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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

(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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!

OMG... I am a new contact wearer in the last 5 months and have had three months of misery! I have been wearing the Oasys and have been back to the opthamologist 3 times and diagnosed with GPS and "allergic conjunctivitis" each time.. I have switched solutions, dumped all of my eye make up and face creams..all to no avail. I was so downhearted, thinking I would never be able to wear contacts...sounds like I need to ask to be switched to a different kind. Hope this will help, and thanks for your posts... It is very helpful knowing that I'm not crazy!
thanks!!!

I am so glad that i found this website. As others have said I to thought I was losing my mind. I have alo been using acuvu oasys for about 1 year and recently started have some rather severe symptoms: sensitivity to light, itching, dryness, blurry vison. Up until I got the last 2 boxes of contact lenses I have not had a problem. It started when I recently opened the new boxes. I have a opthamologist appointment this thursday and will let him know what i have read. (I recently developed allergies to adhesive and latex)

has anyone else noticed goopy discharge with Acuvue Advance w/Hydraclear? i slept in my lens one night and my eyes were covered with goop. i even told my doctor that it felt like my contacts were melting/deteriorating in my eyes. i am going to immediately discontinue using these lens and try another brand/type.

I am so glad I found this website. I have been wearing the Acuvue Oasys contact lenses for several months and have been suffering from itchy, watery eyes with occasional discharge. I recently went to the eye doctor and was diagnosed with an eye allergy (to the solution not lenses) and was put on eye drops for 2 weeks to clear up the allergy. I was given the ok to start wearing the lenses again but with a different soultion. Not even 2 weeks later and I've got the allergy again. I will now be switching contact lenses.
Thanks for all the informative posts!

Finally vindication!

Same story as many others.. I've worn acuvue 2s for several years with no problems at all, then tried two types of silicone hyrdogels (mainly night and day) with terrible rash, itchyness and my eyes puffed up! The optometrist didn't seem to think anyone would be allergic but I put two and two together that I had no problems with the old ones, and the only common denominator with the new ones (that I know of) is the silicone hydrogel.

I'm actually trialling the oasys now (2 days in) with no problems thus far.. I really need something with more oxygen so I'm hoping this newest stuff won't give me the same problems.

Like everyone else it's great to finally find out there's otheres. A year or two ago I searched for reactions to the stuff and couldn't even find anyone else on the internet!

Oh I forgot to add, I think in the past it's been written off as an infection from overnight wear (spurious relationship) but I got it within a couple of days of short, clean day-only wear. The only thing that got rid of the symptoms were stopping the night and days, and once I went back to the old type I had no problems again.

Oh I WISH I'd done this search earlier. I have astigmatism and tried to wear contacts in High School but they just didn't work for me (I think I wasn't diligent enough or something, but I had a hard time). Then when I graduated college I was sick of glasses and went to go try contacts again.

I didn't know what the heck happened but I couldn't wear the contacts for more than a couple of hours without wanting to tear my eyes out (as another poster said...that's EXACTLY the phrase I use). I would finally get the contact out (as it was fused to my eye) and I'd have this horrible ring in my eye. Wherever the contact was it was normal/white and the entire rest of my eye was bloodred and I couldn't even see well enough with them to read anyways. Someone told me I was allergic to contacts and so I gave up (without going back to the optometrist)and have been wearing glasses ever since, wishing I could afford lasik.

I just saw an ad in a magazine for Air Optix lenses and then decided to do a search for "am I allergic to contact lenses?". OH. MY. GOD. I was wearing the Acuvue Oasis with Hydroclear and had no idea that the problem could have easily been solved... it's been 5 years?! Now I just have to find contacts that are not silicone based but still work for astigmatism.

After reading these postings I began to forward it to my husband who is in a real bad state ( I am thinking now that it IS the actual lenses) But then I realized, he won't be able to read this page becuase he can't see or focus on the computer, or drive during the day time! And to think, just like many of you all, his Dr. recommended these lenses, without any prompting from my husband. What a mistake!

