Response from: Para (Check me out!)

I think there is an allergy to senofilcon A. I just went to my third optometrist to find out why my eyes have been going nuts since starting to wear Acuvue Oasys about a month ago & was diagnosed this morning with an allergy to the contacts. They switched me back to Acuvue 2 and all the irritation, gooing, etc. are completely gone already.

Response from: Andie (Check me out!)

Linda, I am having the exact same issue. I also have been using the day & night lenses for 4-5 years. Not only I cannot wear them overnight, I can bearly wear them for a whole 8 hours. Some days I take them out immidiatly after putting them in from extreme irritation. My symptoms are: Itchiness, Redness, & Irritation.
I am under the assumption that I am allergic to them. But I too don't know what to do.

Response from: Jeff (Check me out!)

The answer is: YES YES YES. I've been wearing soft contact lenses for 20 years now (since I was 14) and have never had an ocular problem until now (I use preservative free solutions only- Clear Care disinfecting, aerosol saline solutions). I've worn Acuvue 2 for most of my adult life. I recently switched to Acuvue Oasys and was excited to finally have the opportunity to wear a silicon hydrogel with all its touted benefits and comforts. Over the past several months, I have experienced increasingly intense itchiness in my eyelid margins and marked puffiness in my left lower lid. I've seen an internist, dermatologist, allergist, and three (3) ophthamologists, and it has only now become apparent that my reaction is to the content of the lens itself. I'm officially off contacts now for 2 weeks and treating with steroid drops, combination steroid/ antibiotic ointment and patanol drops to relieve some of these symptoms. I will be returning to Acuvue 2's as soon as is feasible. Be warned!!!

Response from: mary ann shupinski (Check me out!)

I do believe I'am allergic to Acuvue Advance w/Hydraclear.I do not think it is the chemicals I'am using to disinfect them in.A new pair of lenses was put in right out of the box and after 2hrs my eyes are red,seems to an allergic reaction to the silicone.

Response from: mary ann shupinski (Check me out!)

I do believe I'am allergic to Acuvue Advance w/Hydraclear.I do not think it is the chemicals I'am using to disinfect them in.A new pair of lenses was put in right out of the box and after 2hrs my eyes are red,seems to be an allergic reaction to the silicone.

Response from: Ag-i-doc (Check me out!)

no. it is improbable that any of you are actually "allergic" to any contact lens material. not in the true sense of medical "allergy" anyway. you may have increased symptoms, and silicone hydrogel lenses are notorious for causing inflammatory events (GPC) b/c their high MODULUS or stiffness has a "rubbing" effect that some eyes dont like...but thats not a true "allergy" to the material. i personally think that would be highly improbable.

Response from: LM (Check me out!)

I wore the Acuvue Oasys lenses for 2 days and was ready to rip my eyes out! They were so red and irritated. I just came from the eye doctor and it is a severe allergy to silicon. It IS a true allergy to that material; and there are lenses that do not contain silicone--just got some and my eyes felt better immediately.

Response from: kristin whitford (Check me out!)

OMG! I had an eye exam about 2 months ago where my optom. told me that I have to switch to the new silicone due to more oxygen to the eye. Well, I have been miserable, and returned multiple times to be switched to 3 different brands, which arent helping. I think I am allergic, and they just act irritated with me? Is this a common reaction?

Response from: Alison (Check me out!)

I have had problems with Acuvue Advance also..... A few months ago I was changed to these lenses to allow more oxygen to my eye. After about 3 weeks of wear I noticed my eyelids seemed sore, this then developed into full blown conjunctivitis and I was off work for 2 weeks. When I visited my optician I was told there was no way it could be an allergy to the lenses. When the conjunctivitis cleared I used daily disposable lenses for 2 months, until I felt that my eyes were normal and I could try the acuvue again (I was not 100% convinced by my opticians opinion). I have now been wearing them again for 3 weeks, and the symptoms have started again. So I have switched back to dailies and am due to visit my optician again tomorrow morning as I'm not happy! will let you know what the verdict is now...! Alison

Response from: Michelle (Check me out!)

