While speaking to Times Of India, she said that the problem started on July 17 when she wore the lenses for an event. Soon after that, she began experiencing pain, which escalated, and she could not see anything.
While speaking to media, she said, "I was in Delhi for an event on July 17, for which I was getting ready. I don’t know what was wrong with my lenses, but after I wore them, my eyes started hurting, and the pain gradually got worse. I wanted to rush to a doctor, but since it was a work commitment, I decided to attend the event and then go to the doctor. I wore sunglasses at the event, and the team helped me manage things because, after a point, I couldn’t see anything."
Later at night, we went to an eye specialist, who told me that my corneas were damaged and bandaged my eyes. The following day, I rushed to Mumbai and continued my treatment here. I am experiencing a lot of pain. Doctors have told me that I should recover in the next four-five days, but till then, I need to take good care of my eyes. It's not easy because I can't see, and I am struggling to even sleep due to the pain. Fortunately, I didn't have to postpone any of my work. I hope to recover and get back to work in a few days," she further added.
Can wearing lenses affect your eyes?
There are many types of contact lenses — hard, soft, daily wear, and extended wear. Most of these are quite safe. However, sometimes it can affect your eyes, depending on how sensitive it is.
The most common concerns and conditions related to wearing contact lenses include:
- Eye irritation
- Swelling around the eye
- Blurry vision or sensitivity to light
- Conjunctivitis
- Corneal ulcers
- Infectious keratitis
Although minor irritation may go away on its own within a day or two, stop wearing your contacts and call an eye doctor if you have severe or persistent symptoms.
Sleeping while wearing contact lenses
It is important to note that the cornea is the transparent outer layer of the eye. It protects the eye and helps focus light on the back of the eye. This is what enables you to see clearly. While contacts rarely harm the cornea, sleeping in contacts can often lead to a corneal infection or even an ulcer more likely to happen.
As a part of a 2018 report, doctors described the stories of people with serious eye infections after wearing their soft contact lenses while sleeping.
- A man slept in his contact lenses during a hunting trip. Soon after, he developed a corneal infection with an ulcer.
- A woman who regularly slept in her contacts, used them for longer than recommended, and did not see an eye doctor for many years. After developing sharp pain in her right eye, she was diagnosed with infectious keratitis.
- A man who wore contact lenses for two straight weeks developed cornea infections in both eyes. Treatment for these problems included prolonged courses of antibiotics.
While serious problems like this are rare, it is important to take care of your eye and accordingly take all measures.