Maricar Reyes Nearly Loses Sight After Wearing Expired Contact Lenses

Actress Maricar Reyes recently shared a harrowing experience with wearing expired contact lenses that led to an emergency room visit and nearly resulted in permanent eye damage. She detailed the ordeal in a TikTok video, emphasizing the importance of responsible contact lens use.

A few months ago, Reyes wore expired colored contact lenses for around 12 hours. Initially, she felt a slight discomfort but dismissed it as normal. However, the pain escalated to an unbearable level, and she was rushed to the hospital.

“For the next three days, halos hindi ko madilat 'yung mga mata ko sa sobrang sakit at maga,” Reyes recounted. It was then that she was diagnosed with corneal abrasions—large scratches on the cornea, the part of the eye where contact lenses rest.

Reyes admitted that she had become complacent over the years, often wearing contact lenses beyond the recommended eight-hour limit and sometimes using expired ones. “Sa tagal-tagal kong nagcocontact lens na sinusuot ko mga 12, 15 hours sa taping tas minsan expired pa bakit ngayon lang nangyari 'to,” she said.

Her ophthalmologist explained that contact lenses are not one-size-fits-all and can restrict oxygen flow to the cornea if not properly fitted. This can lead to complications or damage over time. “Para makahinga nang maayos ang cornea, dapat maganda ang fit at material nung contact lens,” Reyes added.

Fortunately, her corneal abrasions healed after seven days, but she acknowledged how lucky she was. “Sabi ng ophthalmologist ko, napakasuwerte ko daw dahil sa laki ng mga sugat ko sa mata, puwede akong magkaroon ng mga peklat or mga puti-puti sa paningin ko, habang buhay.”

Reyes urged her followers to be cautious with contact lens use and to seek advice from an ophthalmologist. “Huwag mong paabutin sa level ko na bigla ka na lang magigising na may sugat ka na sa mata at kailangan mong tumakbo sa ER dahil sa sobrang sakit,” she advised.

Reyes’ story serves as a reminder of the potential risks of improper contact lens use and the importance of regular eye care.