Just wanted to say I have a known allergy to silicone (my breasts are extremely large and I looked into having them reduced and replaced with silicone, but found out I couldn't because of the allergy). I tried Acuvue Advance as soon as they came out and had a major allergic reaction - my eyes were swollen, red, itchy, watery, goopy. My eye doctor refused to believe it was an allergy, I have been to several eye doctors since and they all try to get me to switch from Acuvue 2 to the Advance with hydraclear, and all argue with me when I say no. They do not ever believe it's an allergy, but I know for a fact I'm allergic to silicone, so if you're experiencing discomfort with the newer lenses, just stand your ground and refuse to change to one of the hydraclear lenses. Or if nothing else works, agree to change but ask to take your prescription with you and order you contacts online instead of from the doctor. Same contacts, you just don't have to deal with the doctors pressure to change.

Response from: Payton (Check me out!)

Hi, I can't believe this. I am using the Oasys lenses also. I just had to drive home for a 25 minute commute with the lenses on and I wanted to claw my eyes out--I had only been wearing them for 8 hours. I have been wearing them for several months with increasing symptoms, mainly these symptoms peaked when on a few nights recently I slept in them for 2-4 hours. I generally do not sleep in the lenses, I keep them and my case very clean, and I change them as prescribed. Actually, I just went through a year supply in two months because they have been so irritating lately. I am going in to an eye doctor ASAP. I called my doctor last week complaining of noticable eye mucus secretion (for lack of better word) and it was attributed to a sinus drip I had, no visit probably needed I was told. I do think it could be an allergy; I had a skin contact allergy test run as a kid and in addition to many other things, my skin would blister with any adhesive--this actually wasn't part of the test, but everywhere a patch was adhered, I blistered. I am allergic to latex--so I don't see why someone couldn't have a silicone allergy. I looked up the types of pink eye on the internet and one is actually caused by a contact (meaning "in contact") dermatitis to a particular contact lens; you will have pink eye symptoms. I'll let you know what the doctor says.

Response from: Payton (Check me out!)

Lenses out since my last post, saw an opthamologist today. The doctor did a test for eye tearing/lubricaton and I scored an 8, 10 and below is considered dry eye/insufficient lubrication. He said I have GPC-Giant papillary conjuctivitis (GPC)--not really pink eye from the virus but yes, the one I found on the internet noted in my last post--the one from contact lens use. Funny, I diagnosed myself correctly. He rejected the idea that I could be allergic to the silicone, rather he said it was the dry eye or an allergy to a protein deposit on the lens. It can't be the deposit because as I said in my last post, I have gone through a year's supply of lenses in two months--there was not time for "buildup". However, when I looked it up on the web it seems like doctors recognize that there is a cycle involved between dry eye and contact lenses, and it sounds like a case of not knowing whether the chicken or egg came first; which is the cause? Furthermore, upon a google search for GPC, I found a site that I thought was disturbing and interesting about all hydrogel lenses. This is a direct paste: "Hydrogel CLs appear to result in an overall prevalence of GPC of approximately 20%. Silicone hydrogel CLs may be more prone to GPC development, perhaps because of their mechanical stiffness or their higher propensity for deposition. Heat sterilization, poor cleaning, rough CL edges, and extended wearing times favor development of GPC. Increased frequency of CL replacement (especially daily disposables), rigorous cleaning (particularly with enzymes), peroxide disinfection, and decreased wear times appear to reduce the prevalence of GPC among users of hydrogel CLs. Rigid CL wear appears to result in a prevalence of approximately 5%; increased enzyme cleaning appears prophylactic." Anyway, I will not be wearing my lenses for four to six weeks, will be using steriod drops four times a day, and will follow up with my optometrist, per doctor's orders. He said my optometrist may do plugs or recommend drops depending on dryness at the check-up. I think Oasys and all hydrogels need to bring forth the facts, and in my opinion, doctors are abandoning patients and their oaths when they are in denial of so many compelling cases that call for serious consideration of this type of contact lens. The truth will lie in my next post--if my eyes improve and I can go on to wear my old brand of non-silicone lenses without discomfort, then I think I can deduce that the problem was likely the Oasys lens. I'll let you all know what happens.

