Reacting to Air Optix Aqua?

Anazak · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2008, 01:39 PM

Did you ever experience burning or itching when you put in your Air Optix Aquas, only to find that it was the solution was causing the discomfort, not the contacts?

agh · #2 (**permalink**) 12-14-2008, 10:39 PM

Yes. I had an allergic reaction to the mixture of Air Optix Aqua and Opti-Free solution. I stayed out of contacts for nearly a month after wards to recover and to wait for my new order to come in. They feel fine now, though.

They're wonderful lenses if correctly taken care of. I use a different solution now, of which I can't remember the name of.

Anazak · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agh

Yes. I had an allergic reaction to the mixture of Air Optix Aqua and Opti-Free solution. I stayed out of contacts for nearly a month after wards to recover and to wait for my new order to come in. They feel fine now, though.

They're wonderful lenses if correctly taken care of. I use a different solution now, of which I can't remember the name of.

It sounds like you've found a good match and you're in the process of living happily ever after. I'm glad.

Can you remember the name of the solution you use? I'm sure there are lots of people on Lens 101 that could benefit from your experience. Thanks for your help.

Havoc · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agh

Yes. I had an allergic reaction to the mixture of Air Optix Aqua and Opti-Free solution. I stayed out of contacts for nearly a month after wards to recover and to wait for my new order to come in. They feel fine now, though.

They're wonderful lenses if correctly taken care of. I use a different solution now, of which I can't remember the name of.

So what happened when you used the Opti-Free solution? What were your symptoms?
I would say that you reacted to that rather than the mixture of the lens plus the solution. You're either allergic to the material in the lenses or you're not.

rmfree · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 01:29 PM

I'd love to hear what the symptoms were too. I recently had my doctor switch me from 02 optix to air optix aqua and have had the worst time with them. For 3 months every time I put them in they feel weird but not terrible, I figured just had to soften up. Then a week later, my eyes turn bloodshot - I mean severely bloodshot, and they burn and water and are just painful. It took a week for them to clear up. I thought maybe it was because we had swim lessons and the chlorine was causing them to act up but it's continued to happen again and again. The doctor said there is no difference between the 02's and the Aqua's but it has to be something! I do have the opti-free solution right now but I've used that in the past and never had a reaction before.

KSCbase · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfree

I'd love to hear what the symptoms were too. I recently had my doctor switch me from 02 optix to air optix aqua and have had the worst time with them. For 3 months every time I put them in they feel weird but not terrible, I figured just had to soften up. Then a week later, my eyes turn bloodshot - I mean severely bloodshot, and they burn and water and are just painful. It took a week for them to clear up. I thought maybe it was because we had swim lessons and the chlorine was causing them to act up but it's continued to happen again and again. The doctor said there is no difference between the 02's and the Aqua's but it has to be something! I do have the opti-free solution right now but I've used that in the past and never had a reaction before.

I looked these up on Lens.com and was surprised to find that both Air Optix Aqua and O2 Optix are made of 67% lotrafilcon B and 33% water, so they're both made of the same material in the same percentage. Maybe one of them has a special additive to make it smoother or something.

Anazak · #7 (**permalink**) 08-04-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSCbase

I looked these up on Lens.com and was surprised to find that both Air Optix Aqua and O2 Optix are made of 67% lotrafilcon B and 33% water, so they're both made of the same material in the same percentage. Maybe one of them has a special additive to make it smoother or something.

Thanks for checking on that KSCBase. I wonder why those two lenses are sold under different names?

Case · #8 (**permalink**) 08-22-2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfree

I'd love to hear what the symptoms were too. I recently had my doctor switch me from 02 optix to air optix aqua and have had the worst time with them. For 3 months every time I put them in they feel weird but not terrible, I figured just had to soften up. Then a week later, my eyes turn bloodshot - I mean severely bloodshot, and they burn and water and are just painful. It took a week for them to clear up. I thought maybe it was because we had swim lessons and the chlorine was causing them to act up but it's continued to happen again and again. The doctor said there is no difference between the 02's and the Aqua's but it has to be something! I do have the opti-free solution right now but I've used that in the past and never had a reaction before.

I have been wearing the Air Optix for a month now (doctor switched me from Acuvue) I have had extreme redness, burning, painful eyes that water and discharge. I also had severe sensitivity to light. I went back to the eye doc and she gave me an eye drop with a steroid and an antibiotic thinking I had an infection. I used the drops for a week without wearing my contacts and my eyes cleared up. This past Saturday I put them in again and within hours my eyes were in the same shape being my right eye is the worst. I'm paying a visit to my eye doctor as soon as I get off work.

