The Questions & Answers Mailbox shares a number of frequently asked questions (FAQ). If you have a question, simply send us an e-mail (address on homepage) and we will do our best to help you. Note that contents of your e-mail maybe published but names will be held in confidence. Thank you for your interest.

I received an e-mail from a Miss N. (age 20) who has this question:

I just bought this pair of contact lenses from a certain shop in town. I have been wearing these lenses for 3 months and I notice that my vision becomes blurred in the afternoons and towards the end of the day. I went back to the shop to complain and the person who sold me these lenses told me that they are all right. It’s just that my eyes are tired, and resting will help. I have tried resting but the problem continues. I also noticed that my eyes are getting redder with a lot of red veins. The blurred vision also take longer and longer to clear. Can you help me?

It appears that Miss N. is experiencing a common problem. From her description, the contact lenses appear to be badly fitted, and her corneae are compromised.

When a contact lens is worn on the eye, it acts as a barrier to oxygen and nutrients supplied from the tears to the cornea. In Miss N.’s case, her cornea is hypoxic or being suffocated by the contact lens. Her cornea then cannot carry out its normal functions and thus her vision turns blurred. This is more evident during long hours of wear as well as towards the end of the day as said. Secondly, the red "veins" are actually arteries. These newly grown arteries are actually a natural defence mechanism of the eye to bring in oxygen and nutrients to the suffocating cornea. The presence of such arteries indicates that the cornea is in serious suffocation.

A properly fitted contact lens should not exhibit such signs. In our contact lens fitting, each fit has to satisfy a number of criteria. One of these criteria is the superb vision (actually visual acuity) with contact lens wear, and no blurring. Another criterion is the maintenance of corneal health. There should be no red arteries growing into the cornea at all. I suspect that there is no proper fitting nor regular aftercare in Miss N.’s case.

I advise Miss N. to STOP wearing her contact lenses IMMEDIATELY. Irreversible corneal damage is not too far away. The cornea may cease to function and become cloudy if this badly fitted pair of contact lenses are worn continued. The person who told Miss N. to rest is totally INCOMPETENT. Resting does not help at all!! Miss N. should seek proper help medically and get her lenses fitted from an optometrist.

Unfortunately, under Malaysian law, the maximum penalty for causing blindness to an eye only carries a fine of RM50,000. This is an insignificant sum compared to the value of an eye. There had been a number of cases involving corneal damage in Penang already. Some of these cases are awaiting corneal transplant. Even with transplants, certain patients only achieve of less than half of their previous visual acuity.