Response from: Ivy (Check me out!)

I was also diagnosed with an allergy to the Oasys lenses BUT even though I knew what the problem was straight away (I've been wearing contacts for 14 years), it took four two-week trials of different silicone lenses to convince my optometrist that it indeed was an allergy and that I could not wear ANY of these sorts of lenses. Unfortunately, it then took ages for her to find a new lens for me, because I was switched to silicon because the condition of my eyes had deteriorated (in terms of extra veins/not enough oxygen) since beginning on Acuvue 2 (which has never been as good as the original Acuvue for my eyes, in my opinion). So....about 3 MONTHS LATER (due to all of the eye drops and healing time plus the trial lens times) I am finally back into contacts with a lens I am happy with, Proclear, despite its higher cost.

Response from: l.k. (Check me out!)

Ivy: Your story, including brands and models is exactly the same as mine. I just switched to the Proclears as well, and they're great. (The only difference is that I gave up dealing with my doctor after no resolution and a different drop every other week and went to a different one, who immediately prescribed the Proclears)

Response from: Payton (Check me out!)

(Payton here again from the two previous posts) I am back in my older lens brand after a break from contacts, no problems. At first, even during the break while wearing glasses, I had a really tough time with light and glare. I think the Oasys lens must have done some temporary damage to my eye. If I would look at light, I seemed to have trouble focusing and there was haze around it. Anyway, I no longer have dry eye or irritation while wearing lenses now that I am out of the Oasys silicones, and the problem with light has subsided. It still irritates me that neither the ophthalmologist nor optometrist I saw ever really acknowledged it could have been a silicone allergy. Ironically, the ophthalmologist who also does laser surgeries was all to quick to mention that my solution for dry eye might be laser surgery if I didn't care to wear glasses, but (a brief disclaimer after his sales pitch) he would have see if I am a good candidate. Also, my optometrist didn't forewarn me of any other patients who had trouble with the Oasys lens before I made the decision although I was able to easily confirm it on the internet (see my second post with the direct quote from a scientific study). I figure there are sales reps. who are pushing the lenses in the offices and not telling the whole story. It's pathetic how money is the incentive for these eye health professionals rather than the patient's wellbeing.

Response from: Patti (Check me out!)

I seem to be having the same issues with Bausch & Laumb Pure Vision. Has anyone experienced this?

Response from: Heather (Check me out!)

I switched from acuvue2 to the oasys in october because they were suppose to keep my eyes hydrated longer. Since then I have had at least 4 seperate times that it caused my eye to become red, irritated, and vision blurry. I thought the contact dried out and cut my eye so I would take them out and put them back in once my eye felt like it was healed. When I was a teenager the same thing would happen with my soft contacts so I just assumed that's what it was. This last time it was worse than ever and didn't feel like it was healing. I went to the dr. and she told me it was an allergy to the silicone in the oasys. She said a while ago there were some soft contacts that were made with the same material. Apparently only 8% of the population is allergic to silicone, I just happen to be one of them. To think I had suffered all that time thinking my contact just dried out and cut my eye when in reality it was an allergic reaction to the contact. I am still in my glasses and my vision in that eye is still extremely blurry. I go back to the dr. monday hopefully I will be all healed by then and I am switching back to the acuvue2 which I didn't have a problem with the whole 7 years that I wore them.

Response from: Pauley (Check me out!)

Okay, well i started wearing contact lenses when i was 13 and everything was fine.But i ran out of contacts and i didnt get new ones for about 2 months.Well now that i have my new contacts the first day i wore them my eyes were iratated.My eye was red.But when i would take them out that night , in the morning they would be back to normal.I already used up all my new contacts and all of those ones made my eyes irataded.They were the same brand as i had when i first got them when i was 13 but when i had them for the first time my eyes never got red .Could i have an alergic reaction to the type of contacts?I clean them really well all the timeMabe they sent me the wrong ones.? Idk but can anyone give me advise?

