Contact Lenses and Allergy Sufferers

In a survey done by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) of all the woman who suffer through allergies many complain of puffy and red eyes. The survey says that 40 percent of these women also feel that their allergy symptoms (red, dry and watery eyes) makes them look both tired and unattractive. To make matters worse around half of these women have to resort to wearing eye glasses instead of contact lenses because of the allergy symptoms. This adds to the feeling of being unattractive because they are not comfortable in the eye glasses which ultimately affects their every day activities including school, work and sports.

“Having to stop wearing their contacts or wear them less frequently creates a wide range of emotions among allergy sufferers,” says Mike Tringale, Director of External Affairs, AAFA, the leading patient advocacy organization for people with asthma and allergies. “Contact lens wearers say they feel less attractive when wearing their glasses (37%), unhappy (35%), less confident without their contacts (29%), and less able to perform activities as well as when they are wearing their contact lenses (26%).”

More than 800 people responded to the online survey about eyes and allergies, conducted by AAFA, and supported by 1-DAY ACUVUE(R) MOIST(R) Brand Contact Lenses. One-third (33%) identified themselves as contact lens wearers, while 12 percent admit to having dropped out of contacts because of allergies.

The majority of contact lens wearing respondents report that they replace their lenses monthly (45%) or every one to two weeks (38%). Paul Karpecki, O.D., F.A.A.O., Clinical Director, Kofler Vision Group, Lexington, Kentucky says he is not surprised to learn that two out of three (66%) say they find it very uncomfortable to wear their contacts while suffering from eye allergy symptoms.

For allergy sufferes who want to remain in contacts, Dr. Karpecki recomends single-use contact lenses - daily disposable lenses that you throw away at the end of the day.

Daily disposable contact lenses might be the solution for people who still want to wear contact lenses while suffering from allergies. They don’t require any cleaning so there is no chance of irritation from not properly cleaning your contact lenses because every morning you get to put in a fresh pair. So if you want to continue wearing your contact lenses when your eyes are feeling dry and irritable give Daily disposable contact lenses a shot. In addition to the 1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST (90 Pack) Brand Contact Lenses recommended by the survey there are two other popular daily disposable contact lenses you should look at 1-DAY ACUVUE and Focus Dailies (90 Pack).

Other major findings from the survey show:

  • Spring was identified by 67% of respondents as the most troublesome time of year for eye-related allergies. Over half (51%) say they experience eye allergy symptoms all year long. One-quarter of all respondents (26%) report Fall as the worst time for eye allergies
  • Half of women surveyed (52%) report that their eyes are so itchy as a result of their allergies that it causes them to rub their eyes and rub off makeup
  • About four in ten (39%) of allergy sufferers say they have consulted with an allergy specialist about their eye-related allergy symptoms. They also report consulting with their Family Practitioner (28%), Optometrist (28%), or Ophthalmologist (28%)

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