Eye Diseases and Conditions Slideshow Pictures Pink Eye Slideshow Pictures Cataracts Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Frank J. Weinstock, MD, FACS

Frank J. Weinstock, MD, FACS

Dr. Weinstock is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He practices general ophthalmology in Canton, Ohio, with a special interest in contact lenses. He holds faculty positions of Professor of Ophthalmology at the Northeastern Ohio Colleges of Medicine and Affiliate Clinical Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science at Florida Atlantic University.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Exams and Tests

Diagnosis and treatment of contact lens problems entail a complete history and an eye examination.

• During the history, you are asked questions about your symptoms and how long you have been bothered by these symptoms (for example, light sensitivity, redness, blurred vision). You should also be prepared to tell your eye doctor about
  
  
  • the type of contact lenses being worn (soft, gas permeable, or the older hard lenses).
    
    
  • what type of care regimen you use (cleaning, disinfecting, and rinsing solutions). This should include the specific name (manufacturer) of solutions.
    
    
  • the type of wear regimen used: daily disposable, weekly overnight wear, or daily wear.
    
    
  • how often the lenses are replaced (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly).
    
    
  • when you last wore your lenses.
    
    
  • whether your vision is affected.
    
    
• The examination of the eye involves checking your vision (with your glasses because you have removed your contact lenses).
  
  
  • If your vision cannot be corrected, your eye doctor may suspect the presence of a serious problem.
    
    
  • Your eye doctor looks into your eye with various types of lights, starting with a flashlight type of instrument and followed by a slit lamp (a microscope to examine the eye with high magnification and different color lights).
    
    
  • Your eye doctor may place a dye called fluorescein on the eye. This makes abrasions and ulcers show up clearly.
    
    
• With apparently severe infections, cultures of the eye may be taken and sent to the laboratory for evaluation. Depending on the cause of the infection, specific antibiotic eyedrops may be required. Rarely, hospitalization is required.