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Keratitis and eye irritation after removing contacts

Ever pop out your contacts at the end of a long day, expecting glorious relief, only to find your eyes feel like they've gone 20 rounds with the sandman? Yep, it’s that unwelcome surprise of eye irritation after taking out contact lenses, and it’s more common than you think (cue dramatic music).  

Sometimes it’s just dryness that eases quickly. Other times, your eyes might be waving a red flag for something more serious — like keratitis. Either way, we’ll walk you through why your eyes might be kicking up a stink and what you can do to keep those peepers comfy and healthy. 

First, let's look at some common reasons your eyes might say ouch after you remove your lenses: 

  1. Dryness: Contacts can reduce tear flow and oxygen to the cornea, leading to dryness. Once you remove them, your eyes might remain parched until they rehydrate. It’s like stepping off a plane into a desert — your eyes are begging for some moisture. 

  1. Allergies or debris: Sometimes, tiny particles (dust, pollen, or random fluff — looking at you, shed cat hair) can sneak onto your contacts and irritate your eyes. When you remove the lenses, the irritation may linger. 

  1. Contact lens overwear: Logging more hours in your lenses than recommended? You’re not alone. But your corneas might retaliate with redness, soreness, or that “sand-in-your-eye” feeling. 

  1. Improper fit: If your contact lenses aren’t fitted precisely for your eyes, they can rub in all the wrong places and cause discomfort. (Think of it like wearing the wrong size shoes — blisters galore.) 

  1. Lens hygiene lapses: Not cleaning your lenses properly? Or maybe you’ve “topped off” solution instead of replacing it? Bacteria can throw an unwelcome party on your lenses, leading to eye irritation and even infection. 

  1. Micro-scratches: A torn lens or a rough edge can scratch the cornea. You might not notice it while you’re wearing your contacts, but once they’re out, ouch. 

  1. Possible infection (keratitis): When the pain doesn’t go away or gets worse, and you also see redness, discharge, or blurred vision, you could be looking at keratitis (a corneal inflammation) instead of simple dryness. 

In many cases, mild irritation stops after some blinking, artificial tears, or a quick rest. But, if your eyes still feel like they’re channeling major cactus energy, seek an eye pro at once.   

Why does it feel like something is in my eye after taking contacts out? 

Ever remove a contact lens and think, “Is it still in there somewhere?” or “Did an eyelash move into my eyeball without paying rent?” This nagging sensation can pop up for a few reasons: 

  • Lack of oxygen to the eyes: Overwearing contacts (or wearing the wrong type) can limit oxygen to your cornea, also known as hypoxia in the eye. When the cornea is starved of oxygen, it becomes more sensitive and inflamed. That inflamed cornea can trick your brain into feeling like something’s stuck in your eye. 

  • Tiny scratches or tears: Sometimes the lens itself has microscopic tears (looking at you, rogue fingernail) that create friction against your cornea. Even after you take the lens out, your cornea can stay irritated for a bit. 

  • Protein or debris buildup: If your lens cleaner isn’t doing its job — or if you’re slacking on your job of replacing your lenses on schedule — protein deposits and debris can hang around. The result? Irritated eyes that still feel gritty or ticklish after lens removal. 

  • Early infection signs: Conditions like acanthamoeba keratitis (rare and fancy-sounding, but serious) can cause a persistent something’s-in-my-eye feeling. If your symptoms don’t improve or worsen quickly, it’s time to see an eye care professional. 

  • Contact lens overwear syndrome: Overstaying your welcome in those lenses can cause dryness and micro-abrasions, which feel suspiciously like an eyelash or a bit of lint is lodged there. 

If this foreign body sensation goes away after a few blinks or some artificial tears, you’re probably dealing with a more reasonable foe, mild irritation. If it sticks around — especially alongside pain or redness — seek professional guidance. Remember, if your eyes are sending you repeated distress signals, it’s best to send in a rescue squad (AKA summon the eye pros). 

What is keratitis? 

Keratitis, acanthamoeba keratitis, and eye hypoxia may all sound like something you’d read in a medical spell book, but they’re not the same (and they don't grant you any magical powers, sadly).  

Acanthamoeba keratitis happens when a tiny amoeba treats your cornea like an Airbnb, and eye hypoxia is basically your eyeball gasping for oxygen. As for keratitis, don’t dismiss it as a mere case of dry eyes — it's inflammation of the cornea — the clear, front window of your eye that helps you focus on light. It can happen to anyone but is especially common in contact lens wearers.  

