Life with dry eyes can be frustrating, especially if you rely on contact lenses. The discomfort, redness, and constant need for eye drops can make wearing contacts feel like an uphill battle. But don’t worry—many contact lenses are specifically designed to keep your eyes hydrated and comfortable throughout the day.
Some of the best contacts for dry eyes are silicone hydrogel lenses, daily disposable lenses, & scleral lenses. Instead of cursing your contacts, visit your optometrist to discover which contact lens brands will get you seeing clearly again!
What Are Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when your tears evaporate too quickly. It’s like your eyes have forgotten to hydrate, leading to a range of frustrating symptoms, including:
- Stinging or burning sensation in the eyes
- Redness and irritation
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- A feeling of having something in your eye
- Eye fatigue, especially after prolonged tasks
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
While dry eyes can feel like they come out of nowhere, you can usually trace the cause to particular factors. Some of the causes of dry eye include:
- Aging: Tear production typically decreases with age, especially for individuals over 50.
- Environmental factors: Exposure to wind, smoke, and dry climates can increase tear evaporation.
- Screen time: We tend to blink less while using computers, smartphones, and other digital devices for long periods, which can exacerbate dry eyes.
- Medications: Certain medications, like antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants, can reduce tear production.
- Medical conditions: Diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome are often linked to dry eyes.
And, of course, dry eyes can make it challenging for contact lens wearers to find lenses that don’t irritate or dry out the eyes further.
Why Do Contact Lenses Worsen Dry Eyes?
If you want to know which contact lenses can help you find relief, it’s worth understanding why contacts make dry eyes worse, so that you know what to avoid.
One primary factor is that contact lenses can limit the amount of oxygen that reaches your eyes, making them feel dry and irritated. Poorly fitting lenses or extended wear can also increase friction, leading to inflammation and exacerbating dry eye symptoms.
Moreover, the lenses themselves can absorb moisture from your tears. While contacts need water to stay flexible, this also means that, if you already struggle with dryness, contact lenses can further deplete the already limited moisture your eyes have.
You may think the answer would be to have lenses with more water in them. However, in actuality, contacts with high water contact may make you more prone to dry eyes! Because these lenses are so good at soaking up moisture, they attract the proteins from the eye and become dehydrated themselves. While this may not be a problem for most people, for those suffering from dry eyes, it’s a bit like a sponge that has dried out, becoming stiff and uncomfortable.
Selecting the Right Contact Lenses
Choosing the right contact lenses for dry eyes can significantly improve your comfort and eye health. Not all lenses are created equal, and some materials and designs are better suited for individuals with dry eyes. Here are some features to look for:
Silicone Hydrogel Lenses
Silicone hydrogel lenses are a popular choice for dry eye sufferers. These lenses use the power of silicone to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches the eyes compared to traditional hydrogel lenses. Since more oxygen generally means more hydration, these lenses can be an excellent solution to dry eye woes. And they do all this without needing a high water content.
Additionally, silicone hydrogel lenses are a type of soft lens, which many people find more comfortable. All this comes together to help minimize irritation and enhance comfort throughout the day.
You can enjoy a range of silicon hydrogel contacts from popular brands, such as daily disposable lens by CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson, Alcon and more, available from your optometrist.
Sometimes the answer to a problem lies in changing up your routine, and contact lenses are no different. Contact lenses come in many different wear schedules, with daily disposables sitting on the shorter end. Instead of cleaning your lenses and storing them in a case overnight, you simply have to take your daily lenses out and toss them in the trash at the end of every day.
Not only do you simplify your nightly routine, but you also get to start each day with a fresh, clean pair of lenses. These new lenses should be free from protein build-up that can cause discomfort.
Most contact lens manufacturers have at least 1 brand of daily disposables, such as the Clariti 1 Day by CooperVision, Dailies Total1 by Alcon, or the Oasys 1-Day with Hydraluxe.
Experience the Exceptional at View Eye Care
At View Eye Care, we understand dry eyes can be a unique challenge—one that affects more than just your vision. It’s difficult to focus when that scratchy sensation is all you can think about. We can get your eye health back on track with personalized treatment plans and dedicated care.
So when dry eyes get you down, book your eye exam with us and get back to doing what you do best with the clear sight you deserve. The view’s great from up here, so don’t settle for less!
