Can you get eye cancer from contacts?

Are you one of those people who are paranoid about getting eye cancer from wearing contact lenses? If yes, then this article is for you. But before we delve into the details regarding whether or not contacts can increase your risk of developing eye cancer, let’s first talk about some basic facts related to the eyes and cancer.

The Basics

According to the National Eye Institute, “The incidence of eye cancer is rare and highly treatable.” This means that even if you do get eye cancer (which would be unlucky), it probably won’t be as deadly as other cancers like lung or pancreatic. However, prevention is still better than cure.

Now that we have established that getting eye cancer isn’t common nor scary; let’s see whether wearing contact lenses can increase your chances.

Contact Lenses 101

Contacts have been around for more than a century now. They are typically made out of either soft plastic polymers (hydrogels) or silicone hydrogel material which allows oxygen to pass through them easily without compromising comfort . Unlike eyeglasses, contacts rest inside your eyes on top of the clear cornea surface while swimming in tears and blink with each movement aiding lubrication.

Contacts help resolve various vision problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), astigmatism(blurred vision due to an irregular shaped cornea). They come in different forms including spherical single-vision designs(Best used by people with minor defects on their entire corneal front surface)

Also available are toric models – specifically designed for patients experiencing astigmatism whose correction requires assisting axis positioned along meridians lines running across their pupils circular boundary contour.

There exist multifocal design alternatives suitable for individuals having trouble focusing on near & distance objects such as texts or billboards without much difficulty.

Eye Cancer 101

There are different types of eye cancers, but the most common ones include conjunctival melanoma, intraocular melanoma (which affects the choroid and ciliary body), retinoblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, lymphoma(just a few among many) .

The causes for developing eye cancer could be from inherited genes or continued exposure to ultraviolet radiation as well as excessive sunscreen use. According to researchers at Wexner Medical Center in Ohio State; sun protection is important even though we spend more than half our lives indoors since light penetrates windows glass panes which might lead to unrecognizable symptoms visible after 20-30 years. Although wearing sunglasses & visors may protect your eyes during outdoor activities from extra glare it’s also advisable not stay out too long under sunlight because you never know what duration of exterior lighting will do harm unnoticed.

Can You Get Eye Cancer from Contacts?

Now let’s get back to whether or not contacts can cause eye cancer? There is no clear-cut answer here because reports in medical history have shown arguable opinions . However, there are some aspects worth considering:

  1. Contacts don’t emit UV light.
  2. Quality contact lenses fit snugly on top of the cornea surface without requiring any forcible abrasion-like fittings
  3. Frequent disinfection using appropriate solutions helps minimize infection risk factors
  4. Wearing contacts that don’t suit your prescription can cause additional strain upon your eyes leading redness and irritation
  5. Extreme overuse of contacts(e.g sleeping excessively with them on)can injure corneal cells locally affecting oxygen supply levels & allowing bacterial build-up

But ultimately it comes down how cautious and compliant users are about hygiene protocols related to lenses care alongside regular checkups by optometrists when experiencing discomfort while using them daily.

One of the dangers of contact lenses is that they can trap germs and bacteria between the lens and your eye, causing an infection called microbial keratitis. This type of infection can potentially lead to vision loss if not treated on time.

However, it’s important to emphasize here that wearing contacts doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to get cancerous cells in your eyes even though sporting them comes with its own inconvenient risks as shown above.

Conclusion

After considering all these facts, we strongly advise that anyone who wears contacts should take good care for their devices by washing frequently with appropriate solutions. Following hygiene protocols helps prevent potential swelling or infections which exponentially reduce chances for development related symptoms such as redness & irritation around cornea areas alongside reducing dependency on prescription medication while also seek professional medical advice regarding general safety issues associated not just with contacts but basic optical health standards daily life brings us.

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