Many people wear lenses due to poor vision, right? Even those with perfect vision often wear lenses for cosmetic purposes. However, the long-term use of lenses or improper use can lead to the formation of new blood vessels in the cornea, a side effect that could occur. What you might have thought was simply redness could be something else. We looked closer at corneal neovascularization, a disease with a somewhat unfamiliar name.
Do you know about corneal neovascularization?
Corneal neovascularization is an abnormal blood vessel that forms in the cornea, which is located on the outside of the eyeball. There are originally no blood vessels in the cornea. However, suppose you excessively use or cover your eyes with lenses for a long period of time. In that case, a lack of oxygen can occur in the cornea, causing it to form abnormal blood vessels to supply oxygen. This is corneal neovascularization. This condition is common enough to occur in four out of every ten lens wearers.
Symptoms of corneal neovascularization
Corneal neovascularization initially forms at the edge of the cornea and spreads to the center if left untreated. This can cause a decrease in vision and in the worst cases, lead to blindness. The new blood vessels that form are weaker than normal vessels, leading to frequent bleeding and discharge. These can blur the cornea, causing objects to appear distorted or hazy. Inflammation also occurs frequently.
Once it forms, it does not disappear
Once formed, new blood vessels do not disappear. Steroidal drugs can temporarily alleviate symptoms, but it is difficult to completely cure the condition with injections, lasers, or surgery. Therefore, the most important thing is to prevent the vessels from forming in the first place. If they have already formed, it is crucial to manage them so they do not get worse.
Managing to prevent worsening
If corneal neovascularization has already formed, the best course of action is to manage it to prevent it from worsening. If you must wear lenses, it is recommended to wear hard lenses with high oxygen permeability. If your eyes are red or tired, it’s good to give them a rest, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, it’s important to get an eye exam to maintain eye health regularly.
If you must wear lenses
If you absolutely must wear lenses, it’s most important to prevent the side effects of lenses. When wearing lenses, avoid wearing them for long periods and aim to wear them for about 4 to 6 hours a day. Many people sleep with their lenses on because they don’t feel uncomfortable after wearing them all day, but this is a very dangerous behavior. Lenses should be thoroughly cleaned with a dedicated cleaning solution.
Cosmetic lenses are more dangerous
Cosmetic lenses like circle lenses or color lenses have a higher risk of developing corneal neovascularization than regular lenses. Cosmetic lenses have a lower oxygen permeability than regular lenses due to the dye on the lens surface, which inhibits oxygen supply to the cornea and causes the side effect of new blood vessel formation. In severe cases, it can lead to blindness.
Why corneal neovascularization is dangerous
The occurrence of corneal neovascularization can worsen dry eye syndrome. Once corneal neovascularization occurs, it is hard to disappear and if it reaches the black pupil, it can lead to vision loss and in severe cases, blindness. If you see blood vessels appearing like red lines in the white of your eye, you should stop wearing lenses and it is advisable to visit an ophthalmologist.
When corneal neovascularization occurs
Treatment methods
Once new blood vessels form, they do not disappear and cannot be treated. Steroidal drugs can temporarily alleviate symptoms, but it is difficult to completely cure the condition with injections, laser treatments, or surgery. Even corneal transplantation, which is a last resort, is almost impossible because immune cells that cause rejection reactions follow the new blood vessels into the cornea when new body tissue is transplanted.
Not all blood vessels that form in the cornea are new
Corneal neovascularization refers to blood vessels growing from the sclera (white of the eye) into the cornea (black pupil), where there should be no blood vessels. As mentioned earlier, it can occur with lens wear but also independently. On the other hand, blood vessels appearing on the conjunctiva (on the white of the eye) are not called new blood vessels. If you suspect corneal neovascularization, it is recommended that you visit a hospital and receive treatment.
It can also occur due to diabetes
Diabetes causes microvascular circulatory disorders. When blood and nutrients are not properly supplied due to this, our eyes create new blood vessels. The formation of new blood vessels can increase intraocular pressure and lead to glaucoma, which is called neovascular glaucoma. Neovascular glaucoma can be difficult to detect in the early stages, so it’s important to manage diabetes from the beginning thoroughly and regularly check for new blood vessels through eye exams.
By. Shin Young Jeon
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