I am so glad I found this post. I have been distraught for the past few weeks because I suddenly had eye irritation and pain, and to my dismay the opthamologist said I was allergic to my contacts... which is crazy because Ive been wearing lenses since 6th grade! it cleared up after wearing glasses and i just started wearing them again and it happened again!.. I then started to think , maybe they changed ingredients in the solutions they set the contacts in, and thats when it clicked that the irritation didnt start till I started using the new shipment of lenses my mother had sent from missouri. I saw this post and was like AHA! I called her and asked what brand of lense i had used before and she said Acuvue 2.. but this last one she sent , the eye center lady said ity was better for the eye so she sent me acuvue oasys. MYSTERY SOLVED! Im am going to switch back immediatly when I get to my appt on thursday

I am glad to have found this site. I tried accuvue advanced/osaysis for astimatism. The minute i put either of them on my eyes went nuts. They started to get watery,itching,redness,etc. The two pairs were painful to wear. My eye MD said I have cornea abrasion. I wore torics before and didn't have this much problems, I thought it was cause I was older. I see this is not the case, it's my allergic reaction to these new CL silicons. sigh.

I've been wearing Acuvue 2's since they came out, never had a comfort issue except occasional dryness if I fell asleep in them, and soem stinging if I wore them nonstop for more than 24 hrs (I know, bad...) This week I went to renew and the optometrist insisted that Acuvue 2's were old school and I should try the new silicone lenses. i went with the air optix, and within two hours my eyes started to feel the stinging/brunging sensation. She said I needed to "get used" to them, so I continued with them for a few days until I could hardly keep my eyes open because of sensitivity. I put in my accuvue 2's today and much better. they gave me a different pair of silicones a few hours ago but I can already feel the "stinging" beginning again. It's too bad as the other lenses definitely weren't as dry, but they don't do me much good if it is too painful to open my eyes. I may try the "proclear" enxt week, and if those don't work go back to the accuvue 2's. Better a bit of dryness than the stinging. (I disagree that contacts require a "breaking in" period).
I am concerned about new contact lens wearers who don't know about the other options out there.

I started wearing Purevision multifocals in January, a switch from the Focus Progressive Dailies that I had used for 6 years. They were great for about until the end of April when I developed severness redness in one eye. I went to eye doctor and he said I was a day away from losing an eye. He treated me and it all cleared up until I started wearing the lenses again. I cleared that infection up, and now I am wearing the lenses but getting ready to take them out as they feel itchy and my eyes are turning read again.

I am so glad to have found this online. I saw it awhile ago but wanted to take the time to post my info here this time as I found other's info extremely helpful and validating and one more person's story can only help others, right? OK, so I have worn contacts for over 10 years now. I started out wearing Precision UV's and never had a problem. A couple years ago my boyfriend suggested I try Acuvue Oasys contacts as they are supposed to let more oxygen into your eye and I wouldn't feel bad if I happened to fall asleep in them. He's worn them for 2 to 3 years with no problem. So, I switched and, at first, they were great. But, after about a year my left eye started watering a lot. It thought it was just the computer work I was doing for my job. But, my symptoms progressed and persisted. Pretty soon my right eye was also bothering me and the watering turned to "goopiness." The goopiness turned to constant irritation and blurriness. I started wearing glasses because I was afraid to drive and because my eyes hurt sooo badly. When I'd take out the contacts the pain would get worse momentarily (a symptom of GPC I believe?) but then it would improve greatly as time went on.
Anyway, these symptoms I experienced were REAL and very painful. My eyes were telling me that obviously something was wrong. So, I went to the eye doctor but he could find nothing wrong with me. He gave me a hydrogen peroxide cleaning kit in case it was a solution or cleanliness issue, but I still ended up with the same results (and I was sure not to use ANY solution in order to test his theory properly). Next, he bounced me around from various contacts (PureVision, O2Optix, etc) and all produced the same results. He was trying but didn't seem to be convinced of an allergy. (I didn't realize until later on that all of those are also silicone hydrogels or I would have suspected the silicone specifically). So, I went to a contact specialist who was absolutely no help at all except that he told me to try either gas permeable hard lenses or a more traditional lens. He, too, was against the idea of an allergy. Most recently, I went to my childhood optometrist who was also against the idea of me having an allergic reaction. But, at least he sat down with me and went over which contacts do not have any silicone and is sending me a trial pair of one of them soon.

