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A US study has revealed that half of allergy sufferers switch from contact lenses to spectacles when their allergies act up.

The recent survey undertaken by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) also found that people with allergies who suffered symptoms such as itchy, dry, red and watery eyes reported that they wore their contact lenses less often (45 per cent).

Commenting on the findings, AAFA's director of external affairs, Mike Tringale, said: 'Having to stop wearing contacts or wearing them less frequently creates a wide range of emotions among allergy suffers. Contact lens wearers say they feel less attractive when wearing their glasses (37 per cent), unhappy (35 per cent), less confident without their contacts (29 per cent), and less able to perform activities as well as when they are wearing their contacts (26 per cent).'

Study findings also revealed that two out of three respondents reported that they found it uncomfortable to wear their contact lenses while suffering from allergies.

More than 800 people took part in the survey which was carried out by the AAFA and backed by 1-Day Acuvue Moist. One-third identified themselves as contact lens wearers, while 12 per cent said they had stopped wearing contact lenses because of allergies.

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