The presence of blood vessels in the eyes when wearing contact lenses is caused by prolonged oxygen deprivation. When contact lenses have low oxygen permeability, are worn for extended periods, or are not properly fitted, the corneal epithelial cells are susceptible to damage. While these cells can repair themselves in a short period of time, if proper care is not taken and the eyes are allowed to remain in a state of fatigue and oxygen deprivation for a prolonged period, symptoms such as red blood vessels and a foreign body sensation may gradually appear.

What Causes Blood Vessels in the Eyes When Wearing Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses do not harm the cornea, but only when they are used correctly. Even though the lens is small, it is still a foreign object to the eye and must be treated with caution. As a class of medical devices, the production and sale of contact lenses must be accompanied by relevant qualifications. Therefore, if the wearer fails to strictly follow the instructions for using contact lenses, the only ones who will ultimately suffer are their own eyes. If the contact lenses are not cleaned properly and a large amount of protein deposits remain on the surface, it can also cause symptoms such as dry eyes, red eyes, and pain. When wearing contact lenses, the cleaning procedure is crucial, and using liquids other than the recommended care solution, such as tap water or mineral water, to clean and soak the lenses can lead to corneal infections.

What to Do If There Are Blood Vessels in the Eyes When Wearing Contact Lenses?

1. Stop Usage: If the eye congestion is caused by long-term wear of contact lenses resulting in corneal hypoxia, it is best to stop using contact lenses and switch to wearing glasses to correct vision. At the same time, reduce the time spent using the eyes, allowing the eyeball to rest sufficiently, and the blood vessels will gradually disappear.

2. Reduce Wearing Time: If the contact lenses are worn for too long, the cornea may easily develop red blood vessels due to prolonged hypoxia. Therefore, it is recommended not to wear contact lenses for more than 8 hours per day, and to ensure that glasses are worn for at least two days each week. Alternating between wearing contact lenses and glasses can effectively alleviate eye congestion.

3. Use Eyedrops: If the contact lenses are not thoroughly disinfected and sterilized, and deposits such as protein on the lenses are not removed cleanly, it can also cause eye infections and result in eye congestion. If the condition is not severe, appropriate anti-inflammatory eyedrops can be used. However, it is best to avoid wearing contact lenses again until the eyes have fully recovered to prevent the condition from worsening.