Types of keratitis include: 

  • Bacterial keratitis: Bacteria (like Pseudomonas) can invade the cornea if your lenses or lens case aren’t clean. 

  • Viral keratitis: Often related to certain viruses (like herpes simplex) that cause corneal inflammation. 

  • Fungal keratitis: Less common, but can occur if fungi get onto your lenses or into your lens case. 

  • Acanthamoeba keratitis: Caused by a cunning parasite found in water (think tap water, swimming pools, steam rooms, hot tubs, and maybe hot yoga depending on how hard you go).  

What causes keratitis? 

Keratitis can sneak up on you through multiple routes: 

  1. Contact overwear syndrome: Extended wear can lead to contacts oxygen deprivation, aka corneal hypoxia causes dryness and micro-injuries, letting germs in. 

  1. Poor lens hygiene: Failing to clean and store lenses properly (or using crusty old contact lens cases) can invite bacteria, fungi, or parasites. 

  1. Exposure to water: Swimming or showering with your lenses in or rinsing lenses with tap water. Good day to you, acanthamoeba keratitis risk. 

  1. Scratches or trauma: A tiny scratch on your cornea is an easy entry point for infection. 

  1. Contaminated solutions: If you top off your solution (mixing fresh with old) or keep using an open bottle for too long, bacteria can flourish. 

  1. Underlying eye conditions: Chronic dry eye, immune system issues, or allergies can make your cornea more vulnerable. 

Keratitis vs. contact overwear syndrome 

If you’re confused about the difference between full-blown keratitis and “I wore my contacts too long and now my eyes hate me,” you’re not alone. Contact overwear syndrome is when your cornea’s essentially starved of oxygen (hypoxia) or dried out because the lenses have been in too long.  

Keratitis, on the other hand, is inflammation (often from infection) of the cornea. Overwear can be the gateway to keratitis, but they’re not the same thing. Overwear syndrome can lead to small injuries on your cornea, and if bacteria or other microbes get into those tiny breaks, say hello to keratitis.  

What are contact lens overwear syndrome symptoms? 

Contact lens overwear syndrome symptoms are a whole bunch more annoying and painful than mild eye irritation. Keep an eye out (pun fully intended) for: 

  • Redness: Eyes redder than ladybugs.   

  • Dryness: That “when did my eyes go on vacation to the desert?” level dryness. 

  • Scratchy or gritty feeling: Feels like lint or dust is trapped under your lid. 

  • Sharp pain in eye after wearing contacts: Eye pain that can increase once you remove them. 

  • Light sensitivity: Normal lights suddenly feel like spotlights. 

  • Hurts to blink after taking contacts out: A sign your cornea is seriously irritated. 

What is the longest time you can wear contact lenses? 

Great question (and one that has saved many corneas from an oxygen-starved meltdown). It depends on your lens type: 

  • Daily disposables (clariti 1 day): You wear these lenses for a single day, then toss them. If zero lens cleaning and fresh lenses daily sounds like a dream, these might be your match. 

  • Extended-wear lenses (Precision 7): These lenses are approved for wear for up to 7 days, depending on professional advice.  

  • Monthly lenses (Biofinity): Typically, you'll replace these every 30 days.  

Even if your lenses are approved for long wear, listen to your eyes. If they’re screaming for a break after eight hours, whip them straight out.  

How do you treat overwear syndrome? 

So you’ve realized your contacts have overstayed their welcome (it happens). How do you treat overwear syndrome before it morphs into something worse? 

  1. Immediately remove the lenses. Seriously, step away from the lenses! Switch to glasses until your eyes feel normal again. 

  1. Seek help from an eye pro. They might use a slit-lamp microscope to check for scratches or early keratitis. 

  1. In moderate or severe cases, you may need antibiotic drops, steroids, antivirals, or other prescription meds to calm inflammation. 

  1. See if lubricating drops help with dryness and irritation. 

  1. Follow your lens replacement schedule. Stop wearing monthlies for three months. (We see you, procrastinators!) Also, never top off solution in your lens case — always replace it fully. 

And, without any worry about sounding like a broken record, we'll say it louder for the people at the back. If your eyes still hurt like crazy or you suspect an infection, don’t delay getting in touch with a pro. Overwear syndrome is fixable, but ignoring it can lead to bigger problems. 

Why does keratitis keep coming back? 

What if you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience keratitis more than once? Why does it keep returning like a pesky houseguest who doesn’t read social cues? 

  1. Incomplete treatment: Maybe you stopped using your prescribed drops early (no shade, we’ve all been there). If the infection wasn’t fully flushed, it can rebound. 

  1. Unchanged lens habits: If you’re right back to sleeping in non-overnight lenses or being hit-or-miss with cleaning routines, you’re inviting the infection to bounce right back in. 

  1. Contaminated lens case: A dirty or old lens case is pretty much a perfect petri dish for bacteria or fungus. If you don’t replace it or clean it properly, you risk reinfection. 

  1. Under-the-radar eye issues: Chronic dry eye or other conditions (like immune system disorders) can make you more prone to corneal inflammation. 

  1. Exposure to water: If you regularly swim, sauna, shower, or hot tub with lenses, you might be giving the fearsome acanthamoeba a chance to reappear. 

How to treat eye irritation from contact lenses 

Mild irritation often improves with common-sense steps (think of these as an eye spa day). But if you’re unsure or your symptoms are severe, definitely seek professional care. Here’s a handy summary: 

  1. Remove lenses immediately: No matter how mild the annoyance, let your eyes breathe. 

  1. Flush gently: Use sterile saline or preservative-free artificial tears to clear out any lingering debris. 

  1. Cool compress: If your eyes are red and swollen, a chilled compress over closed lids can bring relief (and feel like a mini spa treatment). 

  1. Lubricate: Keep eye hypoxia treated and hydrated with artificial tears. Bonus: blinking more frequently can also help re-moisturize them. 

  1. Check your lenses: Are they scratched, expired, or coated in deposits? If so, toss them or thoroughly clean them (if reusable). 

  1. Evaluate your lens routine: Are you wearing them too long? Using the right cleaning solution? Replacing them on time? 

  1. When to seek help: If the irritation worsens or you see signs of infection — like severe redness, discharge, blurriness, or pain — call an eye care professional ASAP. 

How to relieve eye pain from contacts 

Let’s face it: eye pain is no fun. If you’re dealing with sharp pain in eye after wearing contacts, or if it just hurts to blink after taking contacts out, here are your best strategies: 

  1. Identify the cause: Was it overwear syndrome? A possible infection? Figuring out the root cause is your first step to relief. 

  1. Remove and rest: We know, we know — repeating ourselves here. But removing the offending lenses is everything. Then, give your eyes a break for at least a day or two. 

  1. Clean or discard: If they’re disposables, toss them. If they’re monthlies, make sure you’re using a fresh pair. Always store them in fresh, untainted solution. 

  1. Use recommended drops: Use artificial tears for dryness. If an eye care professional prescribes medicated drops, follow the schedule exactly. 

  1. Try different lens types: Some eyes do better with daily disposables or high-oxygen transmission lenses (like certain silicone hydrogel brands). Or, if dryness plagues you, ask your eye care professional about moisture-rich lenses. 

  1. Adjust your wear schedule: Cutting back on daily hours or switching to glasses more often can make a big difference. Also, consider an online vision exam to verify your prescription is correct. 

  1. See a professional: If you suspect infection or if pain is severe, don’t wait it out.  

Basically, solving eye pain is about investigating the culprit (overwear, dryness, infection), removing it, and giving your eyes the support they need. The right lens routine, the correct brand (like Precision 7 or Biofinity), and consistent cleaning habits will go a long way toward pain-free contact lens wear. 

Show your eyes some love (and they’ll show it right back) 

Your eyes do you a huge favor by letting you see everything from adorable cat videos to your crush's gorgeous features — so the least you can do is treat them well. If you’ve noticed your eyes aren’t loving your contact lenses lately, remember: 

  • Pay attention to small irritations. They can be early signals of bigger problems (like the dreaded keratitis). 

  • Don’t be a rebel with replacement schedules. Daily means daily, monthly means monthly. Stick it to the man by keeping your eyes as healthy as possible! 

  • Practice proper hygiene. Clean hands, fresh solution, and a well-scrubbed lens case can save you from a world of trouble. 

  • Schedule regular checkups. Even if everything seems fine, an eye care professional can catch potential issues early — especially if you’re a frequent lens wearer. 

And if you ever need an easy way to restock your go-to lenses or experiment with a more comfortable brand, check out 1-800 Contacts.  

Your eyes are your window to the world — keep those glorious peepers clean, fresh, comfortable, and free of drama.  

Did you know you can order contacts online? 

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts! 

Original published date: 1/24/2020

Updated date: 3/24/25