A burning sensation from colored contacts means stop, remove the lens, and figure out what is wrong before putting anything back in your eye.
Burning is not the same as mild awareness. It is a specific sensation that signals your cornea is irritated. Here are the five most common causes and how to fix each one.
1. The Lens Is Inside Out
An inside-out lens does not sit flush against your cornea. The edges lift slightly, creating friction every time you blink. The sensation starts as mild awareness and escalates to burning within minutes. Remove the lens, place it on your fingertip, and check the shape. If the edges curve up like a bowl, the lens is oriented correctly. If they flare out like a saucer, flip it and reinsert. This is the most common cause of burning on insertion and the easiest to fix.
2. Residue on the Lens
Soap residue from washing your hands, lotion from moisturizer, or traces of old solution on the lens surface can cause a burning sensation the moment the lens touches your eye. Rinse the lens thoroughly with fresh multi-purpose solution before insertion. Dry your hands with a lint-free towel or paper towel after washing. Fabric softener residue from bathroom towels can transfer to your fingers and then to the lens.
3. Expired or Contaminated Solution
Solution that has been open longer than three months loses its pH balance and disinfecting effectiveness. The preservatives degrade and the solution can irritate your eye on contact. If your lenses burned this morning and you cannot remember when you bought your current bottle of solution, replace it. A new bottle costs a few dollars and fixes this problem immediately.
4. Corneal Abrasion (Micro-Scratch)
If you removed a stuck lens roughly, trimmed your fingernails the day before, or wore lenses longer than recommended, you may have created a tiny scratch on your cornea. The scratch itself is too small to feel. The lens sitting on top of it acts like a magnifying glass over the wound and causes burning on every blink. If burning persists after removing the lens and stays for more than an hour, see an eye doctor. Do not reinsert lenses until the eye has healed.
5. Allergy or Environment
Seasonal pollen, air conditioning blowing directly on your face, or new makeup applied too close to the lash line can all cause burning in conjunction with contact lenses. Identify the trigger by process of elimination. If burning started the same week you switched to a new mascara, stop using the mascara for a few days and see if the burning stops. Read about contacts and allergies here.
When in doubt, remove the lens, give your eye a break, and call your eye doctor if the burning does not stop within an hour. Browse comfortable colored contacts.