Key Takeaways
- Dry eyes and contacts can work together with the right lens type and care.
- Daily disposables and low water content lenses help hold moisture against your eye.
- Simple habits like hydration, eye drops, and screen breaks keep your eyes comfortable.
- Scleral lenses can be an option when dryness feels stronger.
- A yearly exam helps the doctor check your tear film and fit your lenses well.
The Right Contact Lenses Work with Dry Eyes
Your eyes feel scratchy by mid-afternoon, your contacts start to feel like sandpaper, and you find yourself blinking just to see your screen clearly. If that sounds familiar, you might wonder if contacts are still an option for you.
Yes, you can wear contacts with dry eyes, as long as you choose the right lenses and build a few easy habits into your routine. The trick is matching your lenses to your eyes and keeping moisture on your side, as contact lenses can contribute to dry eyes.
Our team at Calgary Family Eye Doctors is here to help you find a path to relief.
What Dry Eye Means for Contact Lens Wearers
Your eyes rely on a thin layer of tears called the tear film in order to stay moist and comfortable. When your eyes don’t make enough tears, or if those tears evaporate too quickly, your eyes can become dry and irritated.
Dry eye has many contributing factors, from screen time to age. This also includes contact lenses, which can rub against your eye and absorb moisture, making dry eye worse. However, some specialty contacts are designed to minimize discomfort and maintain comfortable vision even for people prone to dry eye.
Signs Your Eyes Feel Dry
Common symptoms of dry eye include:
- Itching, stinging, and/or burning
- A gritty or scratchy feeling, like something is stuck in your eye
- Redness
- Watery eyes
Why Contacts Can Make Eyes Feel Dry
Lenses cover your cornea, the clear front of your eye. This can reduce how much oxygen reaches the surface of your eyes, leaving them tired and dry by the end of the day. Wearing contacts for too long can add to this strain.
Soft contact lenses can also soak up moisture from your tear film to stay flexible. The drier your eyes already are, the more you tend to notice this effect.
A lens that doesn’t fit well can also rub or move too much, and that can lead to irritation.
How to Find Comfortable Contacts for Dry Eyes
Many modern contact options work well for dry eyes. For instance, low water content lenses hold their own moisture instead of pulling it from your eyes, thereby reducing dryness. Daily disposables, on the other hand, offer a fresh lens every morning, which prevents the buildup of protein and other debris.
Contact lens fit matters just as much as the material. Your eye doctor can measure your eyes and match you with a lens that sits comfortably and moves the right amount.
When Scleral Lenses Help
Scleral lenses are larger and vault over your cornea, which creates a small pocket of fluid against the surface of your eye. They can be a good option for more severe cases of dry eye or if regular lenses don’t seem to work.
Daily Habits to Keep Eyes Moist
A few small habits can help keep your eyes comfortable:
- Use contact-safe lubricating eye drops to refresh your eyes during the day.
- Drink water throughout the day and run a humidifier in dry rooms, since dehydration can worsen dry eyes.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Smart Contact Lens Hygiene
Clean lenses keep your eyes healthier and more comfortable, so it’s important to wash and dry your hands before you touch your contacts. Replace your solution and your case on a regular schedule, and never top off old solution. It’s also important to avoid sleeping in your contacts unless your eye doctor advises otherwise.
When to See Family Eye Doctors in Calgary
Regular eye exams keep your prescription current and your eyes healthy. Our team can check your tear film, look at how your lenses fit, and adjust your treatment plan if dryness returns.
If your eyes feel dry no matter what you try, our team at Calgary Family Eye Doctors can talk you through dry eye treatment options that fit your routine. Book your next eye exam and find lenses that feel good all day.
