Many people experience contact lens discomfort, whether they’re new to lenses or have been using them for a long time. This is because lenses affect how tears cover your eyes and can interfere with lubrication.
It is possible to manage contact lens use to lower the risk of dry eye. Speaking with a doctor about prescription dry eye treatments may also be beneficial.
How can contacts cause dry eyes?
Contact lenses can interfere with tear production, which is essential to keeping your eye moist. When you blink, a layer of tear film coats the eye. These tears, called basal tears, protect the eye from dirt and debris.
Blinking causes the contact lens to move along the eye’s conjunctiva, a membrane that covers the whites of the eyes and the inner eyelids. The friction from this movement causes changes in the membrane and is associated with dry eye. That’s because the conjunctiva is essential to create tear film.
There’s also a link between dry eye and how you wear your contacts. You are at a higher risk for dry eye if you wear them longer than 4 hours at a time.
Tear production decreases during menopause or pregnancy due to hormonal changes, which can contribute to dry eye.
Other conditions, like allergies, that cause dry eye can also worsen the effects of dry eye from contact lens use.
What can help manage dry eyes from contacts?
There are several ways you can help manage dry eye due to contact lenses. These include:
- Using lubricating drops: Eye drops can help reduce friction while you wear contacts. Look for preservative-free drops specially made for contact lenses.
- Considering different lens materials: Certain daily disposable contact lenses maintain more water in the core and the outside of the contact lens. An optometrist might be able to recommend a lens that stays wetter longer.
- Wearing lenses for less time: Where possible, it can be helpful to switch from contacts to eyeglasses after a few hours of wear.
- Changing lenses frequently: A daily disposable contact lens might help with dry eye. An optometrist might recommend a new type of contact that you can change often instead of wearing for weeks or months.
- Following proper lens care: It’s important to read and follow lens care instructions from the manufacturer and optometrist. This can involve cleaning and disinfecting your lenses after every use and properly cleaning your storage case if you are using monthly lenses.
- Blinking frequently: Blinking is fundamental to tear production. Remember to blink regularly, especially when you are looking at screens for long periods.
- Drinking plenty of water: Better overall hydration might also help ease dry eye.
Treatment options for dry eyes
Various treatment options are available for dry eyes. These treatments might not always be appropriate for contact lenses, so it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, about whether you should keep wearing them.
Common treatment options include:
- Lifestyle changes: Protect your eyes from environmental hazards like wind with wraparound glasses, avoid cigarette smoke, and use a humidifier or air filter to remove irritants.
- Nutrition: Fish oils and omega-3 fatty acid supplements might help increase eye hydration.
- Punctal plugs: A doctor places these in your tear ducts to stop tears from draining out of your eye.
- Medications: Certain medications help treat dry eye. These include:
- cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis)
- cyclosporine ophthalmic solution (Cequa)
- lifitegrast ophthalmic solution (Xiidra)
Before you place any drop in your eye or use any dry eye device, it’s important to remove your contact lenses or confirm with an optometrist or ophthalmologist that you can use both.
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