
