Needless to say, this has all been incredibly frustrating and I don't understand why doctors wouldn't be able to draw the conclusion between silicone being added to soft contact lenses and these reactions that people are having. It makes perfect logical sense to me.

I will let people know how things go and if my symptoms persist with the non-silicone lenses. I'm guessing they won't as others on here have had similar experiences. Thanks!

Jean here again and I also wanted to add...I've had a very difficult time researching older non-silicone soft contact lenses as most of what's online these days is all about the silicone hydrogels. So, for those of you looking...Precision UV's do not have silicone (although I think they may be discontinuing them soon). PureClear are non-silicone and generally very comfortable for most people (or so my last eye doctor said). Also, CooperVision makes a couple good ones (I think they might make ProClear as well) called Frequency 38 and Frequency 55. But, you might want to doublecheck on those as the info that I got on them was less clear to me. Hope this helps!

Jean, I used to wear the Frequency 55 lenses and NEVER had the problems I had with the newer lenses. I though it was hopeless; wearing glasses in the summertime is a big pain. I now want to talk to my opthtamologist about going back. You're awesome for making me remember!! Thank you.

I have experienced the same symptoms as all of you. Wore Biomedics 55 for 9 years. At the end of 9 years I thought my eyes were a BIT dry so I switched to Hydraclear. That's when all the same crap started happening to me. For the last 2 years I have not worn contacts. My eyes got to a point finally that I felt like I could try them again. I opted for dailies and was given 1-day Acuvue moist. After an hour I ripped them out and now my eyes are all messed up just like 2 years ago. Does anyone know which daily disposable contacts are not made with sillicone?

I see others have a latex allergy/sensitivity. I have developed the same thing. What should I do?

Good to read all these comments... I used to wear Oasys and had no problems for a few months. Then all of a sudden, I started to note that my eyes were getting irritated and - as someone noted above - a white goopy mucus was forming in them. Not an oozy goop (sorry for the detail!!) but more of a stringy goop. After some preliminary research I realized there were problems such as this associated with the Oasys. So, I swithched to acuvue 2 and never had a problem again...

Until today.

I went to the doc and she identified that I now have astigmatism in one eye. She gave me a trial pair of Air Optix for astigmatism at 1530 hrs this afternoon. I have just come back to my computer after wrenching the contact out of my eye and trying as best I could to wash the goop out of my eye (because as anyone who experiences this knows... the contact can come out but the goop hovers under the eyelid for awhile...). All this in less than seven hours.

No matter what she says tomorrow, I'm going back and insisting on a non-silicone contact lens... There is, I believe, no coincidence... Hydrogel (or silicone) in contact lenses causes these symptoms in people with sensitivity. If your doctor doesn't believe it - just get your prescription and order non-silicone lenses online. Cheaper, and you won't have to deal with the irritation.

I have been trying to wear the acuvue advanced for months now. A pair is now only lasting me a couple of days. Today I put them in and my eyelids swelled a little and looked super pink. I've had it with these things!! What can we do about this, so many people seem to be having issues.

Not as lucky as the rest of you. Spent months trying to work through the dryness, burning, itching, puffy lids, wanting to rip the new Accuvue Advance with Hydraclear out of my eyes from the very second I put them in. Never made the connection to the lenses until I switched from the opthamologist who prescribed them, to a corneal specialist who suggested that it may be a contact lense allergy. I have spent the past year putting steroid and antibiotic drops in my eyes for corneal ulcers that could not be explained. The steroid abuse has given me a cataract.I had been wearing the same brand of non silicone contacts for thirty years with never a problem and am hating myself and my doctor for not making the connection. Am searching for an attorney.

Please help, i wore contacts for over 6 months, but starting from the 8th month, my eyes became red, and i switched to Acuve 2. But, my eyes are still red. I happen to have red a lot one day during the 8th month, and my eyes became red. I don't know what to do, I thought the redness will be gone, but it still hasn't, and I can't wear contacts anymore. Any suggestion?