Scienceguy · #9 (**permalink**) 08-22-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Case

I have been wearing the Air Optix for a month now (doctor switched me from Acuvue) I have had extreme redness, burning, painful eyes that water and discharge. I also had severe sensitivity to light. I went back to the eye doc and she gave me an eye drop with a steroid and an antibiotic thinking I had an infection. I used the drops for a week without wearing my contacts and my eyes cleared up. This past Saturday I put them in again and within hours my eyes were in the same shape being my right eye is the worst. I'm paying a visit to my eye doctor as soon as I get off work.

Hi case. Sorry to read about your eye issues.
I have a dumb question for you, but it's a good place to start. When you put that latest pair of contact lenses in, were they brand new lenses right out of the box?

Case · #10 (**permalink**) 08-25-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scienceguy

Hi case. Sorry to read about your eye issues.
I have a dumb question for you, but it's a good place to start. When you put that latest pair of contact lenses in, were they brand new lenses right out of the box?

Yes, they were brand new.

321contacts · #11 (**permalink**) 08-25-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Case

Yes, they were brand new.

I'm glad Scienceguy asked, because I was kind of curious myself.

Let us know what your eye doctor says.

Case · #12 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 321contacts

I'm glad Scienceguy asked, because I was kind of curious myself.

Let us know what your eye doctor says.

Well, after being to the eye doctor 3 times in two weeks and after reading some of your posts I told her about it. She gave me Zylet to use and then gave me a pair of Acuvue (what I used to wear) and told me to try that after my eyes felt better. I am afraid after dealing with this for a month nonstop--the vision in my right eye has been compromised! It is clearly blurry and still burns and very sensitive to light. Im so hoping that after I finish these meds my eye clears up. I am so glad I ran across this site!

Case · #13 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfree

I'd love to hear what the symptoms were too. I recently had my doctor switch me from 02 optix to air optix aqua and have had the worst time with them. For 3 months every time I put them in they feel weird but not terrible, I figured just had to soften up. Then a week later, my eyes turn bloodshot - I mean severely bloodshot, and they burn and water and are just painful. It took a week for them to clear up. I thought maybe it was because we had swim lessons and the chlorine was causing them to act up but it's continued to happen again and again. The doctor said there is no difference between the 02's and the Aqua's but it has to be something! I do have the opti-free solution right now but I've used that in the past and never had a reaction before.

It was reading your post that made me bring this to my eye doctor's attention. I had the exact same symptoms as you! Except mine would happen the same day I put them in. I have went through 6 months worth of these contacts in a month due to me thinking I had an eye infection so I just threw them away. I am now on eye antibiotics and steroids and when this heals I am going back to Acuvue's. My right eye's vision is messed up--I just pray it gets back to normal. Thank You!

Rosetyler · #14 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Case

It was reading your post that made me bring this to my eye doctor's attention. I had the exact same symptoms as you! Except mine would happen the same day I put them in. I have went through 6 months worth of these contacts in a month due to me thinking I had an eye infection so I just threw them away. I am now on eye antibiotics and steroids and when this heals I am going back to Acuvue's. My right eye's vision is messed up--I just pray it gets back to normal. Thank You!

Please keep us posted on how you're doing, and I hope you feel better soon.

Anazak · #15 (**permalink**) 08-26-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfree

The doctor said there is no difference between the 02's and the Aqua's but it has to be something!

When my Mom wanted me try try some new food, she would often say "It tastes just like . . ." and then she'd name some similar food that I liked. I usually could tell the difference.
When someone here says that lens A is the same as lens B, I go to Lens.com and check it out. Here's what I found:

Air Optix Aqua
67% Polymer (lotrafilcon B)
33% H2O

O2 Optix
67% Polymer (lotrafilcon B)
33% H2O

Check it out for yourself if you think I just copied once and pasted twice. I'm not an eye doctor, and I don't understand how you can take two lenses that are made of the same material in the same percentage and say they're different. Can someone explain that to me and rmfree, please?

Case · #16 (**permalink**) 09-02-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosetyler

Please keep us posted on how you're doing, and I hope you feel better soon.

I have been wearing Acuvue's now for about 4 days without any issues. I still have some vision problems with my right eye though. I guess it will be back to the eye doc to see if my vision has been altered but I am so thankful the other issue's are gone.

