Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses, but you may find them uncomfortable. Many patients struggle with dry eyes, which can make it difficult to wear contacts. However, you may just need to find the best lenses for your unique needs.
Daily disposable contacts are generally the better option for dry eyes because they avoid the accumulation of protein deposits that can worsen dry eye symptoms. Contact lenses and dry eyes didn’t mix well in the past, but many comfortable lenses are available today.
Your optometrist can help determine the best contacts for your needs during a contact lens exam and fitting.
What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye disease occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears are of poor quality. This can cause the eyes to feel uncomfortable, red, and irritated.
While dry eye disease may not be a serious condition, it can significantly affect your quality of life.
Common dry eye symptoms include:
- Eyes that feel like they sting or burn
- Gritty eyes
- Mucus in or around the eyes
- Red, irritated eyes
- Watery eyes
- Blurry vision
What Causes Dry Eyes?
While many factors can contribute to dry eye development, this condition occurs due to problems with the tear film.
The tear film consists of 3 distinct layers:
- Mucus: The mucus layer of the tear film helps keep your tears on the eye and spread evenly across its surface.
- Water: This layer provides water, which helps keep your eye moist and protected from debris and irritants.
- Oil: This layer helps prevent tears from drying out too quickly due to oil produced in the meibomian glands.
These 3 layers work together to keep your eyes hydrated and protected, but issues can arise and lead to dry eyes. The tear film can experience problems due to several factors, including age, diet, and medical conditions.
When issues arise in the tear film, it can lead to evaporative or aqueous deficient dry eye.
- Evaporative dry eye: Tear quality can affect dry eye development. It’s common for patients to experience dry eyes when the meibomian glands become compromised.
- Aqueous deficient dry eye: Tear production tends to slow down with age, affecting the tear film. Dry eyes occur because the tears don’t have enough water to hydrate the eyes.
Contact Lenses & Dry Eyes: A Complex Relationship
Contact lenses rest on the eye’s surface, and dry eyes irritate the same area. For contact lens wearers, dry eyes can be frustrating. Because contact lenses sit directly on the eyes, they can worsen dryness or influence its development.
Many patients with dry eye struggle to wear contact lenses, but it’s still possible to enjoy glasses-free vision. Contact lenses that are better for dry eyes, like daily disposable lenses, exist.
Are Daily Contacts Better for Dry Eyes?
In general, daily contact lenses can feel more comfortable when you have dry eyes. Protein deposits can build up on your contact lenses the longer they’re worn.
Some contact lenses are reusable for up to a month, which can make them uncomfortable to wear. Replacing your contact lenses daily can help prevent these protein deposits.
There are several factors to consider when looking at contact lenses for dry eye, including:
- Lens size
- Lens material
- Lens water content
Speak with your eye doctor if you want to wear contact lenses and have dry eyes. They can recommend the best lenses to meet your vision and eye health needs during a contact lens exam and fitting. Contact lenses used to be unideal for patients with dry eyes, but many specialty lenses are available today.
How Can You Manage Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes can be frustrating and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are several ways to manage this condition. After assessing your eyes during a comprehensive eye exam, your optometrist can recommend a customized treatment plan.
Some of the treatments available for dry eyes include:
- IPL therapy: Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy can help treat meibomian gland dysfunction. This non-invasive treatment involves using pulsing light to help stimulate oil production to the tear film and reduce eye inflammation.
- Punctal plugs: Punctal plugs help prevent your tears from draining from the eye too quickly. Your optometrist inserts these tiny medical devices into the tear ducts. These plugs help slow tear drainage to hydrate the eyes for longer.
- Meibomian gland expression: Meibomian gland expression helps restore function to the tear film. Your eye doctor gently squeezes these glands to remove blockages and help oil flow more efficiently to your eyes.
- Eye nutrition and supplements: Your diet can help relieve dry eye symptoms. Essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids can help improve tear quality and reduce eye inflammation. You can add more vitamins and nutrients to your diet or ask your eye doctor about supplements.
- Prescription eye drops: Many patients use over-the-counter eye drops to help provide temporary moisture, but your optometrist may recommend prescription drops. These medicated eye drops can help improve tear production and relieve inflammation.
- Demodex treatments and eyelid sprays: Debris and inflammation can block the glands around the eyelids, leading to dry eyes. Addressing the cause of these issues—demodex mites—can help relieve dry eye symptoms.
Find the Right Dry Eye Solution for Your Needs
Dry eyes can be uncomfortable and irritating, but you can manage them with help from your optometrist. After assessing your eyes, they can recommend a treatment plan. Book an appointment, and your eye doctor can help determine the root cause of your dry eye symptoms.
Contact Eyesmate Vision Care if you experience dry eye symptoms.