I havent tried Oasys, but i have an allergic reaction to Acuve 2 and normal contacts (which i dont know the name of) I started wearing contacts last year of May. And had no problems what so ever until this year of January. When my eyes became red, and veins became to pop out. Please help me, any advice? I'm miserable, with wearing such heavy glasses for over a month now

RAAA
yes drives you crazy eh!!! I'm on brand # 3 today because they want to keep trying this new 'technology'...

give me back the old ones!!!! they have been fine for 8 years! geeze.

I was using Biomedics 55 for about 8 years. Never had a problem. I would wear them for 2-3 weeks before having to replace them. Suddenly doc changes me to night and day saying they are better for overnight usage. The itching is driving me nuts. I thought it was my allergies (being the height of the season). Mucus was forming quickly and I couldn't keep them in for more than 12 hours without wanting to scratch my eyes out.

So glad to find out there is an actual allergic reaction to contact lenses. I'll be calling my doc on Monday to get another Rx. Hopefully he'll give me Biomedics again!

I wore Acuvue and Acuvue 2 since they came out.

A doc switched me to Acuvue Oasys.
They did not work, mine kept popping out. She (Doc) was argumentative. I
requested Switch back to Acuvue 2.

This year A dif doc switched me to Acuvue Advanced. They were immediately uncomfortable, I experienced red eye, itching, headaches. I took them anyway. 2 mos later, I could Not stand it anymore. I Went back, Doc tried a "New" silicone lense (dif brand).
Right there I had a Severe reaction.
Doc said she had Never seen such an extreme reaction. Luckily for me she saw it with her own eyes. She switched me back to Acuvue 2. In the time it took me to walk to the parking lot, my eyes were clear, headache gone.

Why aren't the docs paying attention?
Why are they pushing the silicone lenses so hard?

About ten years ago I had to stop wearing contacts because I developed allergic reactions. My eye doctor diagnosed the allergy. I had even developed little balls under my eyelids as part of the reaction. Wearing the contacts was extremely uncomfortable. I did try two different brands with the same results. I also have dry eyes.

I was thinking of trying again-a different brand to see if there had been any breakthroughs but apparently not.

Wow! I cannot believe so many others experienced nearly identical symptoms that I just had in the last few months. I too had worn Acuvue 2 lenses for at least 6 years with no issues. My eyes had been healthy and never had any type of allergic reaction. Then 6 months ago I was switched to Acuvue Oasys. Within a couple months I noticed some irritation, and film that would build up on the lenses within days of opening a fresh pair. By the 5th month, the eye doctor diagnosed me with allergic conjunctivitis. He did not say whether it was the lenses or the environment. Within 2 weeks of using steroid and anti-histamine eyedrops, coupled with switching back to Acuvue 2 lenses, my eyes returned to normal! I believe I should be reimbursed the cost I spent on these lenses that caused problems in my eyes that I have never ever had. Thank goodness I have switched back.

I am so glad that I found this site. I am using CL for the past 6 years. When I went to the doctor last time for the eye dryness issue, he asked me to use BL Purevision. I was using BL Purevision for about a year when I started experiencing the same symptoms as mentioned in this page - redness(in one eye)and irritation(as if something is inside my eyes). I discontinued the lenses for about 5 months after this. When I started using the Purevision lenses again, I started having a different problem. My eyelids were becoming itchy and extremely irritating. I am using Patanol drops now. I am hoping that this allergy will go off.

Only now, I knew that the silicon hydrogel was causing all these issues. This was a bad experience for me for the past 8-9 months. Even now, when I tell my doc that these issues came because of the silicon hydrogel lenses, they dont seem to agree.

I will go back to non- silicone lenses once the allergy goes off. Do you know which lens will be better for dry eyes that is non-silicone?