Response from: Gloria (Check me out!)

I was using the Pure Vision multifocal contact lenses about a year ago. All was well at first, but it wasn't long before my eyes would start to feel "gummy" and I would wipe away crud from the inner aspects of my eyes. When I went to my eye doc, she told me I had symptoms of an allergy and told me to use allergy eye drops every 4 hours until they cleared up. I continued to use the lenses after using the eye drops, but my eyes still felt like they were full of sand, even using rewetting drops several times a day, so I finally quit wearing them and went back to my night & day lenses and have not had a problem...until I went to see if I was a candidate for Lasik. The doc gave me contacts at the strength that my surgery would be. However, each contact was different...one was an Acuvue2 and one an Acuvue Advance w/ Hydraclear. Guess what? The eye with the silicone hydrogel lens was SO red when I finally removed it after wearing it all day. The other eye was fine. I emailed the doc, but no response after 24 hours. So, I do believe that even if it is not an actual allergy (and I have many allergies), it is at least a sensitivity.

Response from: Tracey (Check me out!)

OMG! I am so happy I found all these comments about the Oasys lenses. I thought I was nuts. I have been wearing lenses for almost 20 yrs and never had a problem like this before. I have been wearing the Oasys for almost 2 years, but the itching and dryness trouble started a few months ago. I switched eye makeup and lens solution, but still had the same problem. I finally stopped wearing lenses for 2 days and no more itching or dryness. So I am convinced it is the lenses. I also only wear one lens (monovision) and only the eye with the lens in itches. I have my annual checkup in August and I am going to ask to switch back to Acuvue or some other lens.

Response from: Joe (Check me out!)

Wow, I can't believe I found this post. I am having the same symptoms. I used to wear soflens 66 with good results (some minor dryness). So, when my contact supply ran out, the doctor got me into some proclears (less dryness). I could not wear these lenses for more than 2 hours w/ out irritation. Quit wearing contacts thinking, I just couldn't wear them anymore...About a year later, I went back to the Optometrist for another contact lense try. He gave me some Accuvue Advance 2. After about 8hrs my eyes became red and extremely itchy. Quit wearing contacts again for another 6 months. Went back for my next yearly exam, told him the prior contacts weren't working. He told me, I should've went back in right away (ok, could've saved me lots of time- I thought I would have to pay out of pocket, but that's another story). Finally, dr claimed that 02 Optix would solve my issues. I was excited to try them only to find out that about after 8hrs my eyes became red, itchy and irrated. Finally convinced myself that my contacts lense wearing days were over...Until I was reading on the internet about this issue people were having w/ these new bread of contacts and started to realize my problems started to begin with the newer lenses. I've since switched to BL Soflense 38 (they discontinued the SL 66) and my eyes feel 100% better thus far!! Don't let dr's believe these are the answer especially if your eyes begin to get itchy, red, swollen, etc.

Response from: Suze (Check me out!)

Sheesh, and I thought I was crazy! I went through the almost the whole box in just a few weeks because the Oaysis would coat up super quickly and irrirate my eyes. Redness, itchy, and just over all discomfort (the kind you get from protein-coated old lenses). I have an allergy to the protein that your eyes make, and apparently my eyes cannot tolerate silicone, which made it tear, which built up protein and the vicious cycle went around and around. My optometrist switched me back to Acuvue 2, and it felt so much better immediately. Oh, I know it wasn't the solution because I use clear care-- my eyes also apparently can't tolerate other brands like Renew, etc. They get infected and yucky.

Response from: Gloria (Check me out!)

A question just occured to me while I was doing some reading on the various
"filcon" in the soft contact lenses. Has anyone had this idea...maybe the irritation that we've all experienced with these lenses, has been caused by the color additive to make them more visible. This is just an idea. I only know that the lenses that I have tried that have bothered my eyes, have all had the blue tint to make them easier to see in the lens case. Does anyone else have an opinion on this?? Thank you...Gloria

Response from: Carleen (Check me out!)