Wookiee74 · #17 (**permalink**) 09-02-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anazak

When my Mom wanted me try try some new food, she would often say "It tastes just like . . ." and then she'd name some similar food that I liked. I usually could tell the difference.
When someone here says that lens A is the same as lens B, I go to Lens.com and check it out. Here's what I found:

Air Optix Aqua
67% Polymer (lotrafilcon B)
33% H2O

O2 Optix
67% Polymer (lotrafilcon B)
33% H2O

Wow. I guess rmfree's doctor was right.

CzecheredPast · #18 (**permalink**) 09-25-2011, 01:11 PM

I found this board today when googling Air-optix allergic reactions. I'm having the same problem! Just began wearing them over the weekend. My eyes now itch, are tearing up, bloodshot, and gunky by end of day.

I'm taking them out early, which sucks because my glasses are not ready yet and without I'm legally blind.

Hypnoteyes · #19 (**permalink**) 09-26-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzecheredPast

I found this board today when googling Air-optix allergic reactions. I'm having the same problem! Just began wearing them over the weekend. My eyes now itch, are tearing up, bloodshot, and gunky by end of day.

I'm taking them out early, which sucks because my glasses are not ready yet and without I'm legally blind.

Did you find anything useful that you might want to try here, CzecheredPast?

321contacts · #20 (**permalink**) 09-28-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzecheredPast

I found this board today when googling Air-optix allergic reactions.

How do you like it here so far?

Anazak · #21 (**permalink**) 10-05-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzecheredPast

I found this board today when googling Air-optix allergic reactions. I'm having the same problem! Just began wearing them over the weekend. My eyes now itch, are tearing up, bloodshot, and gunky by end of day.

I'm taking them out early, which sucks because my glasses are not ready yet and without I'm legally blind.

I'm glad you found us, but I'm sorry you're having problems. Let us know if you find out anything helpful.

321contacts · #22 (**permalink**) 10-14-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anazak

It sounds like you've found a good match and you're in the process of living happily ever after. I'm glad.

Can you remember the name of the solution you use? I'm sure there are lots of people on Lens 101 that could benefit from your experience. Thanks for your help.

We still don't know what solution agh uses so successfully.

321contacts · #23 (**permalink**) 10-14-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Case

I have been wearing Acuvue's now for about 4 days without any issues. I still have some vision problems with my right eye though. I guess it will be back to the eye doc to see if my vision has been altered but I am so thankful the other issue's are gone.

It's been a littler over a month since this report. Are you still without issues?

CzecheredPast · #24 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 01:43 PM

I'm still wearing them and hate them. They sting and burn. I'm wearing my glasses when at home where no one can see me. LOL

Seriously though, if I cannot find a solution, next yr I may see if I'm a candidate for eye surgery. But that's a last resort.

Tonythetiger · #25 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzecheredPast

I found this board today when googling Air-optix allergic reactions. I'm having the same problem! Just began wearing them over the weekend. My eyes now itch, are tearing up, bloodshot, and gunky by end of day.

I'm taking them out early, which sucks because my glasses are not ready yet and without I'm legally blind.

Are you really legally blind without your glasses or contacts, are is your vision just really bad? I found this definition at disabled-world.com:

In North America and most of Europe, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity (vision) of 20/200 (6/60) or less in the better eye with best correction possible. This means that a legally blind individual would have to stand 20 feet (6 m) from an object to see it with the same degree of clarity as a normally sighted person could from 200 feet (60 m).

Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/legally-blind.shtml#ixzz1bA5jMhce

I didn't know that legal blindness is measured with "the best correction possible." So a person who is truly legally blind still can't see very well even with glasses. Wow. I need to be careful about how I use that expression.

CzecheredPast · #26 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 02:21 PM

WITHOUT corrective contacts or glasses I'm considered Legally blind, for some reason my vision seems to be getting worse. The doctor said she would have to give me another type test if I wanted to know the exact measurement, but that I am at least 20/400. I drive better with contacts than glasses because of the peripheral vision. If I want to read with my contacts in I need reading glasses as well. Which is a new thing for me. My glasses are a high index lens so I will not look like I'm wearing coke bottles.

Going without contacts or glasses is not an option.

Sox05 · #27 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzecheredPast

WITHOUT corrective contacts or glasses I'm considered Legally blind, for some reason my vision seems to be getting worse. The doctor said she would have to give me another type test if I wanted to know the exact measurement, but that I am at least 20/400. I drive better with contacts than glasses because of the peripheral vision. If I want to read with my contacts in I need reading glasses as well. Which is a new thing for me. My glasses are a high index lens so I will not look like I'm wearing coke bottles.

Going without contacts or glasses is not an option.

Thanks for clarifying the your level of vision, CzecheredPast. So now you've stinging, burning eyes to deal with do you? So either you can't see or your eyes hurt?