Like many of the others have stated, I am so happy to find this site. I have worn contacts for 25 plus years, and I have been going crazy for the last month. I recently switched to the Oasys and for about 2 weeks everything was fine. Then I started having trouble with my left eye....swelling of lid, weepy eye, and itchy. I just thought that it was an allergy to something in the air (as I have sinus issues), and the eye doctor treated as such. I did the antibiotic treatment and wore my glasses for 2 weeks. Everything is fine, put in my NEW lenses, and 3 days later my left eye is watery, weepy, and itchy. Out come the contacts and on go the glasses AGAIN. After more eye drops, I put ANOTHER new pair in my eyes. This time, before the end of the day I am having the same problems in my left eye. I am calling the eye doctor tomorrow to talk about this....wish me luck!

This site saved me from losing my mind: I too had been put in Oasys and told they were the latest and greatest. After a couple of weeks my eyes began to be swollen, achy and itchy all the time. I had no idea what would be causing it and switched shampoos, stopped using perfume, even bought a new pillow. Finally found this site and switched back to Accuvue 2s. However, it's now two months later and I still have swollen, sometimes purplish bags under my eyes and look a good decade older than I used to. Does ANYONE know if this swelling will ever go down? I see where some people have developed astigmatism. Does that mean this is PERMANENT?? It looks AWFUL. I am really desperate, to the point of considering cosmetic surgery. Please, if you've had swelling around your eyes, let me know what your experience was.

I am so relief after I found this discussion forum. A few days ago, I just switched to Oasys. My eyes are having trouble to see clear even thought the powers are stronger. It's all blurry. And everytime I blink, it feel those lenses move a little bit. I am going nuts with these lenses. I want my Acuvue 2 back. They still make them right? I am so worried no optical stores will carry them anymore. The guy told me they always have to order them because they don't carry these anymore. No.... please ..I need my Acuvue 2!

I just started to wear the Oasis after years of accuvue use. My eyelids have blisters on them, itchy, red, etc, etc...I too thought must be allergies, sinus, something new I'm using but the only new thing are these Oasis lenses. She said to try them and I'm glad I found this site too. They're coming out right now and a pair of accuvues are going in. I hope I don't continue to have trouble!

Hope your suffering is subsiding! 15 year old son with ASTIGMATISM has horrible GPC and has to wear his glasses for one month. New Optometrist (due to insurance) changed his successful five year wearing Bausch and Lomb Toric66 CL to Acuvue Advance for Astigmatism lenses about two months ago and then his troubles started. Immediate discomfort, but Dr. said would take getting used to. Went through a new pair every few days. Finally took him back in to switch back to B & L brand and diagnosed with "weirder than normal" bumps under both upper eyelids. Went to real M.D. Opthomologist and has horrible case of GPC. Put on Lotemax drops and no contacts for a month. He said we should check out GAS PERMEABLE lenses now for astigmatism - much much improved from 20 years ago because I said "oh no, not hard lenses - no way". He said they are nothing like they used to be. Anyway, turns out my son's original B&L lenses made out of Alphafilcon A water content 66% compared to newly prescribed Accuvue Advanced Silicone Hydrogel Galyfilcon A water content 47%, so we are going to switch back to B&L and check out the new and improved gas permeables when the disgusting GPC bumps are gone.

Wow! I'm so surprised to find so many complaints about these Acuvue Oaysis contact lenses. The optometrist I visted today swore up and down that these Oaysis lenses were a lot better than the ones I had been using for years, fresh-look. I'm very sensitive to things, even different brands of contact solution, I can only use Opti-Free. I also mentioned to the doctor that I have had previous allergic reactions to a few other brands of lenses prior to settling on the Freshlook. These lenses are horrible! I'm going to pay this doctor a visit tomorrow to get a different trial pair!

I would like to thank all the posters here for solving an issue that has worsened over the last 4 months. I have been wearing Acuvue Oaysis lenses now for 12 or so months, those replacing the Acuvue 1-day lenses of which I have had no issues with (worn contacts for 25 years). The optometrist I have been with for 25 years and trust completely was not sure what was causing my dry eyes and inability of my left eye to wear a lenses for any length of time. I found this website and was stunned at what I had read, never dreaming I could be allergic to a contact lens. Yesterday I informed my optometrist of the possibility I could be allergic to the silicon based lenses and he rang me back today informing me that he believed that was the case and that he would move me back to Acuvue 1 day immediately (he spent a morning researching this himself). Thanks everyone for all your experiences and advice or rather, my eyes thank you!

I was happily using CIBA Vision's Night & Day lenses for years. Suddenly they changed the brand name (Air Optix), packaging and formula. The result of the changes was extremely red eyes, discharge and irritation for me within a day or two of wearing these "new and improved" lenses. What is different between the old Night & Day and the new Air Optix? They added blue tinting and Copolymer 845 to the solution to "improve comfort."

A also tried PureVision and Oasys, with Oasys giving me exactly the same problems as Air Optix. PureVision worked a bit better for me, but all these have blue tinting.

Since the original Night & Day lens I used for years was Silicone based, I'd suggest people look at some of the other additives these companies add to their product. These additives may be causing allergic reactions. In my case, I believe it is likely the Copolymer 845 since both the Air Optix and Oasys have the same slippery feel to them and both cause my eyes to react negatively.

I am also relieved to find this site. i have been wearing soft cntact lenses for 16yrs. Initially a brand i cant recall followed by acuvue then acuvue2 fir the last 4yrs. 3 months ago I started developing left eye redness and irritation with only mild right eye complaints. Diagnosed with GPC and started on steroid eye drops. Started back on acuvue2 lenses after 1 week and symptoms recurred after 1 week again. Steroid drops for 2 weeks and switched to Hydraclear lenses and within 5 days red eyes again. Have been only using lubricating eyedrops (systane) and intermittently trying Hydraclear lenses with recurring red eye after fewer and fewer days of wear. Now considering Lasik.

I just went to try on my first ever pair of contact lenses and I got them in my eye, and it instantly swelled up. I'm sitting here typing this with very very irritated eyes. I'm not sure what brand the lenses were but as soon as it touched my eyeball there was the most excruciating pain and my eyelid started to swell when I blinked, so the optician had to get them out pretty sharpish! I think it might have been the solution, actually... dunno, but I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one that has allergic reactions to the weirdest things.

I had a big problem with the Ciba Vision Air Optix Night and Day lenses containing copolymer 845.

I wore Ciba Vision Focus Night & Day contacts for 5 years and loved them. My doctor said these are now replaced with Ciba Vision Air Optix Night & Day Aqua - which they say are identical lenses with the addition of Copolymer 845 for "conditioning". I wore the lenses ok for the day, but woke up in the morning with severe irritation in one eye and a bunch of crusty yellow stuff in it. After another visit to the eye doctor (which they were happy to charge me for), they said I had an eye infection. I have NEVER had an eye infection before so I found that strange.

Anyway, the doctor said to discard the lenses, but they gave me another box which I had ordered and said to try again. I did, and got the same result. I would have passed this off as random or just me, but someone else in my office recently had the identical experience with the Air Optix Night & Day Aqua lenses. So I started doing research online.

There is a clinical trial going to investigate the effects of copolymer 845 (Co845) as conditioning packaging in contact lenses. You can see this at www.clinicaltrials.gov. The study number is NCT00931307. I think Ciba Vision may know there is a problem with these lenses.

Class action lawsuit anyone? I am upset I had to pay for additional eye exams, infections, antibiotics, etc. because of their faulty product!

I have this problem withAir Optix night and day. I have crusty eyes in the morning even after cleaning my lens with Clear Care and Saline solution as directed by my doctor. I am so grateful for your comments. Now I have to convince my doctor that these lens are not the best thing since slice bread.

Thanks Kyle for the pointer to the Ciba Vision AirOptix clinical trial. I found this line under their inclusion criteria particularly enlightening:

"Habitual NIGHT & DAY® lens wearers who have recently worn NIGHT & DAY® lenses for at least 3 months, and who have reported discomfort or vision problems with AIR OPTIX NIGHT & DAY® AQUA lenses. "


They indeed know Night & Day people are having problems. Given the sudden burst of Air Optix complaints that suddenly appeared on this "Acuvue" issues thread, I wonder if there should be a new thread to follow the AirOptix problems separately?

I am so relieved to find this post. I have been experiencing red, ichy, irritated, gooey eyes ever since my doc switched me to the acuvue oasis brand. I also tried proclear and they did the same thing. It has been a terrible experience. I was convienced that I was allergic to what ever these contacts were made of, without even knowing that they were a new silicone material. I am so happy to have a confirmation that I am correct.

I have been wearing contact lenses for 22 years (ciba vision focus day and night for the last 5 years)and have never had an eye infection until recently, when I started having really itchy eyes and cloudy vision. At the same time, ciba changed the packaging and the name of my usual contact lenses to Ciba Vision Air Optix Night & Day Aqua, but i never thought anything of it. I kept putting in a new lens but after 2 weeks i had to change it due to it being 'steamed up'. Since then i've had a really itchy bloodshot red eye. I've been back to the optician's today and she said i had white blood cells in my left eye that was fighting the infection, and that it was viral or an allergy, most probably to ciba changing the lens composition. I have to wear my glasses now whilst the infection clears up, and then they are going to try me on different extended wear lenses. I have no doubt from reading all these messages here that it is the fault of ciba

I was using CIBA Vision's Night & Day lenses, they were a dream come true - could wear all day for as long as I liked and didn't even feel like I had contacts in. Then I started getting red gritty eyes, irritation and finally a lump on my eyeball. Unfortunately I didn't realise the lenses had changed and blamed it on my eyes, my optician didn't realise either. So several months and 2 very sore eyes later a new optician said straight away that it was an allergic reaction and I found they had added Copolymer 845 to the solution...

Apparently Copolymers or heteropolymers have been underestimated for a long time as to their sensitizing capacities. Turns out this ingredient is in tons of stuff (Colgate Advanced toothpaste, cosmetics, deodorants and hair dye's). After my reaction to the lenses I noticed my deodorant started to burn/tingle and reading the ingredients found that copolymer was in there. Same too with my toothpaste. Personally I'm going to avoid this stuff from now on. I'm a very annoyed that Ciba have been able to change the product without proper notification to users (would have saved me from alot of pain). However if Ciba started making the lenses without the dye and the Copolymer I would definitely be willing to try them again. Honestly those lenses were amazing - it makes me cry with frustration that you can't get them anymore.

I am so very happy that I found this site! It has completely fixed all of the eye troubles I have been experiencing. I was switched the the Oasys brand about 1 1/2 years ago because of dry eyes. At first I thought they were great, but then trouble began. Every morning my eyes were completely swollen; one to the point of not opening for the first 10 minutes in the morning. My vision became extremely blurry and I started experiencing severe light sensitivity. I went to my regular doctor first. She put me on really expensive allergy eye drops (no help). I then went to an eye specialist. He thought it was an eye allergy also, but said it could be from my pillow case. That was not the culprite either. I then found this site. Everything from the day my symptoms started to having the same symptoms as other posters all of a sudden made sense. I switched back to my old brand of contacts this past weekend and this morning my eyes were not swollen or blurry at all. I think eye doctors should warn their patients about the possibility of this problem.

i have been wearing CIBA focus monthlys for years. I could wear that lens for 10+ hrs and i had never any problems. Never sufffered with dry eyes or never had to use re wetting eyedrops.My eye doc informed me they were discontinuing them to make room for the AIR OPTIX by ciba. I tried them and for 3 days suffered with grainy,bloodshot irritated eyes. was diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis.(which im informed now isnt the case). i have been using eye ointment due to that.

2nd vist to the eye doc they put me on the Acuvue Oasys. After 3 hrs of constantly putting re wetting drops in my eyes as they felt dry. Buy they end of my work day i couldnt even keep my eyes open. As soon as i took them out my eyes got SO irritated and blood shot they felt as if i had scratches with salt on them.

It has been 3 weeks of irritation and wearing my glasses off and on and i feel helpless, no one can figure out whats wrong. but its apparent its an allergy to the hydro-silicone lens. in which the contacts brands seem to be phasing the other material out for that kind.

I dont have many options left. I am waiting for my eyes to become less irritated and almost 100% before i try some Acuvue 2's. If those dont work she is going to have me try the boimedic55 and proclear.

i really hope i wont be stuck wearing glasses and that my eyes start feeling better!