Patient Spotlight: Deborah Tetreault & Dr. Mac Scothorn
Wearing contact lenses might not seem like a very big deal. So many people wear contact lenses, so what could be the harm?
As many optometrists and ophthalmologists know, contact lenses are actually more serious than many people realize. That’s because, when worn improperly or not taken care of, a person’s eyes can suffer from complications due to their contact lenses. With approximately 85 million people in the world wearing contact lenses, it’s crucial to make sure that people are taking good care of their eyes to prevent serious eye problems.
Contact lenses and corneal ulcers
One person who has experienced problems because of her contact lenses is Deborah Tetreault. Deborah, a fifth-grade teacher in Roanoke, Virginia, has come to see Dr. Donald “Mac” Scothorn in pain due to corneal ulcers caused by her contact lenses.
“It’s very painful to have corneal ulcers,” says Deborah, “and it even affects your vision, depending on where the defect is.”
Corneal ulcers are open wounds on the surface of your eye. They cause symptoms such as feeling like something is in your eye, eye inflammation, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.
“My eyes were watering, bright red, and very sore,” explains Deborah, “so I was relieved when Dr. Scothorn said he could help.”
Dr. Scothorn prescribed Deborah eye drops and oral medication to treat the infection.
Asking for help
Thankfully, Deborah knew who to call when she started having eye pain. “I can’t imagine not having an eye doctor to go to for help,” says Deborah. Many others have postponed getting treatment for corneal ulcers, which can result in blindness.
“It is embarrassing because if you have corneal ulcers from contact lenses, you’ve probably worn them for too long or fell asleep in them,” says Deborah. “So in a sense, it’s your fault and that can be hard to admit. But it’s much better than avoiding treatment and dealing with even more serious consequences.”
Even though Deborah got treated quickly by Vistar, she still has some scarring on her cornea that will never go away. But now she takes special care of her eyes and contact lenses, making sure to not fall asleep with them in. “It has really helped to use daily lenses that I can just toss out at the end of each day,” Deborah says.
Vistar is here to help
If you wear contacts, be sure to be in touch with your eye doctor and follow the directions when it comes to contact lens care. “I’ve been through all of this, and I hope that other people don’t have to go through it,” says Deborah.
If you feel like you or your child could use some extra help with contact lens care, reach out to us. We’re happy to go over the entire process to make sure that you can continue wearing contact lenses while keeping your eyes healthy.