I had been using "pure vision" lens but they after two years I started having redness and mucus and burning. My doctor and I have tried many lens since then about 8 kinds for far. In the past 2 months...Either they burn or turn my eyes red or the vision is poor. I'm almost ready to give up. I just got another new trail pair and after 4 hours my eyes were on fire. I took them out 24 hours ago and still they burn. I think it has something to the with the maker "cooper vision." The ones that have bothered me the most are from that same maker. Does anyone know of a lens not made with silicone.. Please tell me what is working!!! all the acuvue ones fit well and my vision is good but they all burn and sting. What else is out there.

Response from: Christy (Check me out!)

I am so happy to find these posts. I just went to the optometrist two days ago and he insisted that I get silicon lenses. I have been wearing contacts for ten years, and have never experienced anything like this before. My eyes are swollen and red and won't stop watering! Suddenly I am extremely sensitive to light, I can't even look at a computer screen without my eyes watering like crazy. I am actually wearing sunglasses right now just to type! My eyes have been extremely red and puffy all day, and I thought I would seem crazy if I went back to the doctor to tell him these lenses don't work because he assured me that "everyone" thinks they are more comfortable then standard lenses. I can't wait to call him tomorrow and give him a piece of my mind!

Response from: Vanessa (Check me out!)

Wow, I am glad to have come across this. I thought he doctor was crazy telling me that I'm allergic to the Hydroclear contacts... but I guess I'm not the only one! I'm on steroid drops for the next three weeks and then I'll be switching back to acuvue 2s.

Response from: Trevor (Check me out!)

I recently switched to Air Optix for Astigmatism and have been ecstatic with the comfort and clarity. My issue is that I've developed a rash under both eyes. Optometrist suggested switching to Clear Care solution, which had minor impact but rash still prevelent. Eye comfort is fine and I have no redness on the eyeball. Before I thought it was Cl related, I saw my family Dr who prescribed a killer eczema (sp?) cream which barely touches or heals the rash. Next thing is to avoid CL's for a few weeks to see if everything clears up. Any thoughts or input?

Response from: allatia (Check me out!)

I would like to know if anyone who has experienced these apparent allergic reactions to contacts has experienced swelling, redness, flakiness, and itching on their eyelids--not inside the eye.

Response from: Eyeball Kid (Check me out!)

Wow. I came upon his thread when searching for silicone hydrogel allergies. It's good to know, in a way, that others are having the same problem as I. Since January, I've been trying to get my eyes accustomed to PureVision hydrogels, reportedly a silicone based lense. I don't think that I've been able to wear these lenses for more than two days consecutively without encountering problems. I thought for most of this time that the problem was with tearing, or a form of keratitis, but I luckily was able to find some not-previously-worn lenses from a previous prescription that were not silicone based. I not only felt no discomfort after a few days' wear, but I also noticed that redness and soreness that I was experiencing after wearing the silicone lenses dissipated even while I was wearing the non-silicone lenses-- something that would never happen if I tried (and I HAVE tried) to use my newer prescription silicones. BTW, there's a guy named Eric Papas, on the URL: who wrote a sloppy little article on Silicone hydrogels and allergies. Mr. Papas, who must be an industry shill, lazily cites the lack of testimonials on internet discussion groups as his proof that there is no such thing as a silicone hydrogel allergy. The man purports to have a Ph.D. Sheesh. I suggest that those who have problems with these lenses send Mr. Papas your thoughts.

Response from: Carla (Check me out!)

I'm relieved to read these posts! I've been living in a developing nation for a year and a half now and went to the local Optometrist to replenish my supply of contact lenses when it was suggested I try the Acuvue Oasys. I tried them and a short while later my eyes were unbearably uncomfortable-itchy, red, and felt like they were covered in protein, making it difficult to see. I was scared it might have been the water, since water quality in this country is poor, though I've always been diligent with cleaning and using purified water, but I was more scared that I might have developed an allergy to contact lenses. I never thought for a minute it could be the type of lens. But after reading your posts I'm so relieved that this could be the problem. I'm going to run out today and get a pair of Acuvue2 and see how I go.
Thanks for the posts!