CzecheredPast · #28 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sox05

Thanks for clarifying the your level of vision, CzecheredPast. So now you've stinging, burning eyes to deal with do you? So either you can't see or your eyes hurt?

Yeah, which sucks. But I decided to see a specialist to make sure there is not something else going on that is making my vision worse.

I also ordered my old colorsoft lenses, will see if they sting my eyes. I still feel that I'm allergic to the air-optix.

Sox05 · #29 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CzecheredPast

Yeah, which sucks. But I decided to see a specialist to make sure there is not something else going on that is making my vision worse.

I also ordered my old colorsoft lenses, will see if they sting my eyes. I still feel that I'm allergic to the air-optix.

Please let us know how that goes, okay?

321contacts · #30 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 321contacts

It's been a littler over a month since this report. Are you still without issues?

We're still without an answer from Case.

taniarox · #31 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Hi All,

I was switched from the O2 to Air Optix because there was talk of the O2's being phased out. I noticed that the Air Optix stung a little, but just figured it was because they were new. I lasted 2 weeks on the Air Optix. After 8 hours my eyes would be dry and blood shot. I couldn't take it anymore. Went back to the O2's and no problems at all. I know they are basically the same but the Air Optix have an additional component that my eyes hated!

taniarox · #32 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfree

I'd love to hear what the symptoms were too. I recently had my doctor switch me from 02 optix to air optix aqua and have had the worst time with them. For 3 months every time I put them in they feel weird but not terrible, I figured just had to soften up. Then a week later, my eyes turn bloodshot - I mean severely bloodshot, and they burn and water and are just painful. It took a week for them to clear up. I thought maybe it was because we had swim lessons and the chlorine was causing them to act up but it's continued to happen again and again. The doctor said there is no difference between the 02's and the Aqua's but it has to be something! I do have the opti-free solution right now but I've used that in the past and never had a reaction before.

Hi All,

I was switched from the O2 to Air Optix because there was talk of the O2's being phased out. I noticed that the Air Optix stung a little, but just figured it was because they were new. I lasted 2 weeks on the Air Optix. After 8 hours my eyes would be dry and blood shot. I couldn't take it anymore. Went back to the O2's and no problems at all. I know they are basically the same but the Air Optix have an additional component that my eyes hated!

Jesterhester · #33 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taniarox

Hi All,

I was switched from the O2 to Air Optix because there was talk of the O2's being phased out. I noticed that the Air Optix stung a little, but just figured it was because they were new. I lasted 2 weeks on the Air Optix. After 8 hours my eyes would be dry and blood shot. I couldn't take it anymore. Went back to the O2's and no problems at all. I know they are basically the same but the Air Optix have an additional component that my eyes hated!

I compared those two contact lenses and both are made of 67% lotrafilcon B and 33% water. However, since CIBA Vision gave them different names I would assume that there's something that distinguished them from each other.

If a contact lens brand is going to be phased out Lens.com usually make a note if it in red on their website, but I don't see anything about O2 Optix lenses being discontinued. Does anyone have any more information about this?

Taniarox, will your eye doctor still give you a prescription for O2 Optix?

taniarox · #34 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesterhester

I compared those two contact lenses and both are made of 67% lotrafilcon B and 33% water. However, since CIBA Vision gave them different names I would assume that there's something that distinguished them from each other.

If a contact lens brand is going to be phased out Lens.com usually make a note if it in red on their website, but I don't see anything about O2 Optix lenses being discontinued. Does anyone have any more information about this?

Taniarox, will your eye doctor still give you a prescription for O2 Optix?

Yes she changed it back to the O2's. Thank god! It's like night and day for me the difference. She said that the Air Optix were meant to be a replacement of the O2's but nothing official yet. She also said that the solution that they are packaged in is different than the O2's. There is also something extra in them (can't remember specifically what she said) meant to make them more comfortable. Whatever it is, I'm definitely allergic.

Also, I used Opti-Free and switched to BioTrue thinking maybe it was the solution. Neither made a difference with the Air Optix - they still stung and made my eyes red. I've used both with the O2's and no problems.

ruththomas · #35 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taniarox

Yes she changed it back to the O2's. Thank god! It's like night and day for me the difference. She said that the Air Optix were meant to be a replacement of the O2's but nothing official yet. She also said that the solution that they are packaged in is different than the O2's. There is also something extra in them (can't remember specifically what she said) meant to make them more comfortable. Whatever it is, I'm definitely allergic.

So much for that "extra ingredient" making the contact lenses more comfortable.