Are Contact Lenses Safe?

In a word, I’d say ‘Yes.’

But they aren’t as safe as some people think they are.

If I have a patient who is a contact lens user and they have any eye symptoms other than severe decreased vision, there is a very high likelihood that the reason behind the eye problems is contact lens wear. This is especially true as the decades go by–as patients get into their 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.

There are also studies that show that refractive corneal surgery, like LASIK, can often be safer than contact lens use in real-world settings.

So are contact lenses safe? Sure. However, one has to be careful to use them properly